Abacus Media secures various sales for "Killing Escobar"

 Abacus Media Rights has established various sale agreement worldwide for the documentary, "Killing Escobar."  “Abacus Media Rights got firmly behind the film from the very beginning, immediately seeing the film’s clear international potential, and David Whitney, with his strong background in war drama, delivered a gripping docu-thriller with compelling first-person testimony and really well-executed reenactment,"  Nick Taussig, of Salon Pictures said.

Produced by Two Rivers Media and Salon Pictures, the project will be put together by filmmaker Dabid Whitney, executive producer Alan Celements, and Nick Taussig for Salon Pictures.  “The extraordinary international success of Killing Escobar is proof that factual documentaries that combine dramatic storytelling with unique and compelling characters will always have global appeal," Mick McAvoy, at Two Rivers Media said. "Two Rivers Media are extremely proud of the film and are building on its success by producing more landmark documentaries that put story and character at their heart.”  

"Killing Escobar" was recently sold to Radio Canada – Canada, Discovery – Italy, RTL Deutschland – Germany, Austria & Switzerland, NRK – Norway, SVT – Sweden, CANAL+ – Poland, Channel 8 – Israel, TV+ –  Turkey, NOS – Portugal, OSN – Middle East, Foxtel – Australia, Rialto Channel – New Zealand, Now TV – Hong Kong, DR – Denmark, National Geographic – The Netherlands, VRT – Flemish Belgium, BritBox – UK, DIRECTV – Latin America, for their exclusive OnDIRECTV channel, DIRECTV GO – Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay, and Sundance Now – UK/Ireland.  

The title, commissioned by BBC Scotland, received major production investment from AMR and Screen Scotland and had its world premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival earlier this year. David Whitney has recently been nominated for an award by BAFTA Scotland for this in the Best Director category. Told in McAleese’s own words and featuring never-before-seen footage of his Colombian mission, the film reveals how McAleese’s violent upbringing in Glasgow, his training in the SAS and experience as a mercenary in Africa led him to take on this seemingly suicidal assignment.  "You don't get asked to assassinate Pablo Escobar unless you've got the right experience." Peter McAleese said.

In 1989, Scottish mercenary and ex-SAS operative, Peter McAleese, was hired by a Colombian drug cartel to lead a small team of ex-special forces commandos on a mission to assassinate the world’s biggest drug baron, Pablo Escobar.   With access to never-before-seen footage of the mission and interviews with McAleese and other key players in the story, Killing Escobar reveals how McAleese’s violent upbringing in Glasgow, his training in the SAS and experience as a mercenary in Africa led him into the jungles of Colombia to kill Escobar, and how this mission would reshape his life forever.   “We were sure a new production from Two Rivers and Salon Pictures would be special and this one is truly exceptional," "Telling the Escobar story from this unique point of view delivers a dynamic and intriguing feature which, as is already proven by these early sales, has strong international appeal across multiple platforms and broadcasters.”