Zoe Stinson: "We try to be as international as possible"

With a new slate totaling 120 hours of factual content and a robust international sales division, TVF International continues to strengthen its position in the global distribution landscape. The company has brought several new titles to the international market, including "The Ozempic Effect" (1x54'), a CBC documentary that represents the first in-depth investigation into the meteoric rise of the so-called wonder drug everyone’s talking about — Ozempic. "We're only just beginning to find out what the side effects are. It goes into a lot of detail about not just the health side effects, but also the social effects," said Zoe Stinson, Acquisitions and Productions Executive at TVF International. Covering the scientific breakthroughs behind the drug as well as its potential social impacts, the film follows real-time weight loss stories to reveal how Ozempic rewires the body to think differently about food. It also explores the drug's potential in treating a wide range of addictions, from drugs to gambling and sex.

The independent distributor is also promoting "Escape from Chernobyl: 48 Hours That Changed The World" (1x47'/90'), a Channel 4 and SBS documentary produced by Like A Shot Entertainment. The film dives into the first 48 hours of the Chernobyl disaster — from the fateful safety test that triggered the explosion to the heroic divers who risked their lives to prevent a second, far more catastrophic blast, and the evacuation of Pripyat, the city of 50,000 residents suddenly forced to leave everything behind. "It's coming out for the 40-year anniversary next April, we're really excited about that, and it's getting a lot of presale interest," she said.

TVF International has also returned to production with "Great British Train Journeys From Above" (4x47'), a series that uses cutting-edge drone technology to showcase the UK’s most iconic steam train routes from a unique aerial perspective. "It's our first original production in about 20 years," noted Stinson. In Scotland, the Jacobite Steam Train — better known as the Hogwarts Express — travels through the Highlands, uncovering the fascinating history of the Jacobite Rebellion. In Wales, the Mountain Spirit traverses stunning coastlines and ancient oak woodlands along the Ffestiniog Railway through Snowdonia National Park. And in England, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway takes viewers from Whitby to Pickering, transporting them back to the golden age of steam, while the West Somerset Railway scales rolling hills to tell the story of its great engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. "We made the series because this year is the 200-year anniversary of train travel," she explained.

GOING GLOBAL

TVF International recently announced multiple sales deals across Asia and Scandinavia, but its ultimate goal remains to be as international as possible. "We've got 10 people working full-time in Sales, which is a lot of people, especially for an independent distributor that is focused solely on unscripted," said Stinson. "We really do aim to have as broad a reach as possible. We are always looking for new partners to work with and ways to expand our footprint," she asserted.

According to Stinson, this year the company has placed a greater focus on pre-sales, co-productions, and international reversions. However, "it's definitely not going to become the core part of our business," she emphasized. "Distribution will remain our core focus," she concluded.