ZDF Latest To ‘Race Across The World‘
A six-part series based on Studio Lambert’s Race Across the World is set to air on German pubcaster ZDF in spring 2025. Planning is underway for casting and filming is set for the fall, with All3Media’s German producer, Tower, attached to make the show. Kirstin Benthaus-Gebauer will be the producer with Friederike Haedecke, Johannes Geiger, Thorsten Haas and Daniel Nemetschek the editors. The original BBC show has run to strong ratings in the UK for three seasons and one celebrity series. New seasons of both versions have been commissioned after the the first ep of the celebrity run drew 6.2 million viewers, consolidating the format’s position among the BBC’s top factual programs. The German deal, struck with distributor All3Media International, marks the fifth international version of the show, coming after three seasons on TV2 in Denmark, an upcoming production on MTV Katsomo and MTV3 in Finland, and a trio of seasons in the Netherlands on RTL, where IDTV, the company behind The Traitors, produces. The format follows competing teams of two tasked with finding quick and inexpensive ways through countries and climates without smartphones, internet access or credit cards.
Federation Stories’ ‘I, Jack Wright’ Adds Cast
Federation Stories’ UKTV drama I, Jack Wright has added cast. Joining John Simm and Nikki Amuka-Bird, who were revealed by Deadline several weeks ago, Trevor Eve will take the title role of a powerful and successful businessman who leaves his family in disarray when they learn of his suicide. Eve is joined by Rakhee Thakrar (Sex Education) as Laura Johnstone, Harry Lloyd (The Lost King, Game of Thrones) as DCI Hector Morgan, Zoë Tapper (Grace, Liar) as Georgia Wright, Liz Kingsman (Hijack) as DC Katie Jones, James Fleet (Bridgerton, Tom Jones) as Bobby, Sabrina Bartlett (The Larkins) as Bella and Percelle Ascott (Domino Day) as Reuben. The UKTV original will air on Alibi next year. A number of pre-sales have already been struck for Scandi public broadcasters YLE, DK, NRK and SRK. Deadline understands a deal with the BBC is close.
Macao International Shorts Festival Program Launches
EXCLUSIVE: The Macao International Shorts Festival has unveiled its program, which will divide across four sections. Macao Shorts is an official selection of ten shorts produced locally since 2018, including Before the Flight by Chan Teng Teng, Bubble by Wong Mei Ling and Sea by Chan Chon Sin. A jury including Jeremy Chua, General Manager of Singapore International Film Festival, will select the winner. The New Voices from Horizon section consists of 26 films completed between 2020 and 2023 and has a jury including Portuguese director Ana Rocha de Sousa and Cannes Palme d’Or Best Short Film winner Qiu Yang. The Director in Focus track will offer a selection of short and feature films from director Shunji Iwai, while the Special Screening section will present films out of competition. Programmers for the fest include Giovanna Fulvi, whose has programmed for Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Rome Film Festival and been consultant to Rotterdam and Torino, and Winnie Lau, who is Head of Asian Productions at Ivanhoe Pictures. Advisors include TIFF short programming head Jason Anderson); Shen Yang, curator and the producer of Chinese titles The Wild Goose Lake and Long Day’s Journey into Night” and curator); and Thai actress Aokbab Chutimon (Bad Genius). Chairing the international advisory board is Gaia Furrer, the artistic director of Venice Days. Jointly organised by the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau and Galaxy Entertainment Group, the festival will take place in Macao this month between March 23-30. It aims to raise the stature of short films.
DLT Buys Into Voice-Over Agency
Donald Taffner Jr.s’ DLT Entertainment has bought into Fuller Voices, a UK-based voiceover company that is rebranding as Bedford Square Voices (BSV). This comes soon after Becky Fuller exited Fuller Voices, and sees DLT CEO and Chairman Taffner Jr. joining BSV’s board, which currently comprises BSV- co-owner Michele Miburn and Ivan Mulcahy. Milburn, who is also MD of MMB Creative, is set to lead the retooled business, whose clients include Alexei Sayle and Georgina Cudby, alongside ad exec Tania Feeley. “Bedford Square Voice’s expansion plans align perfectly with our vision of investing in innovative boutique agencies,” said Taffner Jr. My Family producer DLT has previously invested in the likes of Hannah Layton Management and Manchester-based talent agency Gag Reflex.
