UK distributor to bring ‘Poisonous Liaisons’, ‘Before They Were Killers’, ‘…Made Me Do It’ and ‘A Killer’s Mistake’ to Cannes

(London) Drive, the production-funding and distribution agency, announces on the eve of MIPCOM 2019 its appointment to distribute a new slate of factual crime content, including a series that takes a closer look at the dark practice of poisoning.

Leading Drive’s MIPCOM offering is ‘Poisonous Liaisons’ (13 x 60’), a unique HD factual series that traces the practice of poisoning and the perception of its use in connection with infamous crimes of the modern era – where the protagonist has an unscrupulous taste for murder.

Through interviews with criminal experts and psychiatrists, ‘Poisonous Liaisons’ will delve into the thought process of some of history’s most notorious criminals, revealing their methods and the short and long-term effects their substances had on victims. The series is produced by Briege Whitehead’s Australia-based production company White Spark Pictures for C&I Network/History Channel UK and Iberia.

Meanwhile, Drive has recently secured deals with two UK producers and is bringing two new titles for pre-sale to market. ‘Before They Were Killers’ (8 x 60’), from Factory Films, offers a fresh insight into the lives of the world’s most notorious killers when two expert criminal investigators put notorious murderers’ childhoods under the microscope and look for the ‘tipping point’ that turned these children into killers.

In ‘…Made Me Do It’ (8 x 60’), from Acme Films, viewers will see some of the most far-fetched and calculated defense cases brought to light. Each episode will use expert interviews and archive footage to look at the unique justifications and excuses given by murderers such as “The Devil Made Me Do It”, “My Evil Twin Made Me Do It” and “Sleepwalking Made Me Do It”.

These new titles follow on the heels of Drive’s appointment to distribute hard-hitting murder investigation series ‘A Killer’s Mistake’. The 10 x 60’ factual series, produced by UK-based indie FirstLook TV, looks at ten recent iconic murder stories that follow detectives’ investigations while giving a deep insight into victims’ life stories.

Drive is distributing all four shows globally and will launch the projects to international buyers in Cannes.

Lilla Hurst, Drive co-MD, said: “The international appetite for true crime programming continues to grow year by year as evidenced by a string of new channels launching. We are in no doubt these fantastic titles will have strong appeal to buyers here at MIPCOM.”

Since its launch by co-founders Lilla Hurst and Ben Barrett 6 years ago, Drive has become a leader in securing sales, funding and providing consultancy for a portfolio of production company clients including Oxford Films, October Films, Blink, yap films, Raw TV, Back2Back Productions and Lightbox.

Drive will be appearing at MIPCOM on stand P-1.D56. The company is also launching ‘The Restoration Yard’ (working title), ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Railway’, ‘10 Mistakes That Sunk The Titanic’, ‘Should We Bomb Auschwitz?’ and ‘Return to Downton Abbey’ to international buyers in Cannes.