BBC Select & Beyond Rights Pact for Doc Titles

BBC Select has partnered with U.K.-based content distributor Beyond Rights for a range of new documentaries.

Among the titles featured in the deal is The $50 Million Art Swindle from director Vanessa Engle and Top Hat Productions, which tells the story of New York art dealer Michel Cohen, who went on the run from the FBI for 18 years. A Brief History of Graffiti, from Kaboom Film & TV, follows Dr. Richard Clay as he goes in search of what it is that has made humans make graffiti—from the prehistoric cave paintings of Burgundy in France, through gladiatorial fan worship in Roman Lyon to the messages on the walls of Germany’s Reichstag in 1945.

There is also World’s Greatest Paintings, from Lambent Production and presented by BBC journalist Andrew Marr, which reveals the stories behind ten of the greatest paintings. Produced by Conscious Life, How I Created a Cult offers an in-depth look at U.S. cult leader Andrew Cohen and examines what attracts people to charismatic leaders and how the best of intentions can turn dark when authoritarian power structures benefit those in power.

Trump in Tweets, from Wonderhood Studios, examines Donald Trump’s love affair with social media. From TI Productions, Starbucks & Nespresso: The Truth About Your Coffee investigates the use of child labor in coffee bean harvesting. Dark Son is a true-crime series from Monster Films about suspected serial killer Harold Jones.

The new BBC Select streaming service is available in the U.S. and Canada on Amazon Prime Video and the Apple TV app.

Jon Farrar, editor in chief at BBC Select, said: “BBC Select is all about culture, politics and ideas, and the Beyond Rights catalog has some standout content on all three areas. I think the documentaries will have real resonance with our subscribers.”

Sherry Fynbo, Beyond Rights’ executive VP of sales for North America, commented: “BBC Select offers an exciting new destination in the U.S. and Canada for thought-provoking content that generates lively discussion and debate. We are delighted to have provided so many top-tier titles from U.K. producer partners to add to its lineup.”