DARE Pictures & Tondowski Films Form New Strategic Partnership

DARE Pictures and Tondowski Films have formed a new strategic partnership focusing exclusively on a selection of premium documentary productions for the international market.

Fatima Shafiq has been hired as head of development (international) to work across and build on the new slate of projects. DARE and Tondowski initially joined forces last year to co-produce the three-part docuseries Crypto Queen.

Shafiq will report to both Derren Lawford, founder and CEO of DARE Pictures, and Alex Tondowski, CEO of Tondowski Films. She has over 15 years of experience devising factual formats, returning series and documentary specials. She previously headed the development team at ITN Productions, which saw over 800 hours produced across the year. Throughout her career, she has been instrumental in securing commissions for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Paramount+ and A+E Networks.

Both DARE Pictures and Tondowski Films will also continue to work on their own separate broader range of productions independently.

“DARE Pictures and Tondowski Films share a passion for cinematic production values and compelling multi-layered stories that provoke and delight international audiences in equal measure,” Lawford said. “By joining forces and harnessing our collective global network of top-tier directors, producers and editors, we’re looking to make the most of the exciting and exclusive IP at our disposal. We’re delighted and excited to have secured the services of such a prolific documentary development exec such as Fatima.”

Tondowski added, “Tondowski Films cannot imagine a better partner than Derren and his company DARE Pictures. Both companies are well respected in their territories and have a very strong track record with broadcasters, film funds and distributors. Combining this and our similar editorial line is an obvious next step for us.”

“I’m thrilled to join DARE Pictures and Tondowski Films as their first head of development (international),” Shafiq said. “We already have a flourishing premium documentary slate, and I’m excited to build upon this.”