Fremantle Acquires Coco Chanel Documentary

Fremantle has acquired the global distribution rights to Coco Chanel, a feature documentary from WhyNow Productions about the titular fashion designer.

The film details how Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel went from growing up in poverty at an orphanage run by nuns to becoming one of the wealthiest women of her age. When she started her own couture business at the turn of the 20th century, she changed how women dressed for the modern world.

The documentary combines archive material and interviews to tell the style icon’s story.

Coco Channel will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer as part of the flagship Arena strand later this year in the U.K.

Céire Clark, senior acquisitions manager of international at Fremantle, said: “It’s a pleasure to share the story of this subversive entrepreneur and bold pioneer to a global audience. WhyNow have been a brilliant partner on Coco Chanel; their unique flare and eye for a compelling story make this an unmissable watch. The life of Chanel is mysterious and fascinating; she became one of the richest women in the world before women in France even had the right to vote, which fits perfectly with the powerful stories we love to tell here at Fremantle.”

Hannah Berryman, director and producer of the film for WhyNow, added: “Chanel is probably the most legendary designer of all time, yet there has never been a feature documentary dedicated to her. It has been thrilling to delve into her fascinating and sometimes controversial life and see how her life experience is at every turn present in her work.”