FremantleMedia International to Take Out Food Doc Wasted! Globally

FremantleMedia International (FMI) has signed a global distribution deal (excluding the U.S.) with Zero Point Zero for the documentary Wasted! The Story of Food Waste.

Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Nari Kye and Anna Chai and presented by Anthony Bourdain, the two-hour film exposes the magnitude of the food waste crisis and those working tirelessly to combat it. Through the eyes of culinary stars Anthony Bourdain, Dan Barber, Mario Batali, Massimo Bottura and Danny Bowien, audiences see how we can make the most of every kind of food, transforming what most people consider scraps and rejects into delicious dishes.

Sam Harowitz, the VP of acquisitions and co-productions for North America at FremantleMedia International, said: “ZPZ films have created an incredibly powerful and compelling documentary which is the perfect addition to FremantleMedia International’s range of high-end factual programming. Tackling one of the biggest global issues of our time, the show has huge international resonance and will be an impactful and interesting addition to any TV schedule.”

Bourdain, author, chef and executive producer, said: “I’m not an activist but the intent of this film aligns with something that’s very much personal. I came up in kitchen regimes where you live by an absolute rule of using everything and wasting nothing, and of course, as a traveler, I see again and again how circumstances force people to cook incredibly well with the often very little food available to them. One film isn’t going to cure all of society’s ills, but if a few people start thinking about what they’re eating for dinner in a different way or think twice about throwing out what is often the best stuff, it’s a good day.”

Joe Caterini, executive producer and Zero Point Zero’s managing director and partner, said: “With access to some of the world’s most high-profile and successful chefs, and the expertise of The Rockefeller Foundation in food waste, ZPZ intends to produce a film that will fundamentally shift the way people think about food waste. We’re incredibly proud to be partnering with a storied institution like The Rockefeller Foundation, which through initiatives over the last century has changed the way we live. It’s our hope that with the support they are providing for this film, we will further cement that legacy.”