26 August, 2008
London, 26th August 2008 – Fireworks International, the television and digital programming distribution arm of ContentFilm plc, announced today the sale of seasons one and two of primetime crime drama series, THE BORDER, to FX (a Fox International Channel) in the UK. Starring James McGowan as head of the Canadian Immigration and Customs Security team and American actress Sofia Milos of CSI Miami as the U.S. Homeland Security representative in Toronto, THE BORDER (26 x 1 hour) is a fast-paced and hard-driving dramatic series that follows the members of the elite Immigration and Customs Security (ICS) Unit. These men and women face the most dangerous and complex border security cases. ICS agents see the best and the worst of our world — international terrorists and drug smugglers, traffickers of illegal organs, enriched uranium and abducted children. The cast also includes Graham Abbey (Till Death Do Us Part), Mark Wilson (Blue Murder), Jim Codrington (Queer As Folk), Jonas Chernick (The Eleventh Hour), Nazneen Contractor (Relic Hunter) and Catherine Disher (X-Men). In Series Two Grace Park (Battlestar Galactica) joins the series as smart and ambitious security agent Liz Carver. Jason Thorp, MD Fox International Channels UK, comments, “We are delighted to have secured The Border in the UK. It is a welcome addition to a host of great shows we have already secured for Spring 09.”
Kathryn Rice, Senior Vice-President of International Sales at Fireworks International, added, “We are thrilled that THE BORDER will be premiering on FX in the UK and we are confident that the show’s sophisticated storylines and high-energy execution and production values will prove to be a ratings winner for the channel.”
Executive Produced by White Pine Pictures’ Peter Raymont, THE BORDER has also been licensed to France, Belgium, Luxembourg and South Korea with Beta Film picking up the rights to continental Europe excluding the French-speaking territories in Europe. Broadcast agreements are also in place for Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands. THE BORDER premiered to high ratings across Canada on the CBC earlier this year.
The series is a White Pine Pictures Production produced in association with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
About Fireworks International Fireworks International is ContentFilm’s international television distribution division with over 3,000 hours of high-quality and commercially appealing programming including an extensive slate of major drama series, factual entertainment, kids live-action comedy and drama series, TV movies, mini-series and special event programming. Recent additions include hit crime drama series THE BORDER and heart-warming family drama series, HEARTLAND; BLOOD TIES, twenty-two hours of mystery drama with more than a touch of the supernatural; brand new U.S. comedy series THE ASSISTANTS; Mondo Media’s MONDO MINI SHOWS catalogue featuring a raft of offbeat comedy programming; children’s programmes YOUNG DRACULA, BLACK HOLE HIGH and 100 DEEDS FOR EDDIE MCDOWD; plus over 200 U.S. network mini-series and TV movies as well as specials including the Annual U.S. PRIMETIME EMMY AWARDS. This new product is combined with the large and valuable Fireworks library catalogue which is complemented by a raft of formidable television shows including Gene Roddenberry’s ANDROMEDA, MUTANT X and RELIC HUNTER.
About White Pine Pictures White Pine Pictures is an independent Canadian film, television, and new media production company based in Toronto, Canada. Helmed by award-winning filmmaker, Peter Raymont, the company is recognized internationally as a high quality, boutique production house with a solid reputation for compelling visual styles and depth of content. White Pine Pictures prides itself on its longtime relationships with Canadian talent and key industry players across the globe. White Pine has produced over 100 films, including the Emmy award-winning documentary feature Shake Hands With The Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire, the Oscar-shortlisted A Promise to the Dead: The Exile Journey of Ariel Dorfman, and Triage: Dr. James Orbinski’s Humanitarian Dilemma.
About FX Fox International Channels (UK) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fox International Channels which operates channels such as Fox, FX, Fox Life, Fox Crime, Fuel and National Geographic across 40 territories in Europe, Latin America and Asia. FX launched in the UK in January 2004 as a quality entertainment channel aimed at men 25-44. The channel is currently available on Sky, Virgin Media and Tiscali. Fox content includes first run drama, comedy, crime shows and movies such as: Dexter, The Wire, 24, NCIS and Family Guy.
For further information, please contact:
Fireworks International: Jennifer Brinkworth Vice-President, Marketing and Communications [email protected] Tel + 00 44 (20) 7851 6517 www.contentfilm.com
