Global film and TV studio FIFTH SEASON has secured a new deal with the BBC (UK) and a further range of international broadcaster partners for the premium documentary series Escaping Utopia, a 3 x 60’ investigation into Gloriavale Christian Community – New Zealand’s most extreme religious cult, and the true stories of people attempting to break free.
Alongside the BBC, new sales secured by FIFTH SEASON for Escaping Utopia include: MTV OY (Finland), SVT (Sweden), NRK (Norway), DR (Denmark) and Movistar Plus+ (Spain). These follow FIFTH SEASON inking a deal with TVNZ in New Zealand, which premiered the show in March on TVNZ1 and its streaming service TVNZ+. Escaping Utopia received an average share of 42.4% among viewers in the 25-54 age group for TVNZ – marking an audience increase of 130% on the same timeslot/demographic for the broadcaster in the four weeks prior to the premiere.
Jennifer Ebell, EVP, EMEA Sales and Acquisitions at FIFTH SEASON, said: “Escaping Utopia is a brilliantly crafted series with exclusive inner access on a current and evolving situation, which expertly digs into the psychology of Gloriavale and leaves audiences with a deeper understanding of this closed community – and the secrecy, abuse and indoctrination within it that has been hidden in this remote outpost for fifty years. The series had a remarkable response in New Zealand and immediately captivated viewers, so we look forward to now bringing this landmark story of survival to the UK and new international audiences.”
Escaping Utopia is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand in association with the New Zealand Government’s Premium Productions for International Audiences Fund, and directed by Natalie Malcon, Justin Pemberton and Britta Hawkins.
The series documents the intricate planning that went into clandestine escapes from Gloriavale – with unprecedented access to its inner workings, the unravelling of its leadership and the pursuit of justice by a passionate and dedicated resistance movement gaining momentum outside. Shocking new information is revealed from both former and current members of the community who have never gone on the record before – and who through their accounts, seek answers to some of the most crucial questions in the dark history of Gloriavale
The series is part of FIFTH SEASON’s slate of premium docuseries, which also includes the Untitled Tim Burton docuseries; Marilyn Manson: Unmasked, examining the life, career, and allegations against the rocker; Downfall of the Crypto King, a standalone for BBC’s hit Panorama series about Sam Bankman-Fried and the FTX scandal; and Bad Host: Hunting the Couchsurfing Predator, from Academy Award winning Lightbox, based on hit podcast Verified.
