Sky Documentaries and NOW confirm brand new and exclusive Sky original documentary film 'Hatton' will air at 9pm on Thursday 31 August. The ninety-minute film offers extraordinary access to boxing hero Ricky Hatton, exploring his life in and outside of the ring, with honest words from ‘The Hitman’ himself, his closest friends, family and peers.

From multi-award-winning sports documentary specialists Noah Media Group comes this definitive portrait of a unique, working-class hero and one of the world’s most beloved boxers - Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton. The documentary, with incredible access to Ricky and unseen archive footage, charts his journey from the Hattersley estate near Manchester to headlining on the strip in Las Vegas is an emotional insight into a brilliant sporting hero.

Earmarked for greatness from the moment he turned professional, Ricky quickly rose to the pinnacle of his sport. Adored by the public, he was a raging force in the ring, but the eventual pain of defeat would become utterly unbearable. Triumph, and pride were replaced by depression, addiction, and shame. His courage was clear, but it hid a darkness that would overwhelm him.

Crucially, his relationships with those closest to him fell apart. A near decade estrangement from his family and split from his coach pushed Ricky to his absolute rock bottom and an attempted suicide. Raw and compelling, the documentary showcases this cautionary tale and inspirational story of a man forced to navigate a path through fragile relationships and broken dreams as he attempts to make sense of a life that appeared destined for a happy ending.

Ricky Hatton is directed by multi-award winning Dan Dewsbury and produced by Noah Media Group (14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, Finding Jack Charlton), in association with Sky Studios. NBCUniversal Global Distribution handle international sales on behalf of Sky Studios.

Hatton, a brutally honest and deeply personal documentary from Noah Media Group, to air on Sky Documentaries & NOW on 31 August

Ghost Robot and Noah Media Group are wrapping principal photography on award winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman’s upcoming documentary with the working title Checkpoint: Zoo, a film which documents the daring rescue, led by a rag-tag team of zookeepers and volunteers, who risked their lives to save thousands of animals trapped in a zoo behind enemy lines in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine. Produced by Zeman and Zach Mortenson for Ghost Robot, with Ian Davies and Torquil Jones for Noah Media Group, UTA has signed on for worldwide sales and will bring the film to festivals in 2024.

Five weeks after the Invasion of Ukraine first began, EcoPark Zoo’s founder, Oleksandr Feldman, posted a desperate plea to social media — the relentless shelling had left thousands of animals trapped in their cages with little food and water, and only a few zookeepers left to care for them. Miraculously, his social media post went viral and zoos from across Ukraine and Europe were calling with offers to house the remaining animals. Within 24 hours, a group of volunteers had appeared on Feldman’s doorstep offering to help any way they could. And so, it was decided that this brave team of zookeepers and volunteers would do the impossible — they would sneak into EcoPark, under the noses of the Russian camped nearby, risking life and limb, to evacuate over 1000 animals.

Joshua Zeman and his team secured exclusive access to EcoPark, including conversations with the volunteers and zookeepers who risked their lives during the evacuation, and access to dozens of hours of video and sound recordings and thousands of photos to tell this story.  

Director Joshua Zeman stated, “Like my previous film, The Loneliest Whale, which deals with the human emotion of loneliness through the search or a whale all alone at sea, Checkpoint: Zoo addresses the human construct of war through the eyes of animals who are acutely aware of the danger and destruction, but have no context for the why of it all.  It is also more than just a film about animals — it's about the real-life heroes who are risking their lives to save them. The result is a story that touches every one of us as it explores themes of connection, and more so, interconnection.”

Joshua Zeman (Director & Exec Producer) is one of the leading voices indocumentary storytelling. His critically acclaimed film CROPSEY is considered one of the top true crime documentaries of all time. In 2017, Zeman directed THE KILLING SEASON, which was also executive produced by Academy Award-winning director Alex Gibney. Zeman also directed MURDER MOUNTAIN, a docu-series for Netflix that’s been called “a must-watch”. In 2020, Zeman EP’s and directed THE SONS OF SAM, which was the #1 watched show on Netflix around the world during the week it was released.  Most recently, Zeman directed THE LONELIEST WHALE, a cinematic quest to find the 52Hz Whale, whom scientists believe has spent its entire life in solitude. The film, which was executive produced by Leonardo DiCaprio, has been called “a modern-day Moby Dick" and was nominated for three Critics Choice Awards. 

In his 25 years of producing documentary films, Zachary Mortensen has constantly traversed and defined genres. From the pioneering exploration of electronic music in Iara Lee’s MODULATIONS (Sundance 1997) and the de finitive hip-hop retrospective of Joey Gar field’s BREATH CONTROL (Tribeca 2002) to the seminal true-crime horror documentary CROPSEY (Tribeca 2005) by Joshua Zeman, Mortensen has always sought out stories on the fringes and intersection of pop and contemporary culture. His films have taken audiences into an evangelical megachurch’s Halloween spectacle (HELL HOUSE - Toronto 2002) and literally into the tub of a water-birth at the world-renowned natural birthing center on the Farm in Tennessee (BIRTH STORY - Los Angeles 2013). Access and insight are a constant throughout all his films, and he is constantly looking for collaborators that challenge the documentary establishment and shine a light on unexpected stories. Zach is the co-founder of Ghost Robot, a New York City-based creative studio.

Ghost Robot and Noah Media Group are wrapping principal photography on award winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman’s upcoming documentary with the working title Checkpoint: Zoo

GHOST ROBOT AND NOAH MEDIA GROUP WRAP UP JOSHUA ZEMAN’S DARING UKRANIAN ESCAPE STORY 'CHECKPOINT: ZOO'

VILLENEUVE PIRONI: RACING’S UNTOLD TRAGEDY, the documentary detailing the fascinating rivalry between Quebec Formula 1® legend Gilles Villeneuve and champion Didier Pironi, is coming to Crave in French and English on June 12. 

Through archival footage and interviews with Formula 1® world champions Jacques Villeneuve, Alain Prost and Sir Jackie Stewart, members of the Villeneuve and Pironi families, as well as figures from F1® and Scuderia Ferrari, the 90-minute documentary delves deep into their rise to glory, right up to the infamous and tragic 1982 Formula 1® season. These two intrepid Ferrari drivers were battling for the world championship in modern car racing’s most dangerous era. At the San Marino Grand Prix, Pironi broke an unwritten team agreement and “stole” the victory from Villeneuve, his teammate and close friend, on the last lap. VILLENEUVE PIRONI: RACING’S UNTOLD TRAGEDY is the story of two of the fastest drivers in history, their brief, violent lives that were intertwined, and the emotional scars their loved ones still live with today.

Joann Villeneuve, wife of the late Gilles Villeneuve, commented: ‘My family and I are pleased to participate in the making of the documentary VILLENEUVE PIRONI: RACING’S UNTOLD TRAGEDY. This period in time and these events were traumatic for our family and, after more than 40 years, still remain very emotional. Having been a privileged witness to these events, it is important that this story be told with respect.’

Melanie Villeneuve, daughter of Gilles Villeneuve and contributor in the documentary, added: ‘We are delighted to be working with Noah Media Group for the production of this docu-film. John McKenna, Torquil Jones and the entire Noah team have done a tremendous job, doing extensive research, providing high-quality interviews and footage to tell a story which is important to my family.’

VILLENEUVE PIRONI: RACING’S UNTOLD TRAGEDY is produced by Noah Media Group in association with Sky Studios. It is directed by Torquil Jones (“14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible”) and produced by John McKenna (“14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible,” “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans”) and former Formula 1® driver Mark Webber. The documentary is distributed by NBCUniversal Global Distribution on behalf of Sky Studios.

VILLENEUVE PIRONI: RACING’S UNTOLD TRAGEDY is coming to Crave in French and English on June 12.

VILLENEUVE PIRONI: RACING’S UNTOLD TRAGEDY COMES TO CANADA STARTING JUNE 12

Award-winning production, distribution and technology company Noah Media Group today announced two brand new documentaries in partnership with Channel 4. Both films further Noah’s reputation for delivering premium films in the area of disability sport, as well as seeing the production company develop its next wave of off-screen talent, with single documentary network TV debuts for two of the companies in-house directors. Each title is set to be broadcast on the channel in the UK in Summer.

In this 60 minute documentary host of The Last Leg - and Rugby League fanatic - Adam Hills gets the chance of a lifetime to play the sport he loves at international level.

Adam was born with only one foot. He’s always dreamt of emulating his Rugby League heroes and, with the first ever Physical Disability Rugby League World Cup taking place in the UK in 2022, that dream became a tantalising reality.

But before Sydney-born Adam could give his all out on the pitch, first he had a crucial decision to make. Should he pull on the green and gold of Australia…or join his regular rugby family who make up the England team? After an agonising choice, Adam faced a tournament of hard-hitting rugby mayhem, one which tested his limits further than ever before.

Adam Hills: Grow Another Foot builds on the success of previous Noah Media Group documentary for Channel 4, Adam Hills: Take His Legs (2019), a film which followed the comedian’s first foray into the world of Physical Disability Rugby League and saw Adam help establish the sport of PDRL with his team at Warrington Wolves, before travelling to Australia to take on Russell Crowe’s South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Adam Hills: Grow Another Foot is directed by one of Noah’s core staff of talented in-house directors, Claudia Corbisiero.  

Adam Hills said: “I've loved Rugby League ever since I was a kid, but the thought of playing it at an international level seemed impossible. So when the opportunity came to take part in the first ever Physical Disability World Cup, I jumped at it with one foot and a prosthesis. I played the game I love, made mates for life, and had the experience of a lifetime. I grew another foot, and I can't wait for people to see the hits, the laughs and the characters of Physical Disability Rugby League.”

Will Rowson for Channel 4 added: “Adam’s enthusiasm for Rugby League is infectious and even if, like me, you know nothing about the sport this is a pretty irresistible story about friendship and endeavour that just makes me smile throughout.”

Noah Media Group’s second upcoming one hour documentary for Channel 4 focuses on the incredible year British Paralympian swimmer Alice Tai completed in 2022.

Alice is a Paralympic gold medalist and World Record holder. But her swimming career was put on hold after major surgery, which meant she was unable to take part in the Tokyo games in 2020.  

2022 was meant to be her long awaited return to the pool at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

But there was a major hitch. Just 7 months before she was due to compete Alice elected to have her right leg amputated to help improve her quality of life, following years of surgery resulting from the bilateral talipes she was born with. 

This documentary, both narrated and executive produced by The Last Leg’s Adam Hills, tells the story of Alice’s fight to go from amputation to gold medal contention in just over half a year.

Andrew Lynch, another of Noah’s in-house directors, followed Alice across her life-changing year, capturing an intimate and affecting portrayal of an athlete prepared to risk so much for a better life.

Alice Tai said: "2022 was one of the craziest years of my life...a time of incredible highs and challenging lows, with everything in between! Noah and Channel 4 were there to capture it all and I can't wait to share the inside story of what happened as I aimed to go from hospital bed to medal podium in just over 6 months."

Joe Blake-Turner for Channel 4 added: “What an athlete and what a year! From learning to walk again to the Commonwealth Games…Alice’s story is uplifting. We can’t wait to see what she will go on to achieve at the Paris Paralympics in 2024.”

Noah CEO John McKenna commented on both commissions: “I’m delighted to be delivering two incredible and emotional stories with our partners at Channel 4. I’m also so pleased to illustrate the creative depth within Noah Media Group through the work of Claudia and Andy and their brilliant production teams. We set the company up to tell amazing stories as well as we possibly could, and to identify and bring through talent. It is hugely gratifying to be able to do this here, with the support of Channel 4.”

Noah Media Group today announced two brand new documentaries in partnership with Channel 4.

NOAH MEDIA GROUP & CHANNEL 4 ANNOUNCE TWO BRAND NEW DOCUMENTARIES FOR 2023

SKY MUSIC RELEASES VILLENEUVE PIRONI ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK, WITH MUSIC BY NAINITA DESAI, AVAILABLE NOW ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS

Sky Music is excited to announce the release of Villeneuve Pironi (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) with music by Emmy-winning composer Nainita Desai. The 26-track album is available today, March 17 2023, to stream on digital platforms.

Nainita speaks about the music: “At it’s heart, the score had to have huge emotion and drama. There are four main overarching themes and ideas I wanted to explore in the film; Passion and Friendship, Betrayal, Fear and tragedy, and love and spirituality, all underpinned with a sense of intrigue.

The drivers are both incredibly driven and live life to the full on and off the track, so I tried to mirror that with propelling energetic moments such as in "Gilles' Passion" that draws you into their world, but also inject fun 70’s influenced music in tracks such as "Didier" and "Racing Legends", that illustrates the hedonistic craziness of their world.

I also wanted to represent the relationships with their families and the emotional trying times they went through, so there are several key moments of reflection, heartache and the coming to terms with loss in pieces such as "Torn Apart" which I tried to handle with a restrained, delicate touch.

The major shift in their story comes to a head with "The Betrayal - End Credits". It is the emotional culmination of their friendship with a dramatic twist that tales place over the course of a thrilling race. I fused a baroque classical, operatic approach with aggressive strings and on top of the energy, propulsive earthy percussion floats a strong emotional melody that has gravitas and elegance followed closely by a counter melody that eventually takes over taking you on a roller coaster of a race and emulates the real life rivalry between Gilles and Didier and the tragic outcome of the race."

ABOUT THE FILM
Villeneuve-Pironi tells the story of two supremely gifted Ferrari F1 drivers, forever torn apart by a historic and hugely controversial moment in time. Friendship, duplicity, ambition, and honour all collide at racing speeds in this epic story. Told through compelling interviews by both the Villeneuve and Pironi families, a friendship becomes a rivalry, and a rivalry becomes a tragedy in this Shakespearean tale of two Formula 1 giants, told, for the very first time, by those who were closest to the men involved.

ABOUT NAINITA DESAI
Nainita Desai is an Emmy and Royal Television Society award winning composer best known for her Oscar nominated and BAFTA and Cannes winning feature documentary For Sama, and Sundance and BIFA winning feature The Reason I Jump. Other recent credits include BBC drama Maryland, Bafta nominated American Murder, ITV crime drama series The Tower (Mammoth Screen; Gemma Whelan), as well as Netflix hit 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible (exec: Jimmy Chinn), Predators for Sky/Netflix, and acclaimed Interactive film-game Immortality. Film4 labelled her as one of the top 5 “composers of 2020 who should be on your radar” and Mark Kermode, the UK's leading film critic placed her score for The Reason I Jump in the Top 3 film scores of 2021 with Empire Magazine championed her as one of the “5 film composers to watch out for 2022”.

Sky Music releases Villeneuve Pironi original motion picture soundtrack, with music by Nainita Desai, available now on digital platforms.

VILLENEUVE-PIRONI ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK RELEASE

VILLENEUVE PIRONI ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK RELEASE

Award-winning production, distribution and technology company Noah Media Group today offered an insight into the projects that it will finance, develop and produce under its first multi-million dollar content fund.

Up first is a feature documentary on a genuine sporting and cultural icon - former track and field champion, Carl Lewis, which will be executive produced by UNINTERRUPTED, the multi-Emmy Award-winning athlete empowerment brand founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter. In a record-breaking career spanning 18 years, Carl Lewis won nine Olympic gold medals in track and field and was voted ‘Sportsman of the Century’ by the International Olympic Committee and ‘Olympian of the Century’ by Sports Illustrated.

Currently in production, the project will explore the man behind the medals, with exclusive access to his family, closest friends and a vast unseen archive. The film will show the transformational impact Lewis’s career had – both in his sport and in wider society. This is set against a contemporary narrative as Lewis, now a coach and politically engaged, confronts issues around his country’s future.

The film will be co-directed by award-winning director and Noah Media Group’s co-founder Gabriel Clarke (Finding Jack Charlton, Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans) & Chris Hay (All Around). LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Jamal Henderson and Philip Byron will executive produce for UNINTERRUPTED.

Gabriel Clarke said: “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Carl to tell his timely and important story. The aim has always been to capture the true scale of his sporting and cultural impact making LeBron, Maverick and the brilliant UNINTERRUPTED team the ideal production team-mates.”

Cinetic Media will be representing the Carl Lewis film for worldwide sales, alongside Noah Media Group's international sales team. Also announced today, LeBron James & Maverick Carter's production company UNINTERRUPTED will exec produce on the Carl Lewis project.

Noah Media Group will be announcing further projects that will be developed, financed and produced as part of the content fund, over the coming months. This follows the critical and commercial success of Noah Media Group’s Emmy & Grierson award nominated 14 Peaks: Nothing is Impossible last year - which quickly became one of Netflix’s most globally successful documentaries. Noah Media Group intends to double-down on its efforts to bring such extraordinary stories of human endeavour to global audiences through the content fund. With three of the four films already in production, Noah Media Group is actively looking for the 4th film in the fund.

Also in production at Noah Media Group are an access-all-areas documentary on British boxing champion Ricky Hatton.

Noah Media Group today offered an insight into the projects that it will finance, develop and produce under its first multi-million dollar content fund.

TRACK & FIELD ICON CARL LEWIS GETS FEATURE DOC EXEC PRODUCED BY UNINTERRUPTED

TRACK & FIELD ICON CARL LEWIS GETS FEATURE DOC EXEC PRODUCED BY UNINTERRUPTED, FROM NOAH MEDIA GROUP AS PART OF PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED MULTIMILLION DOLLAR CONTENT FUND

The latest news on our production and distribution projects as well as updates and insights from the Noah Media Group team.