People

Banijay Rights has acquired global distribution rights outside of the US to a pair of CNN Original Series, which separately follow Hollywood stars Academy Award® nominee and Emmy® Award-winning actor Stanley Tucci and Eva Longoria on powerful journeys of culinary discovery across Italy and Mexico.

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy followed the actor as he explored the stories and people behind one of the world’s most popular cuisines. The series showed viewers the bustling food markets and hidden trattorias of the Italian peninsula across two seasons in total (6 x 60’; 8 x 60’). The CNN Original Series was produced by Raw TV, and acquired by BBC2 in the UK.

Meanwhile, in Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico, a CNN Original Series produced by Raw TV and Longoria, the award-winning actress, producer, director and activist explores the lands of her ancestors to see how Mexico’s rich culture, landscape and history have shaped its cuisine, loved the world over. The 6 x 60’ series takes viewers on a journey through incredible produce, age-old rituals and some of the world’s top restaurants, where they’ll discover that the heart of Mexico is in its food.

Banijay Rights handles global distribution outside of the US for both series.

The acquisitions of both series were brokered by Erica Novich, VP Business Affairs for CNN Worldwide and Nicola Davey, VP Acquisitions, Banijay Rights, who recently joined the company from Beyond Rights. “Told through the prism of two of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars, these charming, extraordinary series shine the spotlight on the world’s most renowned culinary cultures and the incredible stories surrounding them,” said Davey. “We’re delighted both series join our growing multi-genre catalogue, and we’re in no doubt they will appeal to international buyers this year.”

Both Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy and Eva Longoria: Searching for Mexico join Banijay Rights’ growing slate of documentary series, which includes Boris, from 72 Films, and Lara (working title) - a feature documentary from Banijay Benelux joint venture Scenery that recounts the reconciliation story behind Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar’s most famous assassination.