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A&e Crime Central delivers nonstop true crime stories with zero filler.

In our house, true crime never goes out of style. There’s just something about digging into the details of a real-life mystery that hits different — especially when the storytelling is good. If you’ve already blown through all the usual suspects on Netflix and Hulu, it might be time to check out A&e Crime Central. This niche streaming service is packed with thousands of episodes from A&e’s deep vault of gritty, addictive true crime series — think “The First 48,” “Cold Case Files,” “I Survived,” and more. Whether you’re into survival stories, shocking cold cases, or behind-the-scenes investigations, there’s always something new (and chilling) to uncover. Here’s everything you need to know about A&e Crime Central.

Everything you need to know about A&e Crime Central

What is A&e Crime Central?...

Exclusive: True-crime veteran and distribution exec Sherry Fynbo has set up Last Word Entertainment, whose debut show launches on Crave this week.

Fynbo, known for the likes of Drug Lords: The Takedown and Escobar Exposed, will lead the company as President and executive producer, and has hired former Beyond Rights colleague Fiona Crago and The Night Stalker co-director James Carroll to join her.

Last Word is officially launching as its first series, Mafia: Most Wanted, launches on Crave on Friday (March 7). The three-part series exposed how Italian mafia syndicate the ‘Ndrangheta, which controls a huge portion of the world’s cocaine supply, has established a stronghold in Toronto, Canada. Fynbo is taking it out to the U.S. and international markets.

Through access to police wiretaps, confidential case files and exclusive interviews with mob hitmen, the series builds a picture of the shadowy organization and the relentless pursuit to dismantle it.

Plot: A moving portrait of musician Jon Batiste, who in 2022 found himself the most celebrated artist of the year with eleven Grammy nominations including Album of the Year. In the midst of that triumph, Jon embarks on his most ambitious challenge to date, composing an original symphony. This trajectory was upended, however, when his life partner — best-selling author Suleika Jaouad — learns that her long-dormant cancer has returned.

Review: Few things are as subjective as art, whether film, music, literature or any other creative outlet. Fame is also fleeting, but when true artistry mixes with the zeitgeist, it can be powerful. Jon Batiste is an artist who has found success in many forms, personally and professionally. Best known as the band leader on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and for his Oscar-winning score for Pixar’s Soul, Batiste won Album of the Year at the Grammys in 2022 despite much of...

Over the past couple of years, Netflix has been plagued by a hit-and-miss trend when it comes to its original fictional shows, but the streaming giant has consistently managed to offer captivating docuseries to its subscribers. Whether it's true-crime tales, educational projects, or behind-the-scenes coverage of sports, the supply has been truly impressive.

Related: 10 Weirdest Netflix Movies

Netflix hasn't shied away from courting controversy either, with the recently released Cleopatra being a good example of that. However, there are a couple of Netflix docuseries that are not only less divisive but also tell wild tales that are complemented by great narration, camera work, and all the relevant interviews.

Tiger King (2020–2021)

Tiger King is perfect proof that milking a story too much is always a bad idea. From an intensive rivalry between the eccentric Joe Exotic and the abrasive Carole Baskin to an unsolved murder mystery, the docuseries' first chapter has...

Netflix’s Drug Lords and History 101 producer ITN Productions has hired A&e After Dark indie Crackit Productions’ Nicki Purcell as Head of Production, replacing Elaine Morris.

Reporting into Managing Director of Television Ian Rumsey, Purcell will oversee the logistical, commercial and strategic direction of the production team as it bids to diversify its content and secure more commissions from SVoDs.

ITN Productions is responsible for Netflix double Drug Lords and History 101, along with shows for UK networks ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 amongst others.

Purcell held the same role at Greenbird-backed Crackit, which she joined in 2013, and she replaces Morris, who was with ITN Productions for four years and has moved elsewhere in TV.

“Nicki brings the ideal mix of experience, skill and strategic thinking,” said Rumsey. “She’s going to be a real asset to the team and I’m looking forward to working with her.

Exclusive: Netflix is poised to renew its bite-sized history show History 101 for a second season.

Netflix is yet to finalize a deal with UK producer ITN Productions, but Deadline understands that work is already underway on Season 2, which follows last year’s 10-part first season.

History 101 mixes archive footage and graphics to provide users with a bluffer’s guide to historical moments, human achievements, and social movements. The first season opened with a 20-minute history of the fast-food industry, while other episodes spotlighted subjects including AIDS, feminism, and robots.

The series makes use of ITN’s deep archive of material, drawn from 66 years of newsgathering. Season 1 was executive produced by Simon George, Bruce Kennedy, and Ian Russell.

ITN Productions continues to win business from Netflix, having produced Drug Lords for the streamer in the past.

Exclusive: ITN has become the latest blue-chip British production company to reveal the scale of the financial damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In a set of 2020 earnings published on the UK’s Companies House, Britain’s premier news producer revealed that its pre-tax profit fell 54% to £1.1 million ($1.53M) after other producers, such as ITV Studios, posted similar double-digit declines. ITN’s group revenues were down 11% to £121M.

ITN, which has just appointed former NBC News executive Deborah Turness as its CEO, blamed “unprecedented economic challenges” relating to Covid-19, but said it actually weathered the storm reasonably well last year. This is largely because it has a stable base of income, thanks to its news contracts with ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5.

“ITN proved its resilience in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, continuing to deliver a range of output to its client base and audiences at home,” the company said,...

Deborah Turness is leaving NBC News after eight years to become the CEO of ITN, the UK news producer.

Turness first joined NBC News in 2013, becoming the first woman in U.S. history to be president of a network news division. She moved over to become president of NBC News International in 2017 after the company took a stake in Euronews.

NBC sold its stake in Euronews last April to focus on the launch of an international television news channel, named NBC Sky World News. Four months later, NBC abandoned plans to launch the channel, citing commercial challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Her switch to ITN represents a homecoming of sorts after she was the editor of ITN-produced ITV News prior to her time at NBC News. She rose through the ranks at ITN having first joined the company on a post-graduate journalism course in France in her early twenties.

As every year, with the usual online announcement, the Festival’s director Sabrina Baracetti, has launched the 22nd edition’s Programme of the Udine Far East Film Festival 2020. This year, Sabrina talks from her office instead of the beautiful Teatro Nuovo of Udine, in a Zoom call, but the enthusiasm is as strong as ever.

After the incredible success of the lockdown teaser Programme called “Io Resto a Casa” (I Stay at Home) the Festival will continue the partnership with the online streaming platform MyMovies.it, From the 8yh of June the accreditations will be available on the Official Website

Festival Director Sabrina Baracetti

But, let’s have a look at the titles. Here are some interesting numbers: 46 Films, of which 38 in competition (the audience will be able to vote), 8 Countries, 12 Firs-time directors, and 25% of directors are women.

All The Films At A Glance. Online Festival Line-up 2020 And Territorial Restrictions...

Derek Tsang’s school bullying drama won eight awards including best film and best director.

Derek Tsang’s Better Days bagged eight prizes including best film and best director at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, which were live streamed on social media as the Covid-19 coronavirus forced organisers to scrap the physical ceremony.

Better Days, a mainland China-set drama about school bullying, also won best actress for Zhou Dongyu’s performance and best new performer for Jackson Yee. The film, produced by Goodfellas Pictures and We Pictures, also won awards for best screenplay, best cinematography, best costume & make-up design and best song.

Renowned British news producer ITN is furloughing around 20 employees and its CEO Anna Mallett is taking a 20% pay cut amid the coronavirus pandemic.

ITN produces news for ITV, Channel 4 and ViacomCBS-owned Channel 5, while production unit ITN Productions is responsible for documentaries including the Oscar-nominated For Sama and Netflix show Drug Lords.

More from Deadline'For Sama', 'The Edge Of Democracy' Filmmakers To Take Part In Online Screenings For #StayHomeWatchTogether Campaign'For Sama' Directors Waad Al-Kateab And Edward Watts On Feeling Like "Little Fish" In Big Oscar PondAmerican Themes Fade In The Film Academy's Globalist Documentary Branch

Employees were emailed on Friday about the cost reduction plans, which will impact around 3% of ITN’s 712-strong workforce in areas including sport production and advertising, although these divisions remain open for business. Frontline news staff will not be affected.

As well as Mallett, ITN’s chief financial and operations officer...

The full list of nominations for the 39th Hong Kong Film Awards has been revealed. However, the dates are still unknown; the mid-April event in fact, will be probably postponed due to the Covid-19 (a.k.a. coronavirus). So for now let’s just have a look at the nominees.

This year’s edition sees Derek Tsang Kwok-Cheung’s “Better Days” leading the competition with an amazing 12 nominations, followed at close range by Heiward Mak’s “Fagara” with 11 nominations and Wong Hing-Fan’s “I’m Livin’ It” with 10. Moreover, Wilson Yip’s “Ip Man 4: The Finale” bagged 9 nominations, including Best Director and Best Action Choreography.

Read the full list of nominations below:

Better Days by Derek Tsang

Best Film

Better Days by Derek Tsang

Suk Suk by Ray Yeung

Fagara by Heiward Mak

I’m Livin’ It by Wong Hing-fan

The New King Of Comedy by Stephen Chow

Best...

Local films grossed a combined $32.5m (Hk$252.9m) for a 13.2% market share.

Hong Kong’s box office decreased by just 1.74% to $247.4m (Hk$1.92bn) in 2019, despite the impact of political protests that have rocked the city since the middle of last year.

According to data from Hong Kong Box Office, the total was achieved despite a decline in the total number of films released to 326 titles compared to 353 the previous year. Overall box office was up by around 6% in the first half of 2019, but started to dip when the protests became more regular in the second half of the year.

Despite their popularity, particularly among the mainstream audience, action movies are probably most difficult in terms of production, particularly regarding the budget demanded for such efforts. Stuntmen, SFX, action coordinators and a big budget for editing are some of the few standards a good action movie should include, and evidently, these cost money. However, since, most of the time these movies manage to get their money back and even have a profit, we still saw a plethora of them, and Asian cinema could not remains “outside the dance”, with a number of entries of the genre coming out every year, particularly from China and Hong Kong. Of course, the golden era of Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest is long since gone, but this does not mean that one cannot find quality movies in the category.

This year, in our continuous effort to present lists that focus on both prowess and diversity,...

For most awards observers, the Asian Oscars race narrative in the international feature category begins and ends with Bong Joon Ho’s South Korean contender “Parasite.” That said, there are other notable submissions from around the continent that might spring a surprise or two.

The deliciously surgical dissection of Korean society that is “Parasite” has rightly won acclaim and awards around the planet, beginning with its unanimous Palme d’Or victory at Cannes. Neon is distributing the film in the U.S. and its impressive box office will do the film’s prospects no harm. A nom seems certain.

Tiny Singapore has been punching well above its weight in recent years and this year’s submission from the country, Yeo Siew Hua’s “A Land Imagined,” has been garlanded with awards since it exploded onto the global festival circuit with three trophies at Locarno, including the Golden Leopard, in 2018. The...

Natural history documentaries about the Atlantic and an elephant hospital as well as a look inside lead the latest slate for Viacom’s UK network Channel 5.

The terrestrial broadcaster has ordered a slew of documentaries and history series to air in 2020.

The Atlantic is a four-part series co-produced by Endemol Shine-backed Tigress and Love Island co-producer Motion Content Group. The series, commissioned by Lucy Willis, explores the story of Europe’s Atlantic, from the deep water, to the shallow coast and the land that run along its fringes as well as the stormy seas and wildlife. Filmed over four seasons, it is exec produced by Duncan Chard and Emily Dalton for Tigress and Melanie Darlaston for Motion Content Group.

All3Media-backed Maverick Television and Motion Content Group are making two-part documentary Elephant Hospital. The series, commissioned by Leaving Neverland commissioner Daniel Pearl, explores Thailand’s largest hospital devoted solely to treating elephants,...

May el-Toukhy’s Sundance prize-winning “Queen of Hearts” has been selected as Denmark’s Oscar entry in the international feature film race.

“Queen of Hearts” beat out Michael Noer’s “Before the Frost” and “Daniel” by Niels Arden Oplev and Anders W. Berthelsen which had been shortlisted. The Danish Oscar committee is made up of representatives from the film industry and the Danish Film Institute.

Represented in international markets by TrustNordisk, “Queen of Hearts” world premiered at Sundance where it won the audience prize.

The film tells the story of Anne, a dedicated lawyer who lives what appears to be the picture-perfect life with her husband, Peter, and their twin daughters. When her estranged teenage stepson moves in with them, Anne’s escalating desire leads her down a dangerous path, jeopardizing both her career and family. The film was written by Maren Louise Käehne, in collaboration with El-Toukhy.

“A story of power,...

The Federation of Motion Film Producers of Hong Kong has selected Herman Yau's crime thriller The White Storm 2 — Drug Lords as the country's submission to the international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.

Starring Andy Lau and Louis Koo as a billionaire anti-drug vigilante and a drug kingpin, respectively, the drama was directed by prolific veteran Herman Yau and concludes with a notable set-piece inside a major Hong Kong subway station. Although billed as a sequel, the film has no narrative relations to The White Storm (2013) except in title and the return ...

The Federation of Motion Film Producers of Hong Kong has selected Herman Yau's crime thriller The White Storm 2 — Drug Lords as the country's submission to the international feature film category at the 2020 Oscars.

Starring Andy Lau and Louis Koo as a billionaire anti-drug vigilante and a drug kingpin, respectively, the drama was directed by prolific veteran Herman Yau and concludes with a notable set-piece inside a major Hong Kong subway station. Although billed as a sequel, the film has no narrative relations to The White Storm (2013) except in title and the return ...

Shootouts and car chases are interrupted only by brief bouts of middling melodrama in “The White Storm 2: Drug Lords,” an in-name-only sequel to the 2013 hit about cops involved in the war on drugs. Vigorously directed by prolific veteran Herman Yau (“Shock Wave”) and well served by an all-star cast headed by Andy Lau and Louis Koo, this Hong Kong action-thriller isn’t deep but is certainly not dull. Mainland audiences have gone wild for “Drug Lords,” with 1.8 million admissions and a $105 million gross in 7 days since its July 5 release, which suggests the potential for relatively strong returns in the U.S., U.K. and other territories as well. Hong Kong release is set for July 16.

In an extended 2004-set prologue, Tin (Lau) and Dizang are low-level hoods working for Tin’s uncle, Yu Nam (Kent Cheng), a triad boss with a strict “no selling drugs” policy. When Dizang breaks the rule,...

Following the success of the critically-acclaimed box office hit The White Storm, Drug Lords is a thrilling new story in this highly cinematic, action-packed franchise. 

Starring Hong Kong cinema legends Andy Lau and Louis Koo, The White Storm 2: Drug Lords is released in UK cinemas from 12th July, on the same date as the USA and just one week after China. 

Synopsis: In Hong Kong, a former triad member-turned-property tycoon publicly offers a $100 million bounty to eliminate the notorious, number one drug dealer in the city. Causing a ripple effect throughout the underworld, the bounty sets off an escalating rivalry with devastating consequences between the two titans.

Boasting a stellar cast and directed by Herman Yau, The White Storm 2: Drug Lords is an epic and electrifying new action-thriller which demands to be seen.

BBC Studios exec Anna Mallett has been appointed Chief Executive of ITN, the British news producer and company behind Netflix’s doc series Drug Lords.

Mallett is currently Group Chief Operating Officer and MD, Production at the production arm of the British public broadcaster. She will take up her new role in 2019 following the departure of John Hardie, who leaves the company after almost a decade. Chief Financial Officer Bryan Martin and ITN Productions Editorial Director Chris Shaw assuming the respective roles of Acting CEO and Acting Editor-in-Chief in the interim.

In addition to producing a raft of factual content for broadcasters including Netflix, Channel 4, ITV and Channel 5, the company produces news programming for the latter three companies.

Prior to her current role, Anna held a number of senior positions at the BBC, including as Chief Operating Officer of the pre-merger BBC Studios, which delivered around 2000 hours of...

TLC has scored the U.S. rights to another British royal wedding – as Princess Eugenie of York prepares to walk down the aisle.

The Discovery-owned broadcaster will have the exclusive rights to Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank on October 12.

It comes after the BBC turned down the opportunity to air the wedding in the UK; instead it will air as part of ITV’s morning show This Morning and will be hosted by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.

The festivities will begin at 4:25 am Et from Windsor Castle and will be immediately followed by an encore airing beginning at 7:25 am Et. The three-hour commercial-free live feed will also be available on TLC Go after the live simulcast.

The coverage will be produced by the international division of British producer ITN Productions, which produced Drug Lords for Netflix.

“Weddings are an essential part of our programming DNA, and...

John Hardie, CEO of British producer ITN, the company behind Netflix’s recent doc series Drug Lords, is leaving the company after nearly a decade.

Hardie, joined the company in 2009 from Disney, where he was executive vice-president and managing director of Walt Disney Television across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

He leaves the company in good shape, having helped it grow into a company with revenues of £126m (Us$166M), up from £96m in 2010, with profits of nearly £6m. It also received its first Oscar nomination with Watani: My Homeland nominated in 2017 for best documentary short.

It has two major division, a news production arm, which produces news broadcasts for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, and a traditional TV production arm, which has made shows such as The Queen’s Green Planet, with Sir David Attenborough, for ITV, Killer Instinct with Chris Hansen for Investigation Discovery and Inside Monster Storms,...

Netflix is expanding its unscripted slate with three new series — comedy show The Fix with UK comedian Jimmy Carr, Katherine Ryan and D.L. Hughley. music performance series Westside and baking competition series Sugar Rush.

The Fix is described as the first comedy show in the world with the stated ambition to solve the world’s biggest problems. Through comedy. And experts. But mainly through comedy. In each episode Jimmy Carr, along with two permanent team captains – Katherine Ryan and D.L. Hughley – host guest comics and experts in taking one massive issue facing the world and attempting to solve it. The 10-episode series is produced by Embassy Row. Michael Davies and Andrew Westwell executive produce.

Westside follows a group of ambitious and talented young musicians spanning multiple genres, coming together to create an original performance series at a Los Angeles nightclub. Following the artists in their complicated lives as they...

No TV conversation is complete anymore without the Netflix behemoth, as the service adds entire seasons to its never-ending pile on a weekly basis. While recently putting together a roundup of every TV review IndieWire has published in 2018, we came to the realization that it would probably take a lifetime to get through all the shows released in this calendar year alone.

Netflix has said it will spend upwards of $8 billion annually in programming costs. Granted, some of that goes to acquisition of previously produced content — but CFO David Wells has said Netflix will produce as much as 700 originals worldwide this year. That’s a lot of TV.

In 2017, Netflix ended the year by reporting that users watched more than 140 million hours of content per day, or 1 billion hours per week. But that’s a collective stat. To put a solid number on how much of our lives Netflix has been vying for,...

Today, Netflix announced second seasons for several unscripted original series: Dope, Drug Lords, Nailed It!, Queer Eye and The Toys That Made Us.

“These series are indicative of what we’re trying to accomplish for Netflix unscripted: working with world-class producers to create the best unscripted shows on television,” said Bela Bajaria, Vice President of Content for Netflix. “These series elevate the genre with innovative takes on familiar formats. They deliver immersive and nuanced stories. They elicit so many emotions from viewers, from tears of laughter to tears of joy – and that’s just Queer Eye.”

Netflix ordered second seasons of the following unscripted originals:

Dope

A docu-series filmed from the perspective of dealers, users and the police, this vivid series features a bracing look at the war on drugs.

Season two starts April 20, 2018.

Dope is produced by Wall to Wall Media Ltd., with Jeremy Dear and Chris Lent serving...

Can we get a “Yas Queen!” over here? Why? Because Netflix has renewed “Queer Eye” for a Season 2. The streaming service announced the reboot’s upcoming second installment Monday, along with the renewals of the unscripted series “Dope,” “Drug Lords,” “Nailed It!” and “The Toys That Made Us.” “These series are indicative of what we’re trying to accomplish for Netflix unscripted: working with world-class producers to create the best unscripted shows on television,” said Bela Bajaria, vice president of content for Netflix. “These series elevate the genre with innovative takes on familiar formats. They deliver immersive and nuanced stories. They elicit...

Netflix has picked up a second season of its rebooted reality format Queer Eye, along with four other unscripted series Dope, Drug Lords, Nailed It! and The Toys That Made Us. The second season of Dope will premiere April 20, the others are yet-to-be announced. Queer Eye stars Antoni Porowski (Food & Wine), Bobby Berk (Interior Design), Karamo Brown (Culture), Jonathan Van Ness (Grooming) and Tan France (Fashion), who all are returning for Season 2. The series touches on…...