Fugitive forges Rogo partnership
Details
Joseph O'Halloran
| 09 April 2020

Content development, financing and executive producer Fugitive has formed an exclusive partnership with newly formed AJH Films company Rogo Productions.

The deal will see Fugitive, run by Anthony Kimble and Merrily Ross, pick up the international distribution rights to feature documentary Keep Quiet, which has already featured on Netflix, as well as new series Conflict of Interest and Empty Planet, a fast-turnaround Covid-19 series, as well as become a development and distribution partner on Abby, a major new multi-part drama series based on the true story of Abby Stein, a young woman from New York, who used to be an ultra-Orthodox Rabbi.

Stein’s tale begins seven years ago as Yisroel, a Jewish Rabbi in Brooklyn. Being a descendant of a prominent Hasidic dynasty, Yisroel dressed in the traditional long black coat, fur top hat, long side curls and a lengthy beard and had a young wife, a small child and was a rising star on the rabbinical circuit. That is until Yisroel shocked the local community and came out as Abby, a transgender woman (pictured).

Abby, the scripted series, is now being co-developed by London-based Rogo Productions’ Howard Cohen alongside Anthony Kimble from Fugitive, and follows Abby’s journey of self-discovery and transformation into a leading LGBTQ activist, exploring what identity, community, religion and family mean.

A limited series currently being filmed, and available for pre-sale, Conflict of Interest is directed by Chris Martin and aims to become the definitive production on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, delving behind the historical and political headlines to examine every possible angle in order to unlock its mysteries. Rogo has already conducted interviews, gaining contributions with a wide range of prominent politicians, diplomats, academics, activist and journalists, including Professor Noam Chomsky, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Nickolay Mladenov, UN ambassador to the region, and former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak.

Also currently available for pre-sale is Empty Planet (3x60’), an epic trip around the world’s most historic and eye-catching landmarks and landscapes as we’ve never seen them before – totally empty. The series is being shot entirely through drone footage during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“[The content pieces] convey important contemporary messages about religion, tolerance and acceptance,” commented Rogo Productions managing director Alex Holder. “These messages really need to be heard so I am delighted to be working in partnership with Fugitive. Not only will the team’s advice and development skills help to deliver a brilliantly compelling drama, but its international expertise will ensure that these titles – along with our fast turnaround Covid-19 series, Empty Planet - will ultimately be seen by as many people as possible around the globe.”