ZODIAK RIGHTS HIT DRAMA the DISAPPEARANCE ARRIVES ON UK S BBC FOUR

Zodiak Rights, the international distribution arm of Banijay Group, confirmed today that it has sold ratings-winning hit French drama The Disappearance (Disparue) to the UK's BBC Four, alongside a host of territories worldwide.

BBC Four has signed the 8 x 60' series, which is produced by Quad Television for France Televisions, for primetime broadcast this spring. The Disappearance - an intense, character-driven drama tracing a family's increasing distress when their teenage daughter fails to return home from a night out - has also been acquired around the world, with deals in Italy (Mediaset), Slovakia (Rozhlas a Telev zia Slovenska), Estonia (Kanal 2), Slovenia (RTV SLOVENIJA), Poland (NBCUniversal International - 13 Ulica), and Iceland (RUV). In addition, a deal with Channel One in Russia will see The Disappearance broadcast across Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The Disappearance made its broadcast debut on France 2 in 2015 and was the best performing series of the year, securing an audience of more than 6 million and delivering a 50% increase on the slot average. Described as France's answer to Broadchurch (Deadline Hollywood), the series also achieved wide critical acclaim and won the Best Actress award for lead Alix Poisson (The Returned / Les Revenants) at Series Mania 2015.

Caroline Torrance, Head of Scripted at Zodiak Rights commented, We're very pleased to lead the global success story of The Disappearance with this landmark sale to BBC Four, the UK home of a roster of television's most successful international dramas in recent years. With its impeccable talent, both on and off screen, combined with a gripping storyline, which gradually reveals the truth - and secrets - behind L a's disappearance, this exciting primetime drama delivers great international appeal and we're expecting to conclude more sales through 2016.

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition said: The Disappearance is a wonderfully nuanced and compelling drama that will keep viewers engrossed until the very end.

The Disappearance explores every parent's worst nightmare: their child going missing, their fate unknown. Promising 17-year-old student, L a Morel (Camille Razat), and her cousin, Chris (Zo Marchal), should have returned from Lyon's Festival of Music with exciting tales of teenage adventure but she didn't come home. The last that was heard of her was a 3am answering machine message saying: Daddy! It's L a Daddy if you're here please pick up! Her father, Julien (Pierre-Fran ois Martin-Laval), cannot bear to wait. He embarks on a mission to find his daughter. Her mother, Florence (Alix Poisson), tries to maintain a semblance of normality, especially for her younger daughter, Zoe (Stella Trotonda). Meanwhile, L a's elder brother, Thomas (Maxime Taffanel), is racked by guilt. He had promised to accompany her home that night.

Episode-by-episode, everyone's secrets are revealed. The police investigation, led by Inspector Molina (Fran ois-Xavier Demaison), builds a portrait of a complex young girl. Suspicion falls on Romain (L o Legrand), who it emerges was the last person to see her on Friday night. L a's been missing for 36 hours now. Has she runaway, been kidnapped or murdered?

Zodiak Rights holds worldwide distribution rights to the series excluding Germany and Benelux.

LINK:	http://www.banijay.com/zodiak-rights-hit-drama-the-disappearance-arriv...
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