Newen Connect Explores Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine with Investigative Documentaries (EXCLUSIVE)

variety.com:

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentAlong with its premium scripted lineup, Newen Connect is launching a pair of timely investigative documentaries, “Ukraine” and “Wagner,” which are providing insight into the current war.

Now filming, “Ukraine” is being co-directed by Ksenia Blochakova, the Russia correspondent of the news channel France 24, and Philippe Lagnier, a journalist working at Newen-owned production banner Capa. “Ukraine” is a one-hour documentary featuring interviews with soldiers, politicians and intellectuals speaking about the Russian offensive.

The docu, commissioned Arte in France and in Germany, is expected to air at the end of April. Chloé Persyn, who joined Newen Connect last year as head of factual distribution, said “Ukraine” illustrates the banner’s capacity to turn around in-depth documentaries exploring complex geo-political issues in record time. “Wagner,” co-directed by Blochakova and Alexandra Jousset, sheds light on the Wagner Group, a private Russian military force which is known as Putin’s shadow army. “‘Wagner’ drew more than one million viewers on France 5, the French broadcaster, so it was a huge hit and it sold to a flurry of TV channels around the world, including ZDF in Germany, NHK in Japan, YLE in Finland and Radio Canada,” said Persyn, who previously worked at the Paris-based documentary banner ZED.

Persyn described “Wagner” as an “unprecedented investigation into Poutine’s secret weapon” and shows how this army is acting in different countries, from Ukraine to Syria and Mali.