BossaNova Media, the content creation, funding and distribution company, has announced that Canada’s Bell Media has acquired its new feature documentary, Siegfried and Roy: The Original Tiger Kings.

Produced by AMS Pictures for Reelz, the 60-minute documentary was first pitched to the international market at BossaNova’s 2022 Development Days. The film tells the compelling story of master illusionists Siegfried and Roy, whose Las Vegas shows incorporated magic tricks featuring 20 white lions and tigers, which they treated like cuddly props. That illusion, however, was shattered when an angry tiger attacked and severely wounded Roy Horn — a terrifying moment that sparked countless conspiracy theories and cover-ups.

Siegfried and Roy: The Original Tiger Kings features exclusive interviews with activists such as Carol Baskin friends and contemporaries of the German-American magicians, whose mix of sequined glitz and white-tiger magic reinvented Las Vegas. But the myths that made Siegfried and Roy global superstars were more fiction than fact. The documentary reveals the shocking truth behind the lies they spun before and after the fateful night that ended their career. Tiger experts, meanwhile, discuss the tragic legacy of the pair’s obsession with giant cats, which still reverberates worldwide.

BossaNova has also announced its third Development Days on Jan 10-11, combining virtual and in-person pitching sessions and has issued an open call to independent producers interested in pitching their brand new factual and true-crime projects to key UK and international buyers. The event is to be held on January 10-11 in the Soho Screening Rooms in central London, the 2023 will be powered by live-streaming, podcast and interactive voting technology. Data will be collected from buyers on such factors as strength of editorial concept and perceived international potential. This information will then provide the basis for greenlighting projects.

The 2023 Development Day will again be curated by BossaNova’s Olivia Daines, acquisitions and co-pro executive, and produced by Jasmin Joseph, marketing manager. Examples of recent Development Days successes include Searching for Michael Jackson’s Zoo (1x75) from Rare TV for ITV, history-mystery series Ancient Egypt by Train and Lost Temples of Cambodia, produced in partnership with Channel 4; and Con Girl, which is slated to air on Paramount+ and Network Seven later this year.

Joseph said: “Each year, we seek to build on the knowledge gained from the previous year’s Development Days to create a better and more user-friendly experience — which is why we’re pioneering a hybrid event format for 2023. As far as I’m aware, this edition will be our industry’s first totally live streamed interactive event. We’ve invested in state-of-the-art technology to ensure that there’s no time lag, which means that everyone, however they attend, will have the same audiovisual experience. In true BossaNova style, we want to make it as easy and enjoyable as possible.”

With two years of buyer research surveys and programming requests to draw upon, BossaNova now has a much clearer idea of its buyers’ requirements and, as a result, is seeking fewer, more targeted producer pitches for its third Development Days.

Daines said: “By dialling back on numbers, there’s a higher probability that the projects we showcase will get made as we will be honing in on subjects gathered in our research. In response to buyer feedback, this year’s line-up will focus on factual and crime projects. We all understand the pressure our broadcast partners are under when it comes to accessing fresh ideas that can be made within ever-tighter constraints of time and budget and BossaNova’s Development Days can help make that happen.”