Hat Trick International (HTI) is launching three premium true-crime documentary series at MIPCOM, two of them are Nine Network Australia documentaries — "The Toolbox Murders" and "The Byron Bay Murders" — both produced by Perpetual Entertainment in association with Marmalade Sky. Also premiering internationally in Cannes is "The Catfish Next Door", produced by STV Studios Factual for BBC iPlayer, BBC Scotland and BBC Three.
"The Toolbox Murders" (2x60 mins) which has sold to Channel 4 in the UK delves into one of Queensland’s most chilling double homicides: the murder of Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru, who were lured to a drug den by a violent gang and subjected to horrific torture before being locked in a large metal toolbox and drowned alive.
"The Byron Bay Murders" (2x60 mins) sets out to solve a decades-long mystery: what happened to the 67 women who vanished without trace along Australia’s east coast, from New Castle to Byron Bay?. The doc launched successfully on Ch9 Australia in July and will air on A&E in the UK later this year.
"The Catfish Next Door" (3x45 mins) tells the story of former NHS nurse Adele Rennie who, over a 10-year period, duped numerous women in sophisticated ‘catfish’ campaigns that began online but had devastating real-life consequences for her victims.
Meanwhile, one of the best-selling titles on HTI’s growing slate of premium crime titles, "Rose West: Born Evil?", continues to sell around the world. A+E Germany and Britbox Australia are the latest broadcasters to acquire the Kalel Productions’ one-hour documentary, which charts West’s journey from harsh childhood to brutal mother to sadistic, sexually motivated murderer. Since it TXed on Channel 5 in 2021, Rose West: Born Evil?, has been sold to Foxtel Australia, TV4 Finland, Planete+ France, AVRO/TROS Netherlands and TV4 Sweden.
Sarah Tong, director of sales at Hat Trick International, said: “In the case of 'The Toolbox Murders', 'The Byron Bay Murders' and 'The Catfish Next Door', we’re proud to be an accessory to crime — all three titles tell sensational stories that chill and thrill, offer an insight into the justice system and invite viewers to solve real-life whodunnits. We have every confidence that our new true-crime launches will perform as well internationally as 'Rose West: Born Evil?', 'Click For Murder', 'Killer Women with Piers Morgan' and 'Serial Killer with Piers Morgan', all of which continue to do buoyant business, particularly in the AVOD space.”
