Killer Virus: Case Studies of co-productions on the AIDS & Ebola epidemics

The challenges of covering the Coronavirus pandemic are anticipated in two of my Case Studies:

• Rise of the Killer Virus and
• In Ebola’s Wake.

HIV / AIDS:

• The Rise of the Killer Virus is a scientific detective story.
• It traces the pre-history of HIV back to the moment of its origination in Africa around 1908.
• Key production partners:
  • Director: Carl Gierstorfer
  • Producer: Antje Boehmert, DOCDAYS Productions, Berlin
  • Co-pro partners Fabrice Estève, YUZU Productions, Paris, and Paul Pauwels, CONGOO, Brussels.
• Funders:
  • Smithsonian Channel (North America)
  • ZDF in collaboration with ARTE (Germany & France)
  • China’s CCTV10 Science Channel
  • Belgium’s pubcasters RTBF (French) & VRT (Flemish)
  • Additional financing from the EU (MEDIA) and the Flemish Film Fund (VAF)
  • PBS International distributed for the rest of the world.
• Budget: €550,000+

EBOLA

• In Ebola’s Wake reveals the dangers involved in a fast turnaround film.
• The Berlin-based team: producer Antje Boehmert and director Carl Gierstorfer.
• They lacked initial financing, and filmed in a very high-risk location.
• Key partners:
  • Al Jazeera America (since sadly closed)
  • SWR/ARTE: Germany / France
  • PBS International
  • Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting
• Budget: €300,000+

Read the detailed Case Studies:

• Rise of the Killer Virus
• In Ebola’s Wake
• And don’t miss my collection of 34 original Case Studies