Documentary+ Streamer Sets Originals Including ‘Crypto Farmers’ – Deadline
EXCLUSIVE: Documentary+, the free streaming service launched by nonfiction studio XTR, has launched its latest slate of original documentaries.
The service launches three new films in October and November in addition to The punishment of Michael Thompsonwhich comes to the service after its debut on MSNBC, and When the LAPD blows up your neighborhoodwhich was the service’s first original.
Crypto farmerswhich launches on November 8, comes from director Nick Aldrige, who helmed Hillsong Church: God Goes Viral which aired on BBC Storyville beach.
It explores the unlikely relationship between a young cryptocurrency entrepreneur and struggling farmers in Wales. As UK farms continue to close due to unprofitability, Crypto farmers follows a group of Brits as they build water, solar and fertilizer-powered crypto mining rigs to both boost crypto’s environmental reputation and preserve the farmers’ way of life.
Directed by Nick Aldridge and produced by Natasha Coleman and executive produced by XTR’s Bryn Mooser, Kathryn Everett, Abazar Khayami and Justin Lacob.
Mala Ondawhich launches on October 27, comes from Danilo Parra, who co-created and directed Vice’s Hamilton’s Pharmacopoeia.
It investigates the mystery surrounding sudden animal deaths in Puerto Rico. From 1975 to the present day, stories of animals being dried through small circular incisions gripped Puerto Rican towns and gave rise to rumors of vampires, aliens and chupacabras. Through interviews with farmers, media, researchers, historians and local witnesses, Mala Onda explores our collective obsession with the unexplained, while showcasing the diversity of culture and thought in the affected Puerto Rican towns.
Directed by Parra, it is produced by Michael Biggam and exec produced by Matthew Clyde and XTR’s Bryn Mooser, Kathryn Everett, Abazar Khayami and Justin Lacob.
When the LAPD blows up your neighborhoodwhich was formerly known as Fireworkscomes from Nathan Truesdell, who produced an Oscar-nominated doc Ascension. It will be launched on October 25.
It explores a botched LAPD operation that caused an explosive disaster in an LA neighborhood. In 2021, an LAPD bomb squad confiscated and attempted to detonate a large cache of illegal fireworks on a residential street in South LA. However, the squad underestimated the explosive power of the fireworks and their detonation went out of control, blowing up cars, houses and the bomb squad’s vehicle itself.
It is directed and produced by Truesdell, and produced by Will Lennon and Kat Nguyen. It is ex-produced by XTR’s Bryn Mooser, Kathryn Everett, Abazar Khayami and Justin Lacob.
The punishment of Michael Thompson is co-distributed by Documentary+ and MSNBC Films and launches on the former on November 1 following the MSNBC launch on October 30.
It tells the powerful story of the longest-serving nonviolent offender in Michigan history, and the legal battle surrounding his life sentence. Directed by Kyle Thrash and Haley Elizabeth Anderson, the film follows Michael’s daughter Rashawnda and his lawyer Kim as they fight for clemency, examining both the damaging legacy of the war on drugs and the ways forward as national cannabis legalization becomes a reality.
Directed by Kyle Thrash and Haley Elizabeth Anderson, it is produced by Thrash and W. Ian Ross, and executive produced by Lydia Kives and William Crause and XTR’s Bryn Mooser, Kathryn Everett and Justin Lacob.
“Doc+ Originals is a huge step for the platform,” said co-founder Justin Lacob. “This is just the beginning of the launch of original films and series, which will also include the acquisition of first-run titles straight from the world’s best film festivals. We’ve been thrilled with Documentary+’s success in bringing our viewers some of the world’s best non-fiction films and series, and we can’t wait for them to see our original content.”
