Streaming giant aims to boost local libraries

East of Eden Netflix event

Netflix recently hosted an event to promote its adaptation of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden

Netflix partners with British Library to promote books behind popular series

Netflix has unveiled a national partnership to support the British Library and local libraries across the UK. The streamer is donating books behind popular films and series on its platform to 100 libraries. Netflix has discovered that books linked to favourite films and TV series can encourage reluctant readers and hopefully stem gloomy findings of the National Literacy Trust’s 2025 Annual Literacy Survey, which revealed children’s enjoyment of reading had fallen to its lowest recorded level. Netflix will donate books behind hits such as Heartstopper, One Day, Pride and Prejudice and The Thursday Murder Club to libraries around the UK, with the partnership also including a series of events exploring how books make it to screen. 

Boat Rocker Studios picks up true-crime doc for international audiences

Boat Rocker Studios has boarded Canadian documentary Doula: A True Crime ahead of its debut on 7 October. The three-part series, from filmmaker Nathalie Bibeau and by Muse Entertainment, examines the bizarre story of Kaitlyn Braun who faked a stillborn pregnancy to more than 40 doulas and was ultimately charged with 53 criminal offences. The series features the first-ever interview with Braun and will air on CBC Gem in Canada, with Boat Rocker Studios acquiring the series internationally.

Sky’s Portrait Artist of the Year refreshes judging line-up

Storyvault Films’ Portrait Artist of the Year returns for a 13th sitting on Sky Arts with a new judging panel. Portrait artist Jonathan Yeo and historian and curator Katy Hessel join Eva Langret, director of EMEA for arts fair Frieze, who is also a judge on sister show Landscape Artist of the Year. Stephen Mangan returns to present the 12 x 60-minute series, which will see the likes of Vanessa Williams, Jamie Lloyd, Sheridan Smith and Louis Theroux sit for the amateur painters. Danielle Graham and Samantha Richards exec produce the series, which was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones, executive director, unscripted for Sky, for Cécile Frot-Coutaz, chief executive of Sky Studios and chief content officer, Sky. The commissioning editor for Sky is Benedetta Pinelli. Portrait Artist of the Year airs on Sky Arts and Now from 7 October.

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