Ro*co no longer curating docs for OWN’s ‘Doc Club’

May 1, 2012 by Adam Benzine

Distributor ro*co films will no longer curate feature length docs for the ‘ OWN Documentary Club’ on Oprah Winfrey’s U.S. network, the San Francisco-based indie has said in a statement.

The two companies first announced in 2009 that they would be teaming up to identify docs for the network, with ro*co hired to assisted in sourcing documentaries on a monthly basis. Talking to realscreen, a spokesperson for ro*co said the two companies “had different visions for the potential of the ‘Documentary Club.’”

And in a statement issued yesterday (May 1), Annie Roney, founder of ro*co films international, added: “Our decision to work with OWN was an exciting one – together we created a new and innovative distribution platform for cinematic documentary films for which we are very proud.

“We’re now turning our focus to creating dynamic new partnerships – including our most recent partnership with 1492 Pictures – that further the reach of documentary film.

“In addition, as digital opportunities for these stories are exploding, there is greater demand for sourced and curated content, and more brands who want to be associated with these game-changing, marquee films.”

MAY 2 UPDATE: An OWN spokesperson tells realscreen the network is bringing documentary acquisitions in-house. All documentary submissions for consideration can now be sent to Scott Garner, OWN’s senior VP of scheduling, acquisitions and planning.

The spokesperson added of ro*co: “We thank them for their partnership and wish them all the best.”

Tags: Oprah Winfrey, OWN, OWN Documentary Club, ro*co films productions, Ro*co Productions