Satusfaction Proudly Announces Sponsorship of the 2024 Grierson Awards

Exciting news! The 2024 Grierson Awards are now open for entries and hold onto your popcorn, Satusfaction, are absolutely thrilled to announce that we’re teaming up with the legendary 2024 Grierson Awards as a proud sponsor!

For all you documentary buffs out there, you know the Grierson Awards are THE place to be, celebrating the best and brightest in the world of documentary filmmaking. We’re very happy to be cheering on the incredible talent and jaw-dropping stories that make documentaries so captivating.

The Satusfaction team couldn’t be more thrilled to be back supporting the Grierson Awards in 2024.  Satusfaction MD Satu says, “Documentary films have a magical power to tell stories, challenge preconceived notions, and create meaningful conversations.  We are always happy to see so many films either nominated or winning that our editors have been part of.”

For more information about the awards and how to apply Head over to The Grierson website

Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain

BBC Studios for BBC One

Editor: Tom Deverell – Episode 1

(Image: BBC/BBC Studios)

Strictly Come Dancing stars and best friends Anton Du Beke and Giovanni Pernice are back on our screens with more travel adventures and this time the dancing duo are working their way around Spain. Anton and Gio head on an epic adventure across Anton’s motherland, meeting friends old and new along the way as they explore parts of the country that neither have seen before.

Tom Deverell worked on series one and was very happy to be back to work on series two. He edited the first episode and said “It was great to work on, Anton and Giovanni have an on screen chemistry and are naturally funny so it was actually a joy to cut. The battle is finding what stuff to lose and there are plenty of great scenes that you have to reluctantly lose for duration. Hopefully, they will be back for season 3!”.

Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures in Spain airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 9pm on Monday 18th March.

My Big Gay Wedding

Minnow Films for BBC One and BBC iPlayer

Executive Producers: Alicia Kerr and Sophie Leonard

Editor: Connor Snedecor

Wednesday 27th March 9pm BBC One

Photo: My Big Gay Wedding with Tom Allen. Minnow Films, BBC One

2023 marked the 10th anniversary of same sex marriage being legalised in England and Wales. To commemorate this significant milestone, comedian Tom Allen goes all out to plan the wedding of a lifetime for one fortunate gay couple. Tom will also uncover the struggle for marriage equality, engaging with the inspiring LGBTQ+ pioneers who played a pivotal role in making this day a reality. He shares his personal journey as a gay individual and explores the considerable progress that has been achieved in the realm of gay rights.

Adam and Dan have a wedding booked in just three months, and Tom is determined to sprinkle some magic to make it an unforgettable affair. My Big Gay Wedding will culminate in the blissful wedding of the couple, serving as a celebration of love, community, and the hard-fought battle for equality.

Connor who edited this one off documentary special said “I loved working on this film. Working with the director Mike Nicholls was so easy, Tom Allen was perceptive and hilarious as always, and I think and hope we’ve done justice to a decades-long activist struggle while keeping it fun”.

My Big Gay Wedding will air on Wednesday 27th March BBC One 9pm

A tribute to Aleks Kvam

We are saddened to announce the passing of Aleks Kvam, an editor very close to our hearts.

We had the pleasure of representing Aleks for nearly a decade and got to know him very well over that time. Incredibly talented, he was an absolute joy to work with, always kind, polite and just a wonderful human being. He continually surprised us with his hobbies and regaled us with stories from his travels all over the world. He was an exceptional ballroom dancer and competed to a high level with his wife Izzy (also an exceptional dancer)!  He even taught some of the Satusfaction team some moves at our party a few months ago – memories we will always treasure. He also loved sailing and used to show-jump, always eager to learn new skills and live life at its fullest.

Aleks really cared about his work and always went the extra mile, his infectious smile and bonhomie made clients adore him and they often ended up becoming good friends with him.

It is difficult to express just how lovely Aleks was, he will be sorely missed by all of us.

RTS Programme Awards 2024

Photo: Royal Television Society rts.org.uk

We are thrilled to see that the nominations for the prestigious RTS Awards have been revealed, highlighting the best in television excellence. Celebrating outstanding achievement across a range of genres, the RTS Awards are a testament to the talent and creativity within the industry. Among the nominees are some familiar favourites…

Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World (BBC Studios Specialist Factual Productions for BBC) has been nominated in the Arts category. Paul Holland loved editing this brilliant doc and is really chuffed of the recognition it is deservedly getting through many award nominations this year.

Banged Up (Shine TV for Channel 4) has been nominated in the Formatted Popular Factual category. Sean Schmolz was the editor across all for episodes of this which sees  celebrities get locked up as prisoners to investigate what life is really like behind bars.

Squid Game: The Challenge (Studio Lambert & The Garden for Netflix) has been nominated in the Entertainment Category. Gruff Lovegreen and Tim Fielding worked across this new series inspired from the popular Netflix drama and it’s already making a splash and proving just as popular.

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 (BBC Studios Entertainment Productions, Windfall Films for BBC) has been nominated in the Live Event category. Windfall Films utilised their signature aerial shots to give Dom Lester and Rich Lester gorgeous, post card-like material to reveal each country in all their beauty.

Junior Bake Off (Love Productions for Channel 4) has been nominated in the Daytime Category. It was Hannah Woolfson’s first time working on the series and clearly her expertise in editing brilliant cookery shows shone through.

Congratulations to all the nominees. Esteemed comedian Tom Allen will be returning to host the ceremony this year, which will be held on Tuesday 26th March at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

The nominations were presented via a broadcast on the RTS website and YouTube channel by television presenter Gaby Roslin which can be watched HERE.

Gold Rush White Water: Series 7

Raw TV for Discovery

Editors: Mike Kerr – Ep 10

Simon Bennett – Ep 5

Simon MacKenzie – Ep 7

Premieres Friday 8th March on Discovery

Gold Rush White Water is back and this season is an emotional one! Building on the events of the previous series where Dustin Hurt bought his father Dakota’s mining equipment, the stakes are higher than ever. Dustin has streamlined his crew and has crafted a new plan for Nugget Creek.

Dustin bids a poignant farewell to his father Fred Hurt who sadly died in July 2023. Known affectionately as “Dakota Fred,” the iconic miner left a lasting impact on fans with his appearances on Gold Rush and subsequent shows, including the inception of White Water in 2018.

This series is filled with adrenaline-fueled mining adventures and poignant reflections on legacy and loss.

Simon Bennett who edited episode 5 said “it was so refreshing having 11 weeks for an episode so we could really get the best out of the material, find gold nuggets and have time to polish and craft it, and I was very proud to make such an important episode in white water gold rush history, RIP Fred”.

It was Simon Mackenzie‘s first time working on Gold Rush and cut a particularly complex but also exciting and entertaining episode, that had some key information as well as some great actuality scenes, e.g. a storm threatening to destroy the season and Dustin free climbing up the side of the cliff without a safety harness. “It will hopefully have viewers on the edge of their seats.

Gold Rush White Water Series 7 Premieres Friday 8th March on Discovery.

Inside the Force: Series 3

Offline Editors: Ben Burges, Fred Ziecker and Mitch Bannon

Online Editor: Jim Dale

Exec Producer: Tayte Simpson

Mentorn Media for Channel 5

Photo Credit: Inside the Force

Fly-on-the-wall series that follows the daily challenges of Lincolnshire’s busiest police station, West Parade. This series goes behind the station doors, from the custody suite and the overstretched response officers to the force control room and the investigation teams.

Offline editors Ben Burgess, Fred Ziecker and Mitch Bannon will soon be able to open their own 999 service with the amount of in depth knowledge they’ve accumulated over years of cutting blue light but no two programmes are the same and each project brings a new facet into view.

We chatted to Ben Burgess who edited two of the episodes. He said “It has been an enjoyable series to work on in many ways. It’s fun to create excitement and tension, showing police hunting and dealing with often dangerous criminals. But, with my eps covering subjects such as domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse, it can also be quite disturbing. My RX8 ep was particularly interesting because it’s about an attempted murder case – the stabbing of a 15 year-old girl by a stalker – which as you can imagine is especially disturbing, But, having the consent of the family in that case and being able to explore the investigation in some depth, it feels like it’s a positive thing to put the story on screen, potentially alerting people to the dangers of social media”.

All the while, online editor Jim Dale is also familiar with police programmes and knows better than most how to put the blue in blue light. Although it was his first time working on Inside the Force he soon captured the tone and signature look of the show.

Inside the Force starts tonight 9pm on Channel 5

Monty Don’s Spanish Gardens

BBC2 8pm

Editor: Helena Vagnolini

Exec Producer: Alexandra Henderson

AHA Productions for BBC Two

23rd Feb 2023

Photo Credit BBC

This brand-new series see’s Monty Don embark on a captivating journey across Spain to explore it’s most intriguing gardens, community projects, and parks delving deep into the essence of the country.  He spent 7 weeks visiting over 40 gardens and his travels span from ancient imperial palaces to innovative modern gardens crafted by a new generation of Spanish designers.

Helena Vagnolini who edited Episode 2 and was the co-editor or Episode 3 said  “It’s a really beautifully shot series, it was fascinating to see such vastly different gardens all over Spain, with ever changing landscapes and climates.   A pleasure to work on, even better when your producer speaks Spanish! I hope it will be enjoyed by old and new Monty Don fans”.  Helena is now working on the next Monty Don series.

Episode 1 will be on Friday 23rd February 8pm BBC2 

High

Series 2: Surviving a Dubai Drugs Bust

Blast Films for BBC Three and BBC iPlayer

Editor: Chris Scurfield

A docudrama detailing the real-life case of three friends in Dubai being arrested for drug possession and the issues they had to deal with.

In 2012, Karl Williams, Grant Cameron, and Suneet Jeerh found themselves in trouble for possessing a quantity of synthetic cannabis, commonly referred to as spice. They claimed they were given electric shocks and had guns held to their heads during a seven-month period when they were held without trial.

Following their sentencing to four years in prison in April 2013, a ray of hope emerged with a pardon granted under a Ramadan amnesty merely three months later. This compelling docu-drama combines gripping dramatic reconstructions of their ordeal with insightful interviews with Williams himself.

Chris Scurfield was the co- editor of all 5 episodes of this series, working on it for a total of 7 months. This was a dream job for Chris, he loved working on the series and especially enjoyed cutting the playful and visually ambitious drama sequences.

High: Surviving a Dubai Drugs Bust is available now on BBC iPlayer

World’s Most Dangerous Roads

Exec Producers: Harry Lansdown and Natalie Wilkinson

Renegade Pictures for UKTV / Dave

Editors:

Andreas Torner: Series 4 Ep1 ‘Albania’ and Series 5  Ep 8 ‘Bulgaria’

Melanie Golden: Series 5. Ep 3 ’Sri Lanka’ and Ep 7 ’Bhutan’

Ian David Smith. Finishing Editor. Series 5

Photo credit: Dave and UKTV Play

A fresh team of daring comedy stars and celebrities gear up to take on even more challenging adventures as they set off on extraordinary road trips through some of the most stunning and isolated regions on the planet. Never before have a group of individuals been less equipped to deal with everything these genuinely terrifying roads throw at them!

Andreas has worked on a couple of series now and he said “It’s a great format – part travel show, part comedy and it’s a lot fun to work on”.

Melanie edited the Bhutan and Sri Lanka episodes with comedian duos Maddix and Larry Dean venturing into Bhutan and Jeff Stelling and Chris Kamara embarking on a journey through Sri Lanka. Melanie enjoyed working on the series commenting; “The World’s Most Dangerous Roads – what a ride 🙂 2 comedians/celebrities in a car, filmed all day in epic landscapes, doing crazy things and trying to stay on the road, being funny, witty, scared and sharing some insights into themselves. Editors dream. Biggest challenge on this show – the amount of amazing content that we have to get through, and deciding what will finally make it into the edit, having to finding the balance between the epic journey, the culture of the country, the funny moments ( and there are so so many) and then the insight into our contributors. A fantastic show and an incredible team!”

Catch Worlds Most Dangerous Roads on Dave on Sundays 8pm or all episodes available on UKTV Play.

Sunderland Til I Die: Series 3

Editor: Jake Lofdahl Exec Producers: Benjamin Turner & Leo Pearlman Fulwell 73 for Netflix Picture: Netflix Confirmed to be the final season with just three episodes, Sunderland Til I Die returns to Netflix on 13th February.  Jake Lofdahl was co-editor on Episode 1. The returning sports ob… Read More

The Traitors USA Series 2

Editor: James Sheldon Exec Producer: Sam Rees-Jones Studio Lambert for Peacock and BBC 12th Jan 2024 The Traitors USA Series 2: Peacock. Official Trailer This immensely popular show was a real viewings winner and is back for a second series. It’s hosted by Alan Cumming and the US cast… Read More

Bad Surgeon: Love Under the Knife

Nutopia for Netflix Premieres: 29th November Editor: Franco Bogino Director: Ben Steele This documentary series explores the rise and then dramatic downfall of the ‘superstar surgeon’ Paolo Macchiarini. In 2011, Macchiarini was heralded for revolutionizing transplant medicine with his groundbreaking alternative to organ donation , plastic windpipes that seemed… Read More

Robbie Williams

RSA Films for Netflix Exec Producer: Asif Kapadia & Dominic Crossley-Holland Dir. Joe Pearlman Editor: Jamie Williams Eps 1 & 2 Released 8th November Netflix are calling this this four-part documentary series raw, honest and real. This biopic docuseries looks at British pop superstar, Robbie Williams.  One of… Read More

Brawn: The Impossible Formula One Story

North One for Disney+ 15th November 2023 Exec Producers: Neil Duncanson and Keanu Reeves Editors Matt Lowe, Jayesh Lathia Felix Black and Bahader Mattu This filmic four-part documentary series with Keanu Reeves uses interviews and archive to tell the incredible story of Ross Brawn who led a… Read More

Who Killed Jill Dando?

Empress Films for Netflix Director: Marcus Plowright Executive Producer: Emma Cooper Editor: Abraham Teweldebrhan In 1999 BBC presenter Jill Dando was sadly shot dead outside her home in west London, her murder led to a high profile and complex investigation. A suspect, Barry George was convicted and imprisoned for… Read More

AP Dhillon: First of a Kind

Passion Pictures for Amazon Prime Exec Producer: Amy Foster Series Director: Jay Ahmed, Editor: Sarjit Bains Premieres 18th August This four part fly on the wall docuseries delves into the life of Amritpal Singh Dhillon, the self-made superstar known globally as AP Dhillon. He is known for his tracks… Read More