(Toronto, Canada – July 14, 2020) – Blue Ant International announces today that it has entered into a multi-year deal with Rockhead Entertainment that will see the global distributor representing 140+ hours of content across 11 seasons of celebrity chef David Rocco’s hit Dolce Vita franchise. Rocco, co-founder of Rockhead Entertainment, is the executive producer of this cohesive collection of lifestyle and cooking series, in which he travels the world to sample and cook authentic regional cuisines. As part of the deal, Blue Ant International now represents: David Rocco’s Dolce Italia (13 x 30’; HD); David Rocco’s Dolce Southeast Asia (13 x 30’; HD); David Rocco’s Dolce Vita, Seasons 1 to 4 (39 x 30’; SD (Seasons 1-3); 13 x 30’ & 1 x 60’; HD (Season 4)) ; David Rocco’s Dolce Tuscany (13 x 30’; HD); David Rocco’s Dolce Napoli (13 x 30’; HD); David Rocco’s Dolce India Season 1 and 2 (26 x 30’; HD); and David Rocco’s Dolce Africa (13 x 30’; HD). The deal with Rockhead Entertainment was brokered by Kate Blank, Senior Director, International Sales, Blue Ant International.
“Rocco’s Dolce Vita series serves as a decadent, much-needed escape for viewers, who get to immerse themselves in the beauty, culture and, most of all, the regional cuisine of countries around the world,” says Ludo Dufour, SVP, International Co-Productions and Sales, Blue Ant International. “David’s warm, enthusiastic and inclusive approach, coupled with stunning production values, vibrant colours, a dynamic pace and locally relevant music are the perfect ingredients for an appetizing franchise, which will travel remarkably well and delight those who order it.”
“I’m excited to share my story and passion for food and world culture with even more viewers worldwide,” says David Rocco, Co-Founder, Executive Producer, Rockhead Entertainment. “Blue Ant International’s global relationships make them a great partner to work with.”
David Rocco’s Dolce Italia (13 x 30’; HD) is the latest installment of David Rocco’s immersion into Italian culture, which sees him travelling to and experiencing regions he’s never been to, including the northern cities of Milan, Verona, Venice, Cinque Terre, Bologna and Rome. Viewers join David as he explores these famous locations in ways that have never been seen before, where the people and their stories run parallel to the art, music and food of these great cities. From the hip, cosmopolitan and vibrant Milan to the ancient water canals of Venice, and down to the Eternal City of Rome, this series captures the way Italians celebrate life and live their very own Dolce Vita: with good food, humor, passion and spontaneity.
After falling in love with the sights, smells and of course flavours of Southeast Asia in his many travels through the region, David Rocco has decided to see what this tropical wonderland has in store for him in his latest series, David Rocco’s Dolce Southeast Asia (13 x 30; HD). Travelling to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, David learns traditional dishes and samples the street food he’s heard about from foodies all over the world. Seeing first-hand the unique cultures thriving in rural villages and the bustling cosmopolitan cities, David is inspired to share with the world the stories of the people he meets along the way.
David Rocco’s Dolce Vita (39 x 30’; SD (Seasons 1-3); 13 x 30’ & 1 x 60’; HD (Season 4)) is the original Dolce Vita series, set in Italy, which includes four seasons, plus a one-hour Christmas special, and takes viewers along with David as he sets up residence in Florence and ventures out to different regions of the country. With Florence as his homebase, Rocco immerses himself into the Italian lifestyle, while cooking easy-to-learn recipes for family and friends and taking time to truly experience ‘la dolce vita’ – a sweet life indeed. The second and third seasons include special trips from David’s home in Florence to the Amalfi Coast, where he takes in the sights and sounds of the Mediterranean and to Sicily, which includes a visit to the famous Palermo markets as well as the surrounding countryside. In Season 4, David and his family move out of Florence into a centuries-old farmhouse in the Tuscan countryside where he immerses himself in the regional culture and creates dishes using great olive oil and simple, seasonal fresh ingredients sometimes picked from his own garden.
David Rocco’s Dolce Tuscany (13 x 30’; HD) is the fifth installment of the Dolce Vita series, where David experiences all that Tuscany has to offer: fishing the storied lagoons of Orbetello, braving the crowds at the Palio di Siena, celebrating the wheat harvest in the Tuscan countryside and even uncovering Florence’s small, but vibrant, Indian community. He also explores the birthplaces of some of Italy’s most famous (and delicious) exports including gelato, balsamic vinegar and Parmigiano, only to discover that the food producers are just as interesting as the food itself.
David Rocco’s Dolce Napoli (13 x 30’; HD) is the sixth season in the Dolce Vita series, in which David visits Naples: one the world’s oldest inhabited cities, and a treasure trove for foodies and travel junkies alike. Famous for its music, museums and thriving arts, this Southern Italian city is also the birthplace of pizza and espresso as we know it, making it the perfect place for David to embark on a culinary adventure. He uncovers hidden gems in the city and explores the surrounding scenic islands of Capri, Ischia, Procida and the beautiful Sorrento peninsula. Through David, viewers get to know the proud and passionate Neapolitans and experience the real Naples: gritty, colourful, vibrant and full of life.
David Rocco’s Dolce India (26 x 30’; HD; Seasons 1&2) brings a sensual, cinematic style to the exuberance and color of India, in which David explores the remarkable variety of the country’s cuisine one taste at a time. David takes the audience on a journey that sees him savouring authentic and traditional street food on the streets of Mumbai and perfecting his own masala recipe with a master chef in Delhi. From the beaches of Chennai to the mountains of Jaipur, David digs for the soul of India by exchanging recipes, stories and laughter with world renowned chefs, Bollywood stars and, the toughest critics of any culture, grandmothers.
David Rocco’s Dolce Africa (13 x 30’; HD) follows David as he travels Africa as he explores the continent, from the ancient tribal villages and rural working farms to breathtaking natural parks and big bustling cities. In Ethiopia, David visits Addis Ababa to examine the coffee culture as well as the ancient rock-hewn churches in Lalibela. In South Africa, he revels in the breathtaking beaches and revitalized culture of Durban, and the vibrant financial capital of Johannesburg. He meets inspirational artists in the streets of Nairobi, takes his family on a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience on the Maasai Mara, visits the coastal town of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and travels to the beautiful shores of Zanzibar.
Blue Ant International is a leading worldwide distributor of high-quality, creative content that engages audiences worldwide and across multiple platforms. The company offers a full-service approach to production partners with sales operations in London, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Blue Ant International has a growing slate of over 3,500 hours of premium content, including distinctive series and formats in five key genres including factual entertainment, specialist factual, high-impact documentaries, kids and family, and scripted. Blue Ant International also has one of the world’s largest offerings of 4K natural history content. Blue Ant International is a division of Blue Ant Media.
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