The new series includes films about iconic figures ranging from Little Richard and Karl Lagerfeld to Kae Tempest and Coco Chanel, alongside the Oscar-nominated acquisition All The Beauty and The Bloodshed, coming this Spring, with further commissions to be announced by the Beeb later this year.
Suzy Klein, BBC Head of Arts and Classical Music TV:
“Arena is back with a focus on the icons, works, people and moments we think we all know, but where there are still rich and surprising stories to tell. I hope audiences will be as gripped by this latest series of films as we are, and I’m so proud to be working with some of the UK’s leading filmmakers at the height of their careers, championing the best of British documentary-making.”
Thrusting, fabulous and seemingly fearless, Little Richard can genuinely stake a claim on having invented rock ’n’ roll. A black artist who grew up in the segregated South, Richard Pennyman broke down barriers and took 1950s America by storm. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones supported him, and took inspiration from his musicianship and stagecraft. He went on to influence artists as diverse as David Bowie, Elton John, Michael Jackson and Prince.
An Oscar-nominated film from the award-winning director Laura Poitras, All the Beauty and The Bloodshed is an epic, emotional and interconnected story about internationally renowned artist and activist Nan Goldin. The story is told through her slideshows, intimate interviews, ground-breaking photography, and rare footage of her personal fight to hold the Sackler family accountable for the opioid overdose crisis.
Karl Lagerfeld was the undisputed king of fashion for over 40 years. Instantly recognisable with his trademark sunglasses and silver ponytail, he transformed high fashion from a niche interest into blockbuster, dramatic entertainment. The Mysterious Mr Lagerfeld, sees multi award-winning director Michael Waldman track down his inner circle of friends, foes and the loves of his life to find out who the man behind the sunglasses really was – and the legacy he leaves behind.
Poet, rapper, playwright and recording artist Kae Tempest is one of the most viscerally exciting artists working in Britain today. They are the youngest ever recipient of the prestigious Ted Hughes prize and have been nominated for both Brit and Mercury music prizes.
Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel transformed women’s fashion, a truly revolutionary designer whose influence is still evident today. Her designs called into question the role of women, sex and power, and ignited a whole new way of dressing. Yet her life remains shrouded in mystery. This feature-length Arena documentary weaves together the story of Chanel’s creations – from the little black dress to the tweed suit and the iconic chain handbag – over the contours of her colourful life.
Mark Bell, Commissioning Editor, Arena:
“Creativity is at the heart of Arena – and here we have some intriguing cultural subjects paired with a set of brilliant directors, and the resulting films are surprising, bold, and highly individual.”
