BBC Three controller Zai Bennett has announced three new commissions for Fresh, the channel’s established scheme for first-time directors looking to break into primetime filmmaking.

True North’s film The Butterfly and the Tornado (w/t) sees first-time director Danny Beck on a road trip across the Midwest of America with Sam Hall, stormchaser extraordinaire and Epidermolysis Bullosa sufferer. Sam was born with this debilitating condition and her skin is fragile like a butterfly’s wings. Despite her condition, every year Sam heads out to Tornado Alley and throws herself into some of the worst weather in the world as she tries to chart and understand lethal weather.

Zai Bennett says: “The Fresh strand is vital to BBC Three’s factual offering, providing new filmmakers with a voice to tell compelling and often inspiring stories about young people in extraordinary circumstances.”

The other new Fresh films are Ashley – Impulsive Behaviour (w/t), which charts the journey of a young ADHD sufferer and Olympic hopeful; and Deaf Me (w/t), which ventures into the little known world of deaf people.

Charlotte Moore, Commissioning Editor, Documentaries says: “It can be difficult for new directors to get their first primetime commission, which is why BBC Three’s Fresh strand is so important to new talent within the documentary community. We have had some wonderful Fresh documentaries in the past, with many directors going on to enjoy further success.”

BBC Three’s Fresh strand has been running for since 2008 and is responsible for successes such as My Brother the Islamist and Autistic Me. Other recent Fresh commissions include Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, Josie and the Cancer Curse and Genocide, Mum and Me.

The Butterfly And The Tornado will transmit on BBC Three in the Autumn. The film is produced and directed by Danny Beck and the execs are Jess Fowle for True North and Samantha Anstiss for the BBC.

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