PBS has bought a Dutch documentary about dementia care, and it comes with a title that compares its subject to a global figure known for youth-led activism. The film, Human Forever, follows Teun Toebes, a humanitarian activist described as “the Greta Thunberg of healthcare,” across four continents and eleven countries as he seeks to improve the quality of life for people living with dementia.
The deal was struck directly between Super7even Production, the indie Dutch producer behind the film, and PBS. Other buyers announced today include SBS in Australia and RUV in Iceland, joining Arte in France, VRT in Belgium, and Videoland, the Netherlands’ streamer.
The Journey Behind the Film
Toebes travels alongside director Jonathan de Jong for a three-year journey across four continents and eleven countries. Their goal is simple: find better ways to care for people living with dementia, and make those pathways more inclusive.
The film has been released theatrically in more than thirty territories to date. Its producers claim it is the most-watched human interest doc in Dutch cinema history, with nearly eighty thousand people watching it in cinemas.
The doc has also led to policy discussions and informed educational programs at universities including Tale, Cornell, and Oxford, according to its makers.
A Book Lands on the Same Day
On Thursday, de Jong and Toebes are releasing a related book, Human Forever: Searching the World for a Better Life with Dementia, via September Publishing. The book looks at dementia care in four continents and countries such as South Africa, New Zealand, and Norway.
The book release is part of a busy stretch for the project. Super7even founder de Jong announced a new venture, SuperIndie, with MN Media’s Jeffrey de Graaf, billed as an integrated studio for human interest, nature, and social impact-driven docs and features for international audiences.
What SuperIndie Is Building
SuperIndie’s inaugural slate includes Human Forever sequel There is No Society, which we revealed in December last year. The slate also covers A Girl Like Rose, a look at the life and career of Belgian supermodel Rose Bertram, and other doc titles including Patterns of Life, WOW!, and Ecolopolis.
“It is so encouraging to see our film being appreciated, discussed and sought after by three major international broadcasting companies in different continents.”
De Jong’s Statement on the Deal
De Jong spoke directly about the significance of the acquisitions. “We are thrilled that PBS, SBS and RÚV have recognised the potential in this story and its vital messages will be able to reach more people in the States, the Nordics and Australia,” he said.
He framed the film’s universal appeal. “The film is rooted in our journey across different countries, and the questions it asks about ageing, dementia and the role of community are universal,” he said.
He also pointed to the industry shift driving the deal. “Broadcasters are looking for stories that don’t simply highlight the challenges, but also explore practical, hopeful approaches to improving quality of life,” he said. He closed with a nod to the production approach. “It is a testament to the power of independent documentary production and the backbone of our work at Super7even and SuperIndie,” he said.
The International Docs Market Context
The PBS acquisition fits a pattern at the network. For PBS, the acquisition is a latest from the international docs market, and comes after The American Revolution last year, Skin of Glass in 2023, and Bombshell in 2019.
The pattern shows PBS buying big, international docs on a regular basis. Each of those titles added to the network’s reputation for bold nonfiction programming.
Why PBS Bought It
PBS did not announce a statement on the deal, so the network’s reasoning remains unspoken. But the pattern suggests a strategy: buy global docs with broad appeal, air them nationally, and build the network’s reputation as a destination for serious nonfiction storytelling.
The comparison to Thunberg carries weight here. Thunberg became a global figure through her youth-led activism on climate change. Toebes has followed a similar path in healthcare, using public pressure to push for better dementia care.
What Comes Next
The book lands on Thursday. The film continues its theatrical run in more than thirty territories. And SuperIndie is building out its slate with a mix of docs and features, with There is No Society already on the horizon.
The acquisition is a vote of confidence in independent documentary production. De Jong framed it as a testament to that approach, and the deals with PBS, SBS, and RUV support his claim.
The Bottom Line
PBS has added a Dutch dementia doc to its slate, and it comes with a title that compares its subject to a global figure known for youth-led activism. The film has already reached more than thirty territories, sold to broadcasters across Europe and Australia, and informed educational programs at universities including Tale, Cornell, and Oxford.
The book release on Thursday adds another platform. SuperIndie’s slate shows the producer is building for the long term, with a sequel already on the horizon.
For PBS, the deal fits a pattern of acquiring big, international docs with broad appeal. The comparison to Thunberg is notable, but the substance of the film is the draw: a three-year journey across four continents and eleven countries, asking universal questions about ageing, dementia, and community.
The acquisition is a win for independent documentary production. De Jong’s statement points to the power of that approach, and the deals with PBS, SBS, and RUV back him up.
The pattern of PBS acquisitions shows the network’s appetite for docs that travel well. Here is how the recent slate breaks down:
- The American Revolution — latest from the international docs market
- Skin of Glass — acquired in 2023
- Bombshell — acquired in 2019
Each title brought a different subject to the network, but the common thread is scale: docs that play in multiple territories and draw viewers across borders.
The comparison to Thunberg is a marketing device, not a description of Toebes’ methods. The source notes that Thunberg became a global figure through her youth-led activism on climate change, and that Toebes has followed a similar path in healthcare, using public pressure to push for better dementia care.
PBS has bought a Dutch dementia doc, and it has found a global audience.
See the video the story is built around at Deadline.
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