yes Studios drives into premium factual content with the launch of "44 Hours"

Israeli producer and distributor yes Studios announces its drive into premium factual with the international launch of its first feature documentary, "44 Hours", coproduced by yes Docu and Einat-Emma Shamir production, with Neue Celluloid Fabrik Filmproduktion and SWR, in co-operation with ARTE. The company will be taking "44 Hours" to MIPTV in Cannes next month as a major focus on its new slate.

"44 Hours" (1x83) directed by Rotem Gross and distributed by yes Studios, tells the story of Gil Avni, a sports-mad, healthy 33-year-old father of two, who was rushed to hospital after being taken suddenly ill. When he is swiftly pronounced brain-dead and given only a few hours to live, his family and friends visit to say their goodbyes.

What nobody knows – neither the medical team nor his relatives – is that Gil is aware of what is happening around him and can hear every single word, which he memorises. Totally paralysed and unable to voice the screaming in his head, he feels like a guest at his own funeral. And just when he comes to terms with the fact that, after 44 hours, he’s about to die, he astonishingly wakes up and recounts every single minute of his harrowing locked-in experience.

Sharon Levi, managing director at yes Studios, comments: “yes Studios' scripted programming has been successful worldwide as we always seek out great stories with universal appeal. We are now evolving our business to incorporate premium factual programming; whether produced for yes TV, co-produced by us or from producers worldwide, our factual focus will be on presenting buyers with the most compelling, thought-provoking and surprising stories we can find.”

She added, “We could not be more delighted to announce this strategy with the launch of such a powerful, moving and ultimately uplifting title as '44 Hours'– a film which immediately generated strong co-production interest from our partners ARTE in France and SWR in Germany. There is lots to learn from Gil’s experience and, as a result, even more to debate around the treatment and understanding of coma patients. Our hope is that this film extends the conversation around the world.”