Independent distributor TVF International is heading to the Croisette with over 130 hours of new factual programming on their MIPCOM slate. Next, let's briefly review the slate.
Premium history leads the distributor’s slate this year, beginning with a second season of "Untold Arctic Wars" (6 x 52), a global success co-commissioned by YLE, SVT, NRK, DR, and RÚV. While Season 1 explored the Arctic's role in WWII, this second series focuses on the Cold War, revealing how Nordic nations navigated delicate brinkmanship between East and West. Another returning series is "Wings of the Great War" (5 x 48), produced by Gullwing Productions for COSMOTE, which uses unseen archive footage to profile WWI's pioneering aerial warfare.
The distributor has announced two new WWII documentaries in anticipation of the 80th anniversary of the war’s end: "How the Second World War Became a Global War" (1 x 52) and "Who Paid for World War II?" (1 x 52), both from Odyssey Films. Additionally, TVF International is representing the ZDF/Arte commissioned "Free at Last: The Secrets of Apartheid" (3 x 52 / 1 x 90), from award-winning producers Gebrüder Beetz, a definitive retelling of South Africa's Apartheid history and its lasting effects today.
In biographies, TVF is announcing "Keynes: His Life and Work" (1 x 52) from Odyssey Films, "Maria Callas: The Unsung Years" (2 x 52 / 1 x 104) from Escape and the Greek National Opera, and "Theodor Herzl: The Man Who Made Israel" (1 x 60 / 1 x 90) from Generation Films, presented by David Baddiel.
World Affairs is another key genre for the distributor. This year, TVF brings 25 new hours to MIPCOM, including "Arming the Arctic" (1 x 52), a co-production between Wildcat Films and TVF International, which explores the emerging conflicts in the Arctic as climate change reveals valuable untapped resources.
TVF is also launching the CBC original series "For the Culture with Amanda Parris" (6 x 48), which tackles issues affecting Black communities worldwide, including reparations and unequal access to healthcare, education, and leadership positions. Other World Affairs titles include "The Psychedelic Frontier" (1 x 50) for CityTV, which delves into controversial psilocybin treatments, and the Channel 4 commissioned "My Dad the Sex Tourist" (1 x 49) from Clover Films, a groundbreaking DNA experiment to reunite children of sex tourists in the Philippines with their fathers.
Additionally, from Clover Films comes "Stalking: State of Fear" (1 x 54), commissioned by ITV, which reveals the failures of police and the justice system in addressing women’s safety concerns. TVF is also bringing investigative titles from Singapore-based producer Mediacorp, such as "China’s Abandoned Daughters" (1 x 48), about babies abandoned under China’s one-child policy, and "India Rising: Young Bloods in a New Superpower" (2 x 48), which examines the challenges and opportunities facing India’s youth.
Further Mediacorp titles include award-winning specials like "When Titans Clash: China’s Plan to Rescue its Economy" (1 x 48), "When Titans Clash: Knives Out in the South China Sea" (1 x 48), and "The Waves that Changed Us: The Indian Ocean Tsunami 20 Years On" (4 x 48), a deep dive into the long-term impacts of the 2004 tsunami on communities in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
TVF is also bringing a range of Wildlife documentaries to market, such as "Rewilding Sharks" (2 x 48) from Kraken Films and CNA, which follows the world’s first-ever shark rewilding project, "Japan’s Wild Side" (2 x 50) from Tokyovision, showcasing the secret lives of Japan’s iconic animals, and "Père David’s Deer: Return to the Wild" (1 x 48) from CCTV, chronicling the recovery of China’s ancient species from near extinction. Another title is "Horizon: Saudi Arabia’s Animal Kingdom" (1 x 50), originally broadcast on Netflix, which highlights the natural wonders of Saudi Arabia.
Rounding out their factual offerings, TVF presents three arts documentaries: "Van Gogh by Vincent" (1 x 52) from Unity House Productions, which tells the story of Vincent van Gogh through his self-portraits, "Welcome to Babel: Painting Communism" (1 x 54 / 1 x 90) from Nirvana Films, which follows Chinese-Australian artist Jiawei Shen as he paints a 10-meter mural of communism’s history, and "Golden Opulence" (1 x 50) from Depo Film and Netflix, featuring Victoria Beckham and exploring fashion, design, and architecture in Anatolia.
In lifestyle, TVF is representing a variety of food and travel series. BBC’s Paula McIntyre returns in "Paula McIntyre’s Hamely Kitchen USA" (6 x 30) and a new Christmas special (1 x 30). Taiwan’s top chefs are profiled in "Have You Eaten Yet? Tasting Taiwan" (8 x 23), and "Europe by Train" (4 x 52) from Tyrone Productions for RTÉ takes viewers on scenic train journeys. Finally, TVF is showcasing "No Luggage" (54 x 26), which celebrates 18 years on air and its 800th episode.
Poppy McAlister, Head of TVF International, described the slate: "The TVF acquisitions team has done an immense job sourcing some of the most exciting and topical factual titles for launch at MIPCOM. From top-quality documentaries to high-volume series, we are representing producers from across Africa, Asia, Oceania, Europe, and the Americas. Our slate is truly international, offering something for everyone. Our 10-strong sales team is ready to head to the Croisette with one of our most impressive MIPCOM slates to date", commented.