NGTI ACQUIRES ESSENTIAL CATALOGUE FOR LAUNCH AT MIPTV

Published: 8 March 2006

NGTI (National Geographic Television International) is pleased to announce that it has acquired the entire back catalogue from UK producer Essential Film and Television and will be launching the programmes to clients at MIPTV. Included in the deal are the rights for three new programmes to be produced this year.

Essential Film and Television is the undisputed leader in the production of ethnography programming, with Tribal Odyssey its best-known strand. The Tribal Odyssey programmes are respected for their ability to immerse the viewer in the story and always contain strong narratives about real human dramas – subjects have included the Himba, the Wolani and the Chief Who Talks to God. Essential has also produced a number of other programmes, including Zulu Wars (3 x 60), Quest for Gold (5 x 60), Cocaine Triangle (1 x 60) and the successful history show, Russia’s Modern Mummies (1 x 60). In addition, NGTI will also have the TV rights to a new 90 minute feature – TELESMA-Another World. Expected to perform well at forthcoming film festivals and shot in a style reminiscent of Koyaanisqatsi, this is a unique tribe movie that explores the remotest places on the planet, covering the emotions of human life in the old world.

In total, NGTI has acquired more than 40 hours and for most programmes full rights, excluding the US, are available.

Richard Wawman, award-winning producer and founder of Essential Television and Film says: “We have developed an impressive reputation over the past 16 years, particularly in the field of ethnography, and I am delighted that our programmes will finally be exploited outside of their commissioning home in the US. NGTI has a natural affinity with the shows we produce and we are delighted to have become part of their broader catalogue.”

Edwina Thring, head of programmes at NGTI comments: “Essential has made so many amazing programmes that enlighten us about different cultures from remote corners of the world. These films really should be seen – and thoroughly deserve a place in the international market. We are really pleased to be representing this catalogue, especially as it is so complimentary to our own, and we look forward to having a long and productive relationship with Richard and his team.”

Richard Wawman is about to undertake three new Tribal Odyssey programmes looking at the Dinka of Sudan, the Hamar of Southern Ethiopia and the Woodabe of the Sahara. These three new hours are being made for the National Geographic Channel in the US and will be available later this year.

The acquisition of the Essential Television and Film catalogue continues NGTI’s strategy of working with selected independent producers whose programming has a natural fit with the National Geographic brand. Over the past few months NGTI has acquired programmes from Dutch-based Nature Conservation Films, South African’s Peartree Films and Darlow Smithson from the UK.