TVFI has announced two WWII docs ahead of the 80th anniversary of the war’s end: How the Second World War Became a Global War (1 x 52 min., Odyssey Films), which chronicles the five days in May 1940 that escalated a conflict between Britain and Germany to a global conflagration, and Who Paid for World War II? (1 x 52 min.).
The ZDF/Arte commission Free at Last: The Secrets of Apartheid (3 x 52 min. / 1 x 90 min., Beetz Brothers Film Production) offers an extensive retelling of the history of apartheid in South Africa and how its legacy still affects the country today.
In the bio-doc lane are Keynes: His Life and Work (1 x 52 min.) from Odyssey Films; Maria Callas: The Unsung Years (2 x 52 min. / 1 x 104 min.) from Escape and the Greek National Opera; and Theodor Herzl: The Man Who Made Israel (1 x 60 min. / 1 x 90 min.) from Generation Films.
On the world affairs front, Arming the Arctic (1 x 52 min.), from Wildcat Films and TVF International, explores a conflict in waiting as climate change uncovers valuable natural resources in the Arctic, which is still ungoverned by international treaties.
TVFI is also launching the CBC original series For the Culture with Amanda Parris (6 x 48 min.), which examines issues affecting Black communities across the world, from reparations to unequal access to healthcare and education.
The Psychedelic Frontier (1 x 50 min.) for Canada’s CityTV looks at controversial psilocybin treatments promising to transform trauma therapy. The Channel 4 commission My Dad the Sex Tourist (1 x 49 min.), from Clover Films, covers a world-first DNA experiment that aims to reunite children who were born as a result of sex tourism in the Philippines with their fathers.
Also from Clover Films is the ITV commission Stalking: State of Fear (1 x 54 min.), which exposes systemic failures of police and the justice system to take women’s fears regarding stalking seriously.
From Singapore-based Mediacorp and commissioner CNA are China’s Abandoned Daughters (1 x 48 min.), about babies who were abandoned during China’s one-child policy; India Rising: Young Bloods in a New Superpower (2 x 48 min.), which explores the challenges and opportunities facing India’s youth; and The Peacemakers (3 x 48 min.), which goes inside the world of peace negotiations.
Other Mediacorp titles include the award-winning current affairs specials When Titans Clash: China’s Plan to Rescue its Economy (1 x 48 min.) and When Titans Clash: Knives Out in the South China Sea (1 x 48 min.), as well as The Waves that Changed Us: The Indian Ocean Tsunami 20 Years On (4 x 48 min.).
In the wildlife space is Rewilding Sharks (2 x 48 min.) from Kraken Films and CNA, which follows the world’s first-ever shark rewilding project; Japan’s Wild Side (2 x 50 min.) from Tokyovision, about the secret lives of Japan’s most iconic animals; and Père David’s Deer: Return to the Wild (1 x 48 min.) from CCTV, which recounts the recovery of China’s ancient species, Père David’s Deer, from the brink of extinction.
Rounding out the category, Horizon: Saudi Arabia’s Animal Kingdom (1 x 50 min.) originally for Netflix, showcases Saudi Arabia’s natural wonders.
In lifestyle, TVFI has a range of food and travel series beginning with Paula McIntyre’s Hamely Kitchen USA (6 x 30 min.) and a new Christmas special (1 x 30 min.). Taiwan’s master chefs are profiled in Have You Eaten Yet? Tasting Taiwan (8 x 23 min.) for TaiwanPlus, and bags are packed in Europe by Train (4 x 52 min.), from Tyrone Productions for RTÉ.
Rounding out TVFI’s traditional factual offerings are three arts docs: Van Gogh by Vincent (1 x 52 min.), from Unity House Productions, which tells Van Gogh’s story through the lens of his self-portraits; the ZDF/Arte commission Welcome to Babel: Painting Communism (1 x 54 min. / 1 x 90 min.) from Nirvana Films, which follows Chinese-Australian artist Jiawei Shen as he paints a 10-meter mural detailing the history of communism; and Golden Opulence (1 x 50) from Depo Film and Netflix, which features Victoria Beckham and explores the legacy of fashion, design, art and architecture in Anatolia.