ITV

Tag: documentary

  • Netflix content offering includes Satnam Singh doc

    Netflix content offering includes Satnam Singh doc

    MUMBAI: Satnam Singh Bhamra, first India-born basketball player to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA), has received another big honour. His life has been made into a documentary.

    Titled, One in a Billion, the film was released on 6 December in the US. What’s even more exciting is that the documentary has been picked by streaming juggernaut, Netflix.

    The 90-minute long doc has been directed by RGTV founder Roman Gackowski and is produced by OBB Pictures CEO Michael D Ratner. Netflix has acquired streaming rights to telecast the documentary, which also features NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and NBA’s senior director of international basketball operations Troy Justice.

    One in a Billion depicts Bhamra’s life from being born in a small, remote village of Ballo Ke in Punjab’s Barnala district to the night of 25 June 2015 when he created history when he was drafted into the NBA in New York. He was selected by Dallas Mavericks as 52 pick and presently plays as a centre for Texas Legends in the NBA development league.

    Bamra’s father Balbir Singh is excited about the movie based on the life of his son and is on cloud nine.

  • Netflix content offering includes Satnam Singh doc

    Netflix content offering includes Satnam Singh doc

    MUMBAI: Satnam Singh Bhamra, first India-born basketball player to be drafted into the National Basketball Association (NBA), has received another big honour. His life has been made into a documentary.

    Titled, One in a Billion, the film was released on 6 December in the US. What’s even more exciting is that the documentary has been picked by streaming juggernaut, Netflix.

    The 90-minute long doc has been directed by RGTV founder Roman Gackowski and is produced by OBB Pictures CEO Michael D Ratner. Netflix has acquired streaming rights to telecast the documentary, which also features NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive and NBA’s senior director of international basketball operations Troy Justice.

    One in a Billion depicts Bhamra’s life from being born in a small, remote village of Ballo Ke in Punjab’s Barnala district to the night of 25 June 2015 when he created history when he was drafted into the NBA in New York. He was selected by Dallas Mavericks as 52 pick and presently plays as a centre for Texas Legends in the NBA development league.

    Bamra’s father Balbir Singh is excited about the movie based on the life of his son and is on cloud nine.

  • Harmonic releases documentary on making of NASA’s UHD TV

    Harmonic releases documentary on making of NASA’s UHD TV

    MUMBAI: Harmonic, the video delivery infrastructure for emerging television and video services, has shot a documentary examining the making of NASA’s UHD TV channel.

    NASA TV UHD is the first noncommercial consumer UHD channel in North America. Showcasing the breathtaking beauty and grandeur of space using high-resolution images and video generated on the International space station and other current NASA missions, the channel also airs re-mastered footage from historical missions.

    The Harmonic documentary discusses the technical challenges NASA and Harmonic overcame within a matter of months to put NASA TV UHD up on one satellite link along with NASA’s existing SD and HD channels.

    Harmonic CMO Peter Alexander said, “Our signal is up on the bird, and so that’s exciting – to be blazing a new trail and leveraging the very latest state-of-the-art technology in television and video.”

    The video is also available on the Harmonic channel: www.harmonicinc.com/resources/videos/nasa-uhd

  • Harmonic releases documentary on making of NASA’s UHD TV

    Harmonic releases documentary on making of NASA’s UHD TV

    MUMBAI: Harmonic, the video delivery infrastructure for emerging television and video services, has shot a documentary examining the making of NASA’s UHD TV channel.

    NASA TV UHD is the first noncommercial consumer UHD channel in North America. Showcasing the breathtaking beauty and grandeur of space using high-resolution images and video generated on the International space station and other current NASA missions, the channel also airs re-mastered footage from historical missions.

    The Harmonic documentary discusses the technical challenges NASA and Harmonic overcame within a matter of months to put NASA TV UHD up on one satellite link along with NASA’s existing SD and HD channels.

    Harmonic CMO Peter Alexander said, “Our signal is up on the bird, and so that’s exciting – to be blazing a new trail and leveraging the very latest state-of-the-art technology in television and video.”

    The video is also available on the Harmonic channel: www.harmonicinc.com/resources/videos/nasa-uhd

  • National Geographic’s ‘BSF: India’s First Line of Defence’ highest rated show

    National Geographic’s ‘BSF: India’s First Line of Defence’ highest rated show

    MUMBAI: National Geographic Channel’s exclusive documentary, BSF: India’s First Line of Defence launched as the top-rated show in the week of its premiere. It is the highest rated show of the genre in the television universe (4+ All India) with 812 TVT, which is 22 per cent more viewership than the genre’s next rated show. With its spectacular visuals and moving storytelling, the documentary also appealed to premium audiences, retaining the #1 slot in Infotainment’s core TG (9 -40 A).

     The documentary salutes the spirit and never say die attitude of our soldiers. It brought viewers closer to the unflinching soldiers guarding the nation’s frontline. Even before the premiere, the appeal of the documentary insured that the digital promotions of the show engaged more than 2.2 mil users (reaching more than 20 mil users in total).  With the massive support that the campaign was getting, Nat Geo also created an online platform that enabled users to send messages to soldiers at the border.

     Fox Networks Group business head India Swati Mohan said, “The response to our documentary on the BSF has been overwhelming. We thank the Border Security Force for the all the support, and for making the entire production process an enriching experience for us. The film was an ode to the unsung heroes that guard our borders and it was made to instil a sense of pride in every Indian. The ratings are not only a testimony of the quality of production, but also the love and respect the country has for its real heroes. The appreciation we have received for this documentary reassures us on our commitment to bring to viewers extraordinary and path breaking documentaries that reiterate Nat Geo’s gold standards of iconic and visually stunning story-telling.”

  • National Geographic’s ‘BSF: India’s First Line of Defence’ highest rated show

    National Geographic’s ‘BSF: India’s First Line of Defence’ highest rated show

    MUMBAI: National Geographic Channel’s exclusive documentary, BSF: India’s First Line of Defence launched as the top-rated show in the week of its premiere. It is the highest rated show of the genre in the television universe (4+ All India) with 812 TVT, which is 22 per cent more viewership than the genre’s next rated show. With its spectacular visuals and moving storytelling, the documentary also appealed to premium audiences, retaining the #1 slot in Infotainment’s core TG (9 -40 A).

     The documentary salutes the spirit and never say die attitude of our soldiers. It brought viewers closer to the unflinching soldiers guarding the nation’s frontline. Even before the premiere, the appeal of the documentary insured that the digital promotions of the show engaged more than 2.2 mil users (reaching more than 20 mil users in total).  With the massive support that the campaign was getting, Nat Geo also created an online platform that enabled users to send messages to soldiers at the border.

     Fox Networks Group business head India Swati Mohan said, “The response to our documentary on the BSF has been overwhelming. We thank the Border Security Force for the all the support, and for making the entire production process an enriching experience for us. The film was an ode to the unsung heroes that guard our borders and it was made to instil a sense of pride in every Indian. The ratings are not only a testimony of the quality of production, but also the love and respect the country has for its real heroes. The appreciation we have received for this documentary reassures us on our commitment to bring to viewers extraordinary and path breaking documentaries that reiterate Nat Geo’s gold standards of iconic and visually stunning story-telling.”

  • Centre considering dedicated documentary TV channel: Rathore

    Centre considering dedicated documentary TV channel: Rathore

    MUMBAI: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said his Ministry was seriously contemplating a dedicated channel for documentary, short and animation films.

     

    However, he said it was difficult to say at this stage whether it would be a new channel or an existing channel like Doordarshan’s DD Bharati.

     

    Speaking at the inauguration of the 14th edition of Mumbai International Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films – MIFF 2016 – which was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Rathore said that documentaries more than features ‘shake us’ and bring about changes in society.

     

    At the same time, he said that the Films Division, which runs the festival needs to innovate and re-invent itself if it had to remain in the public eye and ‘find a reason to exist.’ Rathore cited that the MIFF was part of that process as it gave new vitality to documentary, short and feature films, which get a strong platform here.

     

    He was particularly satisfied that the Division had taken the bold step of FD Zone, whereby documentary films are being shown in other cities at the same time as MIFF.

     

    Rathore said that the I&B Ministry would continue to make efforts to make things easier for makers of documentary, short and animation films. “The mushrooming of so many news and current affairs channels can be probed to help exhibit these films.

    Documentary filmmakers are strong storytellers who move audiences with their films. Digital technology has ushered in a new era in film making and is greatly contributing to the documentary film movement,” he said.

     

    “It is heartening to note that our film makers, despite having great financial hurdles have gone ahead and made excellent films, displaying a mature approach while dealing with social and economic issues. Such films should not remain unseen,” Rathore added.

     

    He also said that the Government was in favour of ensuring that the power and freedom of the filmmaker was not limited by archaic certification laws and referred to setting up of the Shyam Benegal Committee to examine the entire certification process.

     

    Benegal was a Guest of Honour at the inauguration, which also included MIFF brand ambassador Jackie Shroff, Indian Documentary Producers Association president Mike Pandey and Festival director Mukesh Sharma.

     

    Veteran wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Naresh Bedi, who along with his brother Rajesh has been making films for over 45 years, received the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to documentary filmmaking. Filmmaker Kiran Shantaram, who is son of the late V Shantaram, presented the award comprising a trophy, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. 

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis said that he had offered land to the central government in the Film City in Mumbai for building the long-pending Centre of Excellence in Animation and Gaming. “The state will extend all help in this process,” he said.

     

    Earlier, Benegal said it was sad that while such a prestigious festival was being held, no serious thought was being given to exhibiting and distributing these films. “Ways need to be found to ensure that filmmakers who dabble in the documentary format get their money back to be able to make more films as many are not even able to pay back the loans they took for such films. This is imperative at a time when digital cameras and even cellphones can be used to make films,” he said.

     

    A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the Festival, which is held every second year in Mumbai. The Festival concludes on 3 February.

     

    The event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry is supported by the Maharashtra Government.

  • Centre considering dedicated documentary TV channel: Rathore

    Centre considering dedicated documentary TV channel: Rathore

    MUMBAI: Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said his Ministry was seriously contemplating a dedicated channel for documentary, short and animation films.

     

    However, he said it was difficult to say at this stage whether it would be a new channel or an existing channel like Doordarshan’s DD Bharati.

     

    Speaking at the inauguration of the 14th edition of Mumbai International Festival for Documentary, Short and Animation Films – MIFF 2016 – which was inaugurated by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Rathore said that documentaries more than features ‘shake us’ and bring about changes in society.

     

    At the same time, he said that the Films Division, which runs the festival needs to innovate and re-invent itself if it had to remain in the public eye and ‘find a reason to exist.’ Rathore cited that the MIFF was part of that process as it gave new vitality to documentary, short and feature films, which get a strong platform here.

     

    He was particularly satisfied that the Division had taken the bold step of FD Zone, whereby documentary films are being shown in other cities at the same time as MIFF.

     

    Rathore said that the I&B Ministry would continue to make efforts to make things easier for makers of documentary, short and animation films. “The mushrooming of so many news and current affairs channels can be probed to help exhibit these films.

    Documentary filmmakers are strong storytellers who move audiences with their films. Digital technology has ushered in a new era in film making and is greatly contributing to the documentary film movement,” he said.

     

    “It is heartening to note that our film makers, despite having great financial hurdles have gone ahead and made excellent films, displaying a mature approach while dealing with social and economic issues. Such films should not remain unseen,” Rathore added.

     

    He also said that the Government was in favour of ensuring that the power and freedom of the filmmaker was not limited by archaic certification laws and referred to setting up of the Shyam Benegal Committee to examine the entire certification process.

     

    Benegal was a Guest of Honour at the inauguration, which also included MIFF brand ambassador Jackie Shroff, Indian Documentary Producers Association president Mike Pandey and Festival director Mukesh Sharma.

     

    Veteran wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Naresh Bedi, who along with his brother Rajesh has been making films for over 45 years, received the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to documentary filmmaking. Filmmaker Kiran Shantaram, who is son of the late V Shantaram, presented the award comprising a trophy, shawl and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. 

     

    Speaking on the occasion, Fadnavis said that he had offered land to the central government in the Film City in Mumbai for building the long-pending Centre of Excellence in Animation and Gaming. “The state will extend all help in this process,” he said.

     

    Earlier, Benegal said it was sad that while such a prestigious festival was being held, no serious thought was being given to exhibiting and distributing these films. “Ways need to be found to ensure that filmmakers who dabble in the documentary format get their money back to be able to make more films as many are not even able to pay back the loans they took for such films. This is imperative at a time when digital cameras and even cellphones can be used to make films,” he said.

     

    A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the Festival, which is held every second year in Mumbai. The Festival concludes on 3 February.

     

    The event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry is supported by the Maharashtra Government.

  • MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    NEW DELHI: A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the 14th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for Documentary, Short and Animation Films commencing on 28 January.

     

    The biennial event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry and supported by the Maharashtra Government, will conclude with the awards ceremony on 3 February.

     

    MIFF will feature 30 films in the International Competition, including 12 from India, and 27 films in National Competition vying for the Golden Conch Award.

     

    The screenings will be held at the Films Division theatres, Russian Culture Centre and Sophia College theatres at Pedder Road, Mumbai. Screenings will also be held at the Mumbai University auditorium Kalina, Mumbai and Doordashan Kendra (Worli). 

     

    Addressing the curtain-raiser press conference in Mumbai, Festival director Mukesh Sharma said, ‘MIFF is the oldest and the largest festival of non-feature films in South Asia as it started in 1990.”

     

    He added, “MIFF brings together a talent pool of documentary film makers from the across the world with their works featuring in international, national, animation and new media competition sections. We received a record number of 831 entries from 25 countries.”

     

    The inauguration of the Festival from Mumbai will be covered live by DD Bharati from 4.30 pm

     

    Additionally, Sharma also informed that for the first time, MIFF had roped in a brand ambassador in Jackie Shroff. “He who regards documentaries as catalysts for social change and is planning to make short films to spread awareness about dreaded diseases and on social issues,” Sharma added.

     

    Highlighting the importance of documentaries that deal with real life challenges, veteran filmmaker Mike Pandey stressed the need for a dedicated documentary channel in the country. 

     

    Sharma said in order to increase the outreach of documentary films, the Films Division has signed an agreement with Prasar Bharati, under which Films Division’s documentaries will be shown on the DD Bharati channel.

     

    The inauguration and closing functions will be held at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai at 5 pm on 28 January and 3 February respectively. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be chief guest for the opening ceremony and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore will preside. 

     

    Maharashtra Culture Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde, filmmaker Shyam Benegal, I&B Secretary Sunil Arora, Films Division DG Mukesh Sharma, and Shroff will be present.

     

    “Apart from International and National competition, the screening of films in MIFF Prism, Indian Premieres, Jury retrospectives, Animation and award winning films from different countries, Children’s documentary films, North East package, FD and PSBT (Public Service Broadcasting Trust) films, homages etc, will make it a wholesome viewing experience for the delegates of MIFF 2016,”Sharma said. 

     

    The festival will also present special packages from leading international documentary film festivals like Berlin, Dresden, DokLeipzig  from Germany and Leiria from Portugal.

     

    Some of the best documentaries of 2015, among them Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi’sAmong the Believers –  about the roots of religious extremism in Pakistan and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence – a Danish documentary about Indonesian killings of 1965-66 and Rinku Kalsy’s For the Love of a Man – a documentary about the cult of adulation for Rajanikant in South India are among the top draws.

     

    The International Jury for the Festival comprises documentary makers Don Askarian from Germany, Jesper Andersen from Denmark, Mathiue Roy of Canada, Siddharth Kak and Gitanjali Rao.  

     

    Pandey, who is president of the Indian Documentary Films Association, Uma DaCunha, Biju Dhanapalan, Audrius Stonys (Lithuania) and Jane Yu (Taiwan) are the members of the National Jury.

     

    The festival will also have Master classes by Jury and eminent filmmakers, Camera and Digital workshops, Producers’ Forum, Panel discussions, Seminar and Open Forum by IDPA, under the MIFF Hub.

     

    Cash prizes worth Rs 60 lakh will be distributed for the winners in various categories along with Golden Conch Awards.

     

    In addition the festival will honour a veteran personality from the Indian documentary fraternity with the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award that carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakh, trophy and a citation.

     

    Buoyed by the warm reception to the MIFF Zone, screening of films in National competition will be held simultaneously in New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Lucknow, Nagpur and Thrissur. MIFF Zone is aimed at taking select competition films to film lovers who are unable to travel to Mumbai for the MIFF.

     

     

  • MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    MIFF 2016 to showcase 385 documentaries & short films

    NEW DELHI: A total of 385 documentaries, short and animation films will be screened during the 14th edition of Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for Documentary, Short and Animation Films commencing on 28 January.

     

    The biennial event, organised by the Films Division of the Information & Broadcasting Ministry and supported by the Maharashtra Government, will conclude with the awards ceremony on 3 February.

     

    MIFF will feature 30 films in the International Competition, including 12 from India, and 27 films in National Competition vying for the Golden Conch Award.

     

    The screenings will be held at the Films Division theatres, Russian Culture Centre and Sophia College theatres at Pedder Road, Mumbai. Screenings will also be held at the Mumbai University auditorium Kalina, Mumbai and Doordashan Kendra (Worli). 

     

    Addressing the curtain-raiser press conference in Mumbai, Festival director Mukesh Sharma said, ‘MIFF is the oldest and the largest festival of non-feature films in South Asia as it started in 1990.”

     

    He added, “MIFF brings together a talent pool of documentary film makers from the across the world with their works featuring in international, national, animation and new media competition sections. We received a record number of 831 entries from 25 countries.”

     

    The inauguration of the Festival from Mumbai will be covered live by DD Bharati from 4.30 pm

     

    Additionally, Sharma also informed that for the first time, MIFF had roped in a brand ambassador in Jackie Shroff. “He who regards documentaries as catalysts for social change and is planning to make short films to spread awareness about dreaded diseases and on social issues,” Sharma added.

     

    Highlighting the importance of documentaries that deal with real life challenges, veteran filmmaker Mike Pandey stressed the need for a dedicated documentary channel in the country. 

     

    Sharma said in order to increase the outreach of documentary films, the Films Division has signed an agreement with Prasar Bharati, under which Films Division’s documentaries will be shown on the DD Bharati channel.

     

    The inauguration and closing functions will be held at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai at 5 pm on 28 January and 3 February respectively. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will be chief guest for the opening ceremony and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore will preside. 

     

    Maharashtra Culture Affairs Minister Vinod Tawde, filmmaker Shyam Benegal, I&B Secretary Sunil Arora, Films Division DG Mukesh Sharma, and Shroff will be present.

     

    “Apart from International and National competition, the screening of films in MIFF Prism, Indian Premieres, Jury retrospectives, Animation and award winning films from different countries, Children’s documentary films, North East package, FD and PSBT (Public Service Broadcasting Trust) films, homages etc, will make it a wholesome viewing experience for the delegates of MIFF 2016,”Sharma said. 

     

    The festival will also present special packages from leading international documentary film festivals like Berlin, Dresden, DokLeipzig  from Germany and Leiria from Portugal.

     

    Some of the best documentaries of 2015, among them Mohammed Ali Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi’sAmong the Believers –  about the roots of religious extremism in Pakistan and Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence – a Danish documentary about Indonesian killings of 1965-66 and Rinku Kalsy’s For the Love of a Man – a documentary about the cult of adulation for Rajanikant in South India are among the top draws.

     

    The International Jury for the Festival comprises documentary makers Don Askarian from Germany, Jesper Andersen from Denmark, Mathiue Roy of Canada, Siddharth Kak and Gitanjali Rao.  

     

    Pandey, who is president of the Indian Documentary Films Association, Uma DaCunha, Biju Dhanapalan, Audrius Stonys (Lithuania) and Jane Yu (Taiwan) are the members of the National Jury.

     

    The festival will also have Master classes by Jury and eminent filmmakers, Camera and Digital workshops, Producers’ Forum, Panel discussions, Seminar and Open Forum by IDPA, under the MIFF Hub.

     

    Cash prizes worth Rs 60 lakh will be distributed for the winners in various categories along with Golden Conch Awards.

     

    In addition the festival will honour a veteran personality from the Indian documentary fraternity with the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award that carries a cash component of Rs 5 lakh, trophy and a citation.

     

    Buoyed by the warm reception to the MIFF Zone, screening of films in National competition will be held simultaneously in New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Lucknow, Nagpur and Thrissur. MIFF Zone is aimed at taking select competition films to film lovers who are unable to travel to Mumbai for the MIFF.