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The team at united docs can look back on the international TV fair in Cannes with a sense of quiet satisfaction. The German documentary specialists succeeded in selling comprehensive history packages to France, Austria, Sweden, Italy, Spain and the Middle East, including the history highlight “100 Years of Hollywood – The Carl Laemmle Story” (52’). This moving documentary charts not only the origins of the American film industry but also honours the German founder of Universal Studios in L.A. As expected, the current affairs programs with their focus on sustainability attracted a great deal of interest at what is the most important television programming fair in the world. Canada joined Switzerland, Belgium and France in securing the rights to the shocking documentary “Gas Flaring – Eco-Vandalism by the Oil Companies” (55’). Another sales success was scored with the history of the construction of the Berlin Wall, “Brick by Brick – The Making Of The Iron Curtain” (52’), which went to National Geographic. This investigative documentary makes tangible the battle between communism and capitalism through previously unseen archive material, 3D animations, re-enactments and interviews with contemporary witnesses. The science documentary “Back to the Roots – Learning from the Stone Age” (52’), which provides an insight into evolutionary medicine also enjoyed great appeal. Numerous international program buyers displayed huge interest in the new HD travel series “Round the World – Travel at its Best” (73x60’), which features fascinating reportages from many different countries. read more

The German documentary specialists, united docs are focussing on current affairs programs in Cannes with an emphasis on the public’s growing ecological awareness. One program highlight from this year’s international TV fair is “The Silence of Pandas – What the WWF Isn’t Saying”, a critical analysis of the world’s largest environmental protection organisation, the WWF. The shocking documentary “Gas Flaring – Eco-Vandalism by the Oil Companies” investigates the question as to why multinational oil companies are burning off valuable natural gas and more importantly why no-one is stopping them. Positive examples of active climate, nature and animal protection are provided by the film “The Gorillas of the Congo – Chainsaws to the Rescue” and the now in 3D cinema documentary, “Jane’s Journey”, a portrait of the world-famous behavioural researcher, Jane Goodall. read more

Following the nuclear disaster in Japan, there was huge demand at MIPTV 2011 for programs dealing with critical environmental issues and global politics. International TV buyers displayed a keen interest in documentaries that critically investigated global inter-relations in the interests of consumer enlightenment. united docs’ fair highlights were the three documentaries “Fashion Victims” 52’, “The Asbestos Connection” 52’ and “Cloning Food” 45’. Alongside these current affairs programs, united docs also scored highly in Cannes with its latest history documentaries. read more

At the international TV fair in Cannes, united docs presents two anniversary documentaries which shed light on historic milestones: for the first time, “Brick By Brick – The Making Of The Iron Curtain” (52’/90’) tells the story of the construction of the Berlin Wall from an investigative perspective. Previously unseen archive material, 3D animations, re-enactments and interviews with border soldiers and refugees make tangible the battle between communism and capitalism. The film outlines the mechanisms of the Cold War and takes a look behind the “Iron Curtain”, which when it was built 50 years ago not only divided Berlin but also Europe and the entire world for more than two decades.

On 1 January 2011, Bavaria Media GmbH, a subsidiary of Bavaria Film Holding, purchased 100% of the shares of united docs GmbH, headquartered in Cologne.

united docs has specialised in marketing high-quality documentaries for more than ten years, including such successful films and series as “The Kissinger File”, “The Cycle of Life”, “Stalingrad” and “Pioneers Turned Millionaires”. In addition to distributing documentaries produced by WDR, SWR, NDR, HR and Radio Bremen – all affiliates of the ARD association of broadcasters – the company’s catalogue also includes numerous productions by independent filmmakers. read more

For the 35th time, program buyers from all across the world met at the German Screenings to view the latest German language productions. From 28 November through 1 December 2010 german united distributors, Telepool, Deutsche Welle and ORF together presented their program highlights in the Sheraton Hotel in Salzburg. Some 100 international TV buyers were impressed by the quality of the German features, made-for-TV movies, series and documentaries. read more

As winter approaches, united docs has bundled up its latest highlight programmes and will be present at some of the most important markets and festivals of the season.

As co-hosts of this year's German Screenings, we will be present in Salzburg from Nov. 28 to Dec. 02. This will be the year's biggest opportunity to view the best that German programming has to offer.

German Screenings

Meanwhile, already starting on Nov. 17 and running till Nov. 28, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA), prestigious meeting point for filmmakers, distributors and buyers, will feature a range of united docs' programmes in its Docs For Sale library.

IDFA
united docs at IDFA Docs For Sale (PDF)

Last but not least, the 18th annual World Congress for Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 03 in Dresden, Germany. united docs will be present on site and also features prominently in its online video library. Our new EU-backed series of cutting-edge shorts "Science In Europe II" (9 x 8'), for instance, is sure to attract a lot of attention.

WCSFP
Science In Europe II

Once again the united docs sales team performed well with its high-quality history programmes at MIPCOM in Cannes. Various packages were sold to Poland, Spain, Portugal, Finland, Italy and Asia, including the highlights “Molotov – The Man Behind the Cocktail” (52’) and “American Germany” (52’). “Molotov” outlines the life of Stalin’s foreign minister, who held true to the Soviet past until his death in 1986. “American Germany” tells the story of German-American rapprochement from the point of view of the occupation soldiers. read more

The united docs distribution team is presenting elaborately produced films about fascinating subjects at the international TV exhibition in Cannes. Three feature documentaries stand out for their moving story lines and artistic perfection: “Hunger – The Dark Side of our Global Economy” (90’) examines potential ways to meet the growing threat of famine in underprivileged countries such as India, Brazil, Haiti, Mauretania and Kenya. “To Russia with Jazz” (90’) documents a cultural offensive – the first American big band to tour the Soviet Union in 1962, with Benny Goodman conducting read more

In a recent issue of the Kölner Stadtanzeiger, Cologne's leading daily newspaper, an article about united docs features a profile of our company and also mentions some of our recent highlight programmes. To have a look at the article, click on the link below!

article in the Kölner Stadtanzeiger from 16 July 2010

The united docs sales department is very satisfied with its reception at the 2010 DISCOP, Eastern Europe’s most significant TV trade fair, where it again found favorable conditions for its offering of documentaries. Historical documentaries sold particularly well. The Czech Republic bought ten hours of programming, including “The 1990s: Reunification of a Nation” (2 x 52’). Russia licenced seven hours of historical documentaries. A total of 27 hours of programming – including nine episodes of mare TV – were sold to Croatia. The most successful offering was the five-part HD series “Pioneers Turned Millionaires” (5x52’), which was sold to Australia, New Zealand, China, USA, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Italy and France. read more

Following its success at the MIPDOC conference, the five-part HD documentary series “Pioneers Turned Millionaires” (5x52’) was also a big hit at MIPTV. Programme buyers from North America to Japan have expressed keen interest in the stories behind successful companies such as Levi Strauss, Heinz Ketchup, Steinway & Sons and Boeing. The ecological thriller “Salmonopoly” (52’) has been sold to Finland, Norway, Spain and Switzerland in addition to Poland and the Czech Republic. France purchased an additional twenty hours from the NDR series “mare tv“. “The Ustica Conspiracy” (60’), a documentary about the mysterious plane crash 30 years ago, is attracting worldwide interest, especially in Italy. The Italians have promised to purchase licenses for a total of eight documentaries. read more

We are proud to announce that our current highlight The Most Secret Place On Earth - The CIA's Covert War In Laos has been nominated for the prestigious Rockie Award at this year's Banff World Television Festival, which will take place in Canada this June. The investigative film, which unveils the secrecy surrounding the CIA's operations in Laos during the Vietnam War, will run head-to-head with other international high-quality programmes in the Documentary category.
Banff World Television Festival
Programme details: The Most Secret Place On Earth - The CIA's Covert War In Laos

Furthermore, The Night The Wall Came Down - Schabowski's Note, our cutting-edge portrayal of the day that East Germany broke apart, is nominated for "Best Docu-Drama" at this year's New York Festivals. Providing a fast-paced look at the improbable circumstances that led to the fall of the Wall 20 years ago, the film has already become an international success and is also nominated for "Best Documentary" at the WorldFest International Film Festival in Houston.
New York Festivals
WorldFest
Programme details: The Night The Wall Came Down - Schabowski's Note

Several previously announced documentaries about South Africa have been completed in time for the MIPTV market. They provide unusual insights into the host country for this year’s World Cup soccer championship. The five-part road movie “In Search of Southern Africa” (5x52’) takes viewers through South Africa, Botswana and Namibia – from desert and wilderness to coastal beaches. It is a journey to the roots of mankind. “The Cape of Good Voices” (52’) invites us on an adventurous bus ride through the provinces. A diverse troupe of opera singers heads out in search of new talent for the Cape Town Opera. “Helen Zille” (52’) paints a portrait of Africa’s only white, female mayor, who has enjoyed a political career in Cape Town and has served as the prime minister of the Western Cape Province since 2009. read more

The 2010 World Cup and the current UN Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen were both the subject of documentary films at this year’s German Screenings conference. International buyers of television programming were extremely interested in documentaries about South Africa and the 2010 World Cup. united docs found many takers for its approximately 18 hours of programming about South Africa and soccer. The environmental documentaries distributed worldwide by the Cologne-based company were also highly successful. A six-hour package of ecological programming was sold to France, including the 2009 MIPCOM highlights “Plug ‘n’ Drive” (52’), a fascinating feature about electric cars, and “Mission Possible” (45’), a presentation of two visionary personalities and their ideas about the daily routine of recycling. read more

The annual German Screenings conference will take place in Munich from 29 November to 3 December at the deluxe hotel Le Méridién. This engaging TV distribution trade fair is organized by german united distributors together with Telepool, Deutsche Welle and ORF, who will be presenting their new program highlights in a special presentation area. Some 100 TV buyers from 26 countries have signed on to view the latest German-language productions in individual screenings. This multi-faceted broad-range of offerings encompasses the entire spectrum of television entertainment, full-length features, made-for-TV movies and series, documentaries, wildlife formats on to musical programs and children's shows. ... read more

At the international TV trade fair in Cannes, united docs is presenting a broad spectrum of history documentaries featuring a wide variety of film styles. These high-quality HD productions relate moving stories, capture unforgettable moments and provide new impulses for the future. The best example is "The Picture of the Napalm Girl" (52'), an investigative one-off based on archive footage about the Vietnam War and the famous photo of then-nine-year-old Kim Phuc screaming and running for her life during a napalm bomb attack. "Louise" (also 52') on the other hand, features a high proportion of reenactments, portraying the unconventional queen of Prussia. ... read more

Documentary filmmakers and editors from all over the world converged at the twentieth annual Sunny Side of the Doc film festival in June 2009. united docs presented the historical documentary “The Night The Wall Came Down – Schabowski’s Note” as a work in progress. Forty minutes of the 52-minute international HD version of the film were shown, commentated by author Marc Brasse, producer Werner Vennewald and NDR editor Dirk Neuhoff. More than 50 international programming directors and filmmakers watched the film, which documents the chain of events leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. ... read more

German documentary distributor united docs put in a successful appearance at the central and eastern Europe’s leading film trade fair. Films about historical personalities were particularly in demand at the DISCOP in Budapest. The HD production “Hitler & Stalin” (90’/2x52’) continues the success of its predecessor “Hitler & Mussolini” (90’/2x52’), which already enjoyed multiple broadcasts world-wide. A recounting of the enmities between Germany and Russia, “Hitler & Stalin” has been licensed for Poland, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovenia as well as France and Scandinavia. There are also several queries from DVD distributors in these markets for both films. ... read more

At the 2009 MipTV exhibition, united docs makes a strong impression with excellently researched background stories about events that shaped world history. Upon the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the German distributing company for documentaries offers an exciting, prime-time production by NDR and arte: “Schabowski’s Note” (60’) examines the chain of events during the decisive 24 hours of November 9, 1989. And the three-part “Back Then in the GDR – The Final Year” (3x45’/52’) and the worldwide search for the remains of the Berlin Wall “Where Is the Wall?” (52’) recall the closing days of the Cold War. ... read more