Terra Mater, France TV partner on docs

MIPTV: Pubcaster France Télévisions and Red Bull Media-owned Terra Mater Factual Studios have signed a multi-year documentary output agreement.

The deal, which spans coproductions, pre-acquisitions and acquisitions, gives the pubcaster’s sales and acquisitions arm, France Télévisions Distribution, rights in French-speaking territories.

Caroline Behar, head of documentaries, acquisitions and international coproductions for France Télévisions, said Terra Mater created the kind of high-quality content that “perfectly fits” the group’s needs.

Meanwhile, France Télévisions Distribution is showcasing several new titles from its documentary slate for pre-sale or as finished acquisitions.

Among them is the documentary event Hidden Story of the Fifa World Cup (2×52’), produced by Telecran Productions for France 3, with Al Arabiya, RTS and TVMonde onboard through pre-sales. Further deals are expected in Scandinavia, Italy, Spain and Latin America.

Also available to pre-buy is Way(s) to School (3×52’/20×26’), made by Winds for France Télévisions and Disney Channel. It examines the often challenging routes to school taken by kids worldwide.

The series, which will be available in 2015, is a follow-up to the feature film Sur Le Chemin De L’ecole, directed by Pascal Plisson, winner of the ‘French Oscars’ for the documentary film of 2014.

Also on its slate are two documentaries from the Apocalypse franchise, Apocalypse: WWI (5×52’) and Apocalypse: Staline (1×100’), both from CC&C and Ideacom International, plus 14-18: The Noise and The Fury (91×100’), from Program 33.

Apocalypse: WWI has already been sold to National Geographic and will air in 180 territories in September. Free TV sales to regional broadcasters are currently being negotiated.

Marking the anniversary of 1944 – the climactic year of the Second World War – are documentaries Hollywood War (3×52’/2×70’), produced by La Compagnie des Indes, about how the dream factory dealt with the conflict, and prodco MC4’s D-Day: The Underwater Quest (1×90’/2×50’), plus a 15-minute making-of programme.

In addition, La Lumière de l’Aube: Les Coulisses du Débarquement (2×52’), made by Jean-Christophe Rose and prodco Kuiv for France 2, looks at one of the largest military operations ever undertaken.