ORF Showcases Universum Titles at Sunny Side

At this year’s Sunny Side of the Doc, ORF showcased its slate of titles from the Universum Nature and Universum History strands.

The Universum Nature catalog features a broad overview of nature and wildlife, with programs such as Croatia’s Coast—Endless and Wild, which takes viewers along the Adriatic Sea and explores how climate change and natural rhythms are reshaping the coastline.

Other titles in the strand are South Tyrol—The Land Between, exploring the habitats of the northern Italian province, where Mediterranean and Northern European climates converge, and The Pigeon Hustle, following the adventures of city pigeons through London and New York.

The Universum History strand offering includes Above and Beyond—The First Female Aviators, honoring the pioneering women in aviation; The Forgotten—The Women of the Peasants’ War, revealing the significant roles played by women during the Peasant’s War; and Mothers of the Minotaur—Rise, Reign and Ruin of the Minoans, delving into the ancient Minoan civilization.

ORF-Enterprise also scored new sales at Sunny Side of the Doc. Untamed Vietnam was acquired by PTS in Taiwan and Radio-Canada in Canada, while The Real Jungle Book was picked up by PTS (Taiwan), APT (U.S.) and Rai (Italy). MTVA in Hungary signed a deal for Wild Transylvania—Dracula’s Hidden Kingdom and Slovenia—Where Nature Comes First. Česká televize licensed Nicobar Islands—A Monkey’s Long Tale for the Czech Republic.

Also, Mexico’s TV Justicia secured Pride and Persecution, while TV UNAM scored Rebellion in the Brothel—Trafficking in Women around 1900. Viasat opted for Women Pirates—Rebels of the Seas in Scandinavia, the Baltics and CEE. Australia’s SBS and Sweden’s Axess TV acquired The Imperial Crown—Myth, Mystery and Majesty.

“Our Universum productions, celebrated as some of the world’s most acclaimed nature documentaries, are the result of enduring and fruitful collaborations with renowned filmmakers and committed co-production partners from around the globe,” said Gernot Lercher, head of ORF Universum Nature. “What holds even greater significance for all those involved in their creation is that these films are now embarking on a journey to inspire audiences worldwide.”

Stefan Binder, programming and content manager of Universum History, commented, “The success of Universum History wouldn’t be possible without our partners all over the world. Sunny Side of the Doc once again proved to be an essential meeting point for the global documentary community. The event offered valuable opportunities for networking, discovering bold new projects and engaging in forward-thinking conversations about the future of factual storytelling. We leave inspired, connected and excited for what’s ahead.”

“Our history documentaries are the result of long-standing collaborations with talented filmmakers and dedicated co-production partners worldwide,” added Sabine Bures, deputy program manager of Universum History. “It is especially rewarding to see these films inspiring audiences across the globe. The ORF Apéro and Sunny Side of the Doc provide the perfect platforms to strengthen these international partnerships, gain fresh ideas and shape the future of documentary storytelling together.”

Armin Luttenberger, head of content sales international at ORF-Enterprise, said, “As a distributor, witnessing the global appeal of our Universum products reaffirms our commitment to delivering high-quality content that transcends borders and cultures. The ORF Apéro has been a wonderful opportunity to showcase the breadth and depth of our content.”