Viaplay Sets Natascha Kampusch Docuseries

Viaplay is slated to premiere the English- and German-language documentary series Natascha Kampusch—A Lifetime in Prison next month.

The three-part series features exclusive interviews with Natascha Kampusch, who was held by a kidnapper in Austria for over eight years. It will focus on how victim blaming, conspiracy theories and a lack of public empathy have impacted her life in the years since her escape. Natascha Kampusch—A Lifetime in Prison will bow on Viaplay on February 24.

In 1998, 10-year-old Kampusch was abducted by Wolfgang Přiklopil in Vienna and held hostage for 3,096 days. Much of her captivity was spent in a secret basement measuring five square meters, where she was both starved and abused. In 2006, she managed to escape and tell her story, only to be met with mistrust and condemnation.

Natascha Kampusch—A Lifetime in Prison is produced by Heartland TV. It is directed and produced by Nicole Nielsen Horanyi (The Stranger).

Kampusch said: “I expected understanding, not hatred and rejection. It has been very unpleasant, and I can hardly walk down the street without being confronted. Conspiracy theories claiming I was responsible for my own kidnapping have been allowed to flourish, which affects me a great deal. So I’m pleased I can tell my story in this Viaplay documentary and draw attention to victim blaming. I hope I can help others who have suffered in a similar way to be treated better by the media and public than I have been.”

Filippa Wallestam, NENT Group’s chief content officer, said: “Natascha’s freedom has too often been another form of imprisonment. I am grateful for, and impressed by, her bravery in telling her story and hope that it raises urgent questions about compassion and truth in our societies today. We continue to invest in Viaplay original documentaries that are both powerful and timely.”