MUMBAI: Toronto-based VisionTV International (VTVI), the joint venture between VisionTV and Ellis Entertainment, will release its first distribution catalogue at Mipcom, offering exclusive rights to150 hours of original production comprising lifestyle, history, music, formats and documentary programming from leading Canadian independent producers.
"The multi-faith orientation of VisionTV in Canada presents a unique opportunity to assemble under one umbrella a body of works that put a fresh new spin on some of the standard TV genres," said president of VTVI and Ellis Entertainment.Stephen Ellis.
"The extensive outreach of veteran Ellis Releasing provides the fledgling VTVI brand of programming with a terrific kick-start on the world stage," VisionTV president and CEO Bill Roberts said.
Under the VisionTV International banner, buyers at Mipcom will be introduced to a range of programming from genres that include Lifestyle; Music, Formats, Art & Literature; Documentary; History; and Contemporary Issues:
The End of Suburbia (1 x 78-minutes or 1 x one hour): An exploration of the American way of life and its prospects as the global demand for fossil fuels begins to outstrip supply. Can suburbia cope with skyrocketing energy prices? Will today's suburbs become the slums of tomorrow? An Electric Wallpaper Co. Production.
Soferet: A Special Scribe (1 x one hour): Aviel Barclay, a convert to orthodox judaism, is the first woman in the world to create a Torah scroll. Discover the ancient traditions, laws and training that go into this holy work, and the intense controversy sparked by Aviel's decision to become a ritual scribe. A Reel Time Images Inc. Production.
Mystic Women of the Middle Ages (6 x one hour, plus 6 x 30-minutes): Some women in repressive medieval Europe achieved independence and empowerment by claiming a direct, intimate, personal relationship with God. They became legends - in some cases, even saints - and achieved unprecedented power and influence, defying the long-established roles for women in male-dominated societies. A Redcanoe Production.
Prenup Challenge (6 x 30-minutes in HD): In the tropical paradise of Dominica, a team of relationship experts guides three engaged couples through a series of compatibility exercises, each one forcing these "nearly-weds" to ask themselves if they are truly ready to tie the knot. A Stonehenge Production.
Shrines and Homemade Holy Places (9 x 1 hour in HD): Stories of famous and not-so-famous public shrines, from Watts Towers in Los Angeles to the Foreverton in Baraboo, Wisconsin, along with the inspiring personal accounts of ordinary North Americans who have built magical places in their own homes. A Markham Street Films Production.
Seekers (6 x 30-minutes in HD): Five adventurous and inquiring individuals join host Ralph Benmergui on the spiritual road trip of a lifetime. Together they travel to spiritual hot spots all over North America and witness unique worship practices, from Tibetan meditation in Sedona, Arizona to Shamanistic healing in Cortes Island, B.C. An Indivisual Production.
Gospel Challenge (6 x one hour, plus a Christmas Special in HD): Participants live out the dream of becoming gospel singers. Three professional choir leaders have just one week each to turn a 16-member amateur choir into a harmonious ensemble and prepare for an all-or-nothing concert performance with a recording deal at stake. A Riddle Films Production.
Searching for Confucius (1 x one hour): He died believing that his life's work was in vain. But 2,500 years later his ideas still have enormous influence. Who was Confucius? What is his legacy? Novelist Wayson Choy goes on a quest to China in search of answers. A 4 Square Production.
End of Days (1 x hour): An investigation of the growing belief in the Apocalypse and redemption as set out in the Bible and as popularized in bestselling fiction such as Left Behind. Meet Christians and Jews who are coming together to prepare for the end of time. An Elsash Production.
Rumi - Turning Ecstatic (1 x hour): A docudrama inspired by one woman's life-changing encounter with the writings of Rumi, a 13th century Islamic mystic and poet and founder of Sufism, the religion of the whirling dervishes. A Visionary Media Inc. Production.
The VisionTV International catalogue is distributed worldwide by Ellis Releasing.
