Face Television Screens Gritty Russian Docos

Media release: February 19 2013

Face Television Screens Gritty Russian Docos

A new documentary series from Russia, Outside the Square, is screening on Face Television (Auckland UHF ch41, Sky 089) on Mondays at 8.30pm from March 4.

Jim Blackman, Face TV’s chief executive, says the series tackles gritty issues including the ethics surrounding euthanasia, life in a Russian prison and the myths and facts around Russians consumption of vodka.

“Whether we agree or not with the topics, these are finely crafted documentaries,” Mr Blackman says. “It is good to be able to look at a range of opinions and circumstances and to consider other people’s points of view.”

The first film is “Russian Prisons – Life Behind Bars”. For Pavel Leonov, life as a prison inmate is just beginning. But for Andrey Afanasyev, who is serving a sentence for fraud, there is a chance of parole. While Andrey harbours a hope of reuniting with his family and starting a new life, Pavel is about to spend a significant period of his life behind bars.

Many Russian prison inmates struggle to survive and avoid becoming despondent, while others find that the few hours of exhilaration they get from acting in theatre performances gives them something to live for. This documentary examines what gives Russian inmates hope to survive and what takes it away.

Future topics in the series include, among others, the development of the legendary and much-feared Kalashnikov rifle, human trafficking, the northern drug route from Afghanistan to Europe, an investigation into the person who was Rasputin and the mystique that surrounds the diamond trade.

What: “Outside the Square” – a documentary series from Russian
Where: Face Television, UHF ch41 (Auckland), Sky TV 089, starts March 4 at 8.30pm

About Face Television
Face Television is the new home of New Zealand's first non-commercial, regional TV station, which has been broadcasting to the Auckland region since August 1998 - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Face aims to reflect the diversity in New Zealand’s modern society, helping to build understanding and sharing communities.

Anyone can put a programme on Face Television as long as it meets standards for content and production. Individuals and groups can book a time slot to broadcast their own programmes. The station operates independently from all programme providers to ensure it cannot be controlled by individuals or groups with their own agendas - and that editorial control remains with the programme provider.

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