Songs From the Inside Sings to the World

MEDIA RELEASE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2014

Songs From the Inside Sings to the World

Māori Television is pleased to announce that SONGS FROM THE INSIDE will be launched on Monday at the world's biggest television market, MIPCOM 2014, in Cannes through BBC Worldwide..

Produced by Awa Films, SONGS FROM THE INSIDE is a critically-acclaimed series that premiered on Māori Television, stunning audiences and redefining reality television.

It follows famous musicians as they rehabilitate prisoners by teaching them how to express their story through song.

Series creator Julian Arahanga, of Awa Films, said: "It’s great to have the format recognised and in the international market with a distributor with such a stamp of high quality.

"It shows that Māori Television is a hotbed of creative talent and fantastic ideas that have a global resonance."

Māori Television general manager of programming Haunui Royal said: "Songs was a breakthrough series for Māori Television – which achieved that elusive combination –kaupapa Māori themes and empowering human stories that appealed to large audiences."

Nicki McDermott, Head of Acquisitions, Formats and Entertainment at BBC Worldwide in London, said: “We have high hopes for SONGS FROM THE INSIDE internationally and I am looking forward to launching the series at MIPCOM and presenting it alongside our other brand new and exciting shows in the catalogue."

Produced by Awa Films in Wellington, SONGS FROM THE INSIDE has screened two seasons on Māori Television.

The series was nominated for Best Reality Series at the New Zealand Television Awards and the album hit the #1 spot in the New Zealand Independent Music Charts.

The MIPCOM deal was negotiated by Carthew Neal of Fumes TV in New Zealand and Jeremy Gawade of UK law firm Lee and Thompson.

ENDS

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