TV Programmes

TV programmes 1. Panorama: The Secret Letters of Pope John Paul II TX: 15/02/2016 Dur: 29'00" Broadcaster: BBC 1 Production Company: Blakeway This film – for the BBC, Arte and PBS - made headlines in newspapers around the world. It was the result of a 4-year investigation by journalist Edward Stourton. He discovered hundreds of letters and photographs that revealed an intense emotional relationship between Pope John Paul 11 and a married woman, Polish born American philosopher, Anna Teresa Tymieniecka, which spanned 30 years (from his time as a Cardinal until his death as Pope). The letters had been acquired for a six figure sum by the Polish National Library, and were then hidden away while the process of securing sainthood for John Paul was in progress. The revelations turned what might have been a history programme into a current affairs investigation. It would seem there was a cover-up. Following a tip-off that the letters existed, it took two years to track them down and another year to gain access to them. It was clear Anna Teresa had fallen in love with John Paul and had declared that love. There is no evidence that the relationship was physical, but the prudent course would have been to end it. John Paul was determined it should continue, and even tried to justify it in religious terms. The letters had been sold to the Polish Library by Anna Teresa after the death of her husband, and Stourton assumed that the archive consisted simply of John Paul’s letters to her. But during the making of the film, he discovered that HER letters to him were also part of the sale (she had kept copies of everything). The Library refused to grant access to those letters, and even refused to reveal their whereabouts. Its lawyer confirmed the Library owned the copyright to Anna-Teresa’s letters, and threatened to sue if the film quoted any part of them via a different source. What are they scared of? Friends of Anna Teresa say she felt that the Catholic hierarchy wanted to write her out of history; it seems some in the Vatican saw her friendship and influence on John Paul as a threat to the Church’s position on the role of women and the doctrine of papal infallibility. Traditionally popes were not supposed to need the companionship of a woman, far less to be influenced by one. During the making of the film, the government in Poland changed. The new government is Right- wing, nationalist, and closely allied with the Catholic Church; since its election a climate of fear pervades many areas of Polish public life. The National Library, having granted access, suddenly withdrew consent for broadcast and threatened legal action. Broadcast went ahead despite the threats and triggered a storm in the Catholic world. It started a debate about celibacy, and when Pope Francis was asked about the programme he conceded ` women are still not considered so well, we have not understood the good that a woman can do for the life of the priest and the Church in the sense of counsel and healthy friendship.’ 2. The Hunt for Classroom Extremists TX: 21/11/2016 Dur: 30'00" Broadcaster: BBC 1 Production Company: BBC Birmingham This documentary from BBC Birmingham raises fresh questions about the role of Islam in British schools. Two years ago Government investigators found evidence of a plot by governors to introduce a strict Islamic ethos in non-faith schools in Birmingham. It became known as the 'Trojan Horse plot'. But with exclusive interviews from former governors, teachers and Government inspectors, The Hunt for Classroom Extremists questions the official account of what happened and explores the implications for the teaching of religion in all schools. The programme was first broadcast on BBC One in the West Midlands and then subsequently on the BBC News Channel. 3. My Mediterranean with Adrian Chiles (Part 1) TX: 05/01/2016 Dur: 60’00” Broadcaster: BBC 2 Production Company: StoryVault Films Adrian Chiles believes in God. Brought up by atheist parents, he converted to Catholicism just before his fortieth birthday. In this two-part series he travels to the Mediterranean where Jews, Christians and Muslims have lived cheek by jowl for millennia. Adrian sets out to discover whether away from headlines about fundamentalism and religious fervour, the three Abrahamic faiths have more to unite them than divides them? 4. My Mediterranean with Adrian Chiles (Part 2) TX: 12/01/2016 Dur: 60’00” Broadcaster: BBC 2 Production Company: StoryVault Films Adrian Chiles believes in God. Brought up by atheist parents, he converted to Catholicism just before his fortieth birthday. In this two-part series he travels to the Mediterranean where Jews, Christians and Muslims have lived cheek by jowl for millennia. Adrian sets out to discover whether away from headlines about fundamentalism and religious fervour, the three Abrahamic faiths have more to unite them than divides them? (PART TWO) 5. Children Saved by the Nazis: The Story of Sir Nicholas Winton TX: 27/01/2016 Dur: 60’00” Broadcaster: BBC 1 Production Company: W.I.P / Trigon Production / BBC One Our company TRANSMEDIA INTERNATIONAL RELEASING, are the UK Rights Holders & Distributors. We worked closely in association with the BBC to bring this wonderful Documentary to viewers last Holocaust Memorial Day (January 2016). 6. A Timewatch Guide: The Crusades TX: 03/02/2016 Dur: 59’00” Broadcaster: BBC Four Production Company: 360 Production Ltd. No additional information provided. 7. The Girl who Forgave the Nazis TX: 21/01/2016 Dur: 47’00” Broadcaster: Channel 4 Production Company: Testimony Films This is a heart-breaking and thought provoking film about some of the last survivors of Auschwitz - and one that challenges us to consider our own views on forgiveness. In 2015, a 93 year old ex Nazi called Oskar Groening was brought to trial, accused of being an accessory to the murder of over 300,000 Hungarian Jews at Auschwitz. Survivors were called upon to tell their stories. Still haunted by the Holocaust, this was their last chance for justice. But during the trial, one survivor shocked everyone. In court, Eva Kor hugged Groening, and forgave him for what he'd done. The other survivors were outraged. So who is Eva Kor, and why has she chosen to do the unthinkable, and forgive the Nazis? In a candid interview, Eva recalls the tragic events of her life that led her on the path to forgiveness - from the murder of her family at Auschwitz, to the sinister experiments carried out on her and her twin sister Miriam, by the notorious Nazi doctor, Josef Mengele. Intercut with Eva's personal testimony, we tell the story of the trial of Oskar Groening through one of the Nazi hunters who brought him to trial. And we contrast Eva's views on forgiveness with those of the other witnesses, who each lost parents and siblings at Auschwitz. Unlike Eva, they can never forgive. "A brave and important film." The Times "An extraordinary film." The Observer "An incredibly moving documentary." The Independent 8. A World Without Down's Syndrome TX: 15/10/2016 Dur: 59’00” Broadcaster: BBC 2 Production Company: Dragonfly Film and Television Actress and writer Sally Phillips is a mother to three boys, all of whom like swimming, cricket, ice- cream and Barcelona football club. Olly, the eldest, also has Down’s Syndrome. Following the announcement that a new screening test is said to detect Down’s Syndrome in pregnancies with 99% accuracy, Sally examines this emotionally charged subject and asks what effect the test could have on our society. While some welcome this test, others believe it will have a catastrophic impact on the Down’s Syndrome population. There are no prenatal treatments for Down’s Syndrome except termination and currently 9 out of 10 British women terminate after receiving a positive diagnosis. Statistics are disputed, but some argue that in the last ten years, the number of terminations has gone up by 40%[1] and since the NIPT has been available in the private sector, terminations have gone up by a third. This comes at a stage when for the first time in history people with Down’s Syndrome can expect better health, life expectancy, wellbeing and employment opportunities. In A World Without Down’s Syndrome? Sally meets key players on both sides of this emotionally charged debate and ponders some of the ethical questions around future scientific developments. What we will be able to screen for next and what do our screening choices reveal about us, and what we really value? How inclusive are we really? Sally meets advocates for those with Down’s Syndrome including Professor Sue Buckley, whose pioneering research has enabled thousands of children with Down’s syndrome around the world to be educated alongside their peers; wild swimmer, special Olympian and Down’s Syndrome self- advocate Karen Gaffney, blogger Hayley Goleniowska; 32 year old Halldora who is one of the few people in Iceland with Down’s Syndrome; and Liam Bairstow, the 28 year old actor from ‘Coronation Street’. To discover more about screening Sally meets professionals including Kypros Nicolaides, a world expert on maternal fetal medicine; Lyn Chitty, the only professor of genetics and foetal medicine in the UK and Jane Fisher who runs a charity supporting women through pre-testing and diagnosis as well as a women who chose to terminate. At a time when where pre-natal genetic screening is predicted to become routine, the Government is making important decisions about the Down’s Syndrome Screening Pathway and the Nuffield Council for Bioethics are debating this very issue, this documentary hopes to bring these difficult questions into the public arena so we can all be part of the debates that shape our society’s future.

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