ARTE Distribution secures major international partners on high-profile archaeology documentary produced by Ma Drogue A Moi for France Télévisions.
ARTE Distribution is delighted to announce that the upcoming premium documentary The Mystery of the Desert Kites (1×52′), directed by Nathalie Laville and produced by Ma Drogue À Moi for France Télévisions, has secured the PBS Science Series, NOVA, a production of GBH, (USA) as coproduction partner, alongside pre-buys from BBC (UK) and ZDFinfo (Germany).
Filmed in the stunning landscapes of Saudi Arabia and Jordan, The Mystery of the Desert Kites follows two international teams of archaeologists as they investigate thousands of ancient geoglyphs — enormous stone structures resembling giant kites — dating back to around 7000 BC, predating both the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge by several millennia. Through cutting-edge technologies and breathtaking aerial cinematography, the film sheds an unprecedented insight into one of humanity’s oldest and least understood engineering feats.
The documentary is led by French archaeologist Rémy Crassard and Franco-Jordanian researcher Wael Abu-Azizeh, whose groundbreaking work is revealing new insights into the Neolithic period in this region and an ancient still unknown people: the Ghassanians.
“We are extremely grateful for the trust and enthusiasm shown by our partners at PBS Science Series NOVA, BBC and ZDFinfo,” says Joséphine Létang, Head of Sales at ARTE Distribution. “This strong international collaboration reflects both the exceptional work of the director Nathalie Laville and the entire creative team, as well as the passion and commitment of producer Marie Drogue, whose vision has been instrumental in bringing this remarkable story to life.”
“At Ma Drogue À Moi, we are very proud of this production, which has brought together such prestigious partners as PBS Science Series NOVA, ZDFinfo, BBC and others for this ambitious international film. In today’s climate, supporting bold public service storytelling is more important than ever,” says producer Marie Drogue
ARTE Distribution is the international program sales unit of the European public channel ARTE with a catalog of over 4,000 hours of documentaries entrusted by more than 150 prestigious French and foreign production companies. ARTE Distribution has made its mark on the 5 continents, bringing a wide range of documentaries to the world. A reference for factual documentaries, ARTE Distribution has won the 2023 Unifrance TV Export Award which recognizes the best-selling French documentary worldwide, with THE LATEST SECRETS OF HIEROGLYPHS by Patrick CABOUAT.
