beetz brothers film production
Premium documentary series “Free at Last” unveiling the secrets of Apartheid from BEETZ BROTHERS and STORYSCOPE boarded by ZDF, ARTE, VPRO and SABC
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Premium documentary series “Free at Last” unveiling the secrets of Apartheid from BEETZ BROTHERS and STORYSCOPE boarded by ZDF, ARTE, VPRO and SABC
BERLIN/HAMBURG/JOHANNESBURG (April 8th, 2024) Award-winning production companies beetz brothers (Germany) and Storyscope (South Africa) have come together to co-produce “Free at Last” - a definitive re-telling of the history of Apartheid. Weaving together exclusive accounts from both victims and perpetrators, unseen footage and previously unpublished documents. The series will unveil the true stories behind the oppressive and racist regime that ruled South Africa for decades.
Commissioned to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s inauguration, the three-part series marks the pivotal moments of the Apartheid era; from the establishment of the Apartheid state, its segregation laws, violent and terrorizing tactics, though the birth of African National Congress (ANC), Mandela’s fight for freedom and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) to the current day attempts of the victims' families to finally get the truth out.
European broadcasters, ZDF/ ARTE and VPRO have joined forces with South Africa’s SABC to bring to light unknown stories of the brutal regime with exclusive interviews and first-hand accounts from all sides of this long struggle - victims, perpetrators and politicians who lay bare secrets which have been hidden for decades.
“Free at Last”, which will also be available as a feature length film, is produced by decorated Executive Producers Reinhardt Beetz (beetz brothers) and Neil Brandt (Storyscope) with award-winning journalists and filmmakers Misha Wessel, Thomas Blom and Xoliswa Sithole directing.
Blom and Wessel have worked on numerous challenging political projects, their International Emmy nominated film “The Hunt for Gaddafi’s Billions” was broadcast in over 40 countries and won the prestigious Rockie Award.
Xoliswa Sithole is a prolific South African producer, actor and documentary filmmaker having won two BAFTAs and a Peabody Award. She also served as her country’s ambassador to the Cannes Film Festival.
“The backbone of the series is the unfolding of the infamous COSAS 4 case in which four youths who wanted to join the armed struggle got caught in a trap. The trial, currently in court, is the first where a case against humanity and murder perpetrated during Apartheid, will be heard in a South African court”, says Neil Brandt, CEO of Storyscope.
Reinhardt Beetz, co-CEO of beetz brothers: “The team behind this series has done an exceptional job having spent years researching these events, establishing an extensive network of sources and securing exclusive access to key figures and eyewitnesses who are coming forth for the first time to reveal the truth and share their experiences."
“As the SABC, we are honored to partner on this important story. “Free At Last” will assist us in delivering on our 30 Years of Democracy slate with the view of promoting continued dialogue and reigniting the nation in a period where many have lost hope. The documentary will also serve as a vehicle to carry the story of democracy forward and remind us how far we have come and how much further we can go”, said Tshilidzi Davhana, Head of Factual of SABC.
About beetz brothers
Beetz brothers film production is one of the most renowned factual production houses in Europe. The premium documentary powerhouse produces nationally and internationally acclaimed, award-winning documentary features and series for cinema, TV and streaming. The company’s newest film “Eternal You” is set for a theatrical release in the spring, after headline Sundance’s Official Competition. The film explores the use of AI to communicate with loved ones after death. Current productions also include “Crime Scene Berlin: Nightlife Killer” a true crime docu-series just out on Netflix and the internationally acclaimed, award-winning, Sky Original documentary series on the rise and fall of Spanish King Juan Carlos I .
Since its foundation in 2000, the company has produced more than 250 high-quality titles regularly shown in competition at major international A-list festivals, and has received more than 100 awards. Beetz brothers stand for committed films, captivating storytelling and a wide range of topics from gripping true crime stories to touching biographies, spectacular nature and adventure series to contemporary music and cultural productions, with a yearly output of 12-15 projects.
About Storyscope
Storyscope is one of South Africa’s leading factual production companies, working across genres, cultures, drawn to narratives exploring personal and political revolutions. Storyscope’s founding partners have developed, produced, commissioned and distributed hundreds of hours of content on broadcast, theatrical and SVOD platforms. Their hit Netflix’s true-crime series "Senzo: Murder of a Football Star” won the 2023 South Africa Film & Television Award for Best Documentary Series, and their documentary “Influence”‘ was in official competition at Sundance 2020, winning Best Film at the Durban International Film Festival. The company has been at the forefront of content entrepreneurship and media advocacy in South Africa, working in challenging spaces across Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.
Beetz brothers are handling pre-sales and are in conversations with additional broadcast partners.
Title: Free at Last
Duration: 3x52 min/ 1x90min
Country: Germany/ South Africa
Year of Production: 2024
A beetz brothers production in co-production with Storyscope
Executive Producer: Reinhardt Beetz, Neil Brandt
Director: Thomas Blom, Misha Wessel, Xoliswa Sithole
DOP: Nathalie Haarhoff
Editor: Paul Burgess
Commissioning Editors: Barbara Truyen, VPRO & Frederic Ulferts, ZDF/ARTE
Press contact:
Reinhardt Beetz
r.beetz@gebrueder-beetz.de
Mob. +49 171 171 39 71
Gebrueder Beetz Filmproduktion Lüneburg GmbH
Eppendorfer Weg 93a
20259 Hamburg, Germany
+40 41494570
Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion Lüneburg GmbH • Sitz der Gesellschaft: Auf der Hude 88, 21339 Lüneburg • Amtsgericht Lüneburg • HRB 204363 • Geschäftsführer: Reinhardt Beetz