Awards | Documentaries | International Distribution | Entertainment
- The ‘Universum History’ documentary “Pirates of the Mediterranean” received a bronze award at the prestigious, internationally recognized Telly Awards.
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ORF-Enterprise announces that “Pirates of the Mediterranean: A Game of Greed and Power” has been awarded bronze in the “General History” category at the Telly Awards. These awards are among the most respected global competitions in the video and television industry, recognizing excellence in storytelling and production quality across both broadcast and digital platforms.
Danielle Proskar, an Austrian director and screenwriter
The film was written and directed by Danielle Proskar, an Austrian director and screenwriter whose career spans documentaries, series, and short films. She has worked across multiple genres, including drama, documentary, short films, and historical productions.
Caroline Haidacher, Head of ‘Universum History’ at ORF
The documentary is a co-production between ORF, ARTE, e&a film, and Urban Canyons. Caroline Haidacher, Head of ‘Universum History’ at ORF, states: “It is a gripping film featuring spectacular visuals; it tells a deeply human story while placing it within a broader geopolitical context. We congratulate the creators on this award, which demonstrates that the historical genre remains popular and enduringly relevant.”
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PIRACY, POWER, AND PERIL IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
As part of ORF’s prestigious ‘Universum History’ brand, ‘Pirates of the Mediterranean: A Game of Greed and Power’ sheds light on an often-overlooked chapter of European history, examining piracy and slavery as legally regulated instruments of power and personal enrichment in the 16th-century Mediterranean.
THE STORY
The documentary follows the story of Balthasar Stürmer, the son of a German merchant who joins a Christian privateer ship dedicated to capturing Ottoman merchant vessels, only to be captured himself by Ottoman corsairs and sold into slavery in North Africa. This historical narrative is interwoven with contemporary research as marine archaeologist Timmy Gambin and his team from the University of Malta discover a 16th-century shipwreck at a depth of 126 meters. Thanks to the use of advanced underwater robotics, the find provides exceptional visual evidence that deepens our understanding of piracy, trade, and human trafficking during the early modern period. Global distribution of the documentary is handled by ORF-Enterprise.
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ORF-Enterprise’s international content sales division serves as a preferred partner for broadcasters and platforms worldwide. Its program catalog targets the international television and media industry, encompassing TV, VOD, DVD, and ancillary rights for ORF’s documentaries, series, films, children’s programs, and musical productions.
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