GECs
Discovery Networks on the look out for documentary filmmakers
MUMBAI: Discovery Networks International has kicked off its search for eight up-and-coming documentary filmmakers from around the world to star in the new season of its docu-reality challenge, Reel Race.
The series cover aspects of documentary filmmaking including shooting, editing, scripting, voiceovers, budgeting and logistics. The candidate’s finished work is then judged by industry heavyweights, eliminating filmmakers until a winner is determined. English-speaking, non-professional filmmakers or aspiring video journalists above the age of 21 years old are welcome to apply. Closing date is 6 July.
Australian-based production company Octagon CSI has been roped in by the network to produce the second installment of the (5×60′) docu-reality series. Reel Race 2 focuses on the skills required to make documentaries. The reality show provides wannabees an opportunity to launch filmmaking careers on the international stage.
Each week on the series, the docu-makers choose an assignment at random that could take them anywhere in the world. They must then travel to that location, research, film, edit and produce a short documentary within a predetermined timeframe and budget.
“The Reel Race format allows us to encourage a whole new generation of emerging documentary filmmakers by giving them the chance to learn firsthand how to tell a great story under enormous pressure, with significant budget and time constraints,” Discovery Networks Asia senior vice president of programming and creative services James Gibbons said.
The series will be broadcast on Discovery Channel this fall in Asia-Pacific (including Australia and New Zealand), the UK, Europe and Latin America. The winner of Reel Race 2 will win a production contract with Discovery Networks Asia in Singapore as well as prizes from technology partner, Samsung.
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
