National Geographic Abu Dhabi presents Ashok Amritraj’s ‘Chance of a Lifetime’

‘Chance of a Lifetime’ to launch on National Geographic Abu Dhabi on March 25 at 8pm KSA/9pm UAE with episodes to follow at the same time every Tuesday

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 3 April, 2014: National Geographic Abu Dhabi is proud to present ‘Chance of a Lifetime’, an unprecedented non-scripted series from a collaboration between the United Nations Organisation (UN), Hyde Park-Image Nation, and Variety. Hosted by internationally renowned and award-winning producer, Ashok Amritraj, ‘Chance of a Lifetime’ features filmmakers from the UAE, India and Singapore, all vying to create the most evocative documentary highlighting pressing global issues – with the winning production to be aired at the UN.

‘Chance of a Lifetime’ divides 12 promising young filmmakers into teams, in which they must work together to survive various filmmaking tasks. Their objective is to overcome creative difficulties and intense competitive pressure, to create a series of compelling short films that highlight the adversities that millions of people across the world face. The teams must put their all into each short film they create, as their fate in the competition rests on their ability to portray their subject manner in the most evocative manner. One team will be eliminated based on their 1 minute-long short film, and another on their 5 minutes-long short film, leaving the remaining two teams to compete for the winning spot with their 10 minute short film.

The winning team will receive the ultimate prize: their film screened for the people with the power to make a difference in the world, at the UN headquarters in New York in front of global ambassadors and Heads of UN organisations. Their prize also includes the incredible opportunity to travel to the Cannes Film Festival with Ashok Amritraj, where they have the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the industry’s best, as well as receiving their award and attending a party thrown in their honour by Variety magazine.

“This is reality television as it should be – talented individuals fighting for a cause, with all the tension of a pressure-cooker atmosphere,” said Amritraj. “The teams are tasked with making short films of various lengths that address the UN’s priority global causes, such as universal education, poverty and hunger, child mortality, HIV and Aids, and more. It’s a massive undertaking for them and the tension is high, but the rewards are even greater with the chance to spread awareness and make a difference to the world, through creativity and film.”

“The calibre of ‘Chance of a Lifetime’ is impeccable, as is to be expected with such highly respected individuals and organisations involved in its production,” said Athreyan Sundararajan, Head of Marketing of Fox International Channels Middle East. “We are privileged to share this provocative series with our viewers across the region, as it sits firmly within our ethos of providing rich and interesting programming.”

Launching on National Geographic Abu Dhabi on March 25 at 8pm KSA/9pm UAE, ‘Chance of a Lifetime’ comprises of seven episodes.

‘Chance of a Lifetime’ to launch on National Geographic Abu Dhabi on March 25 at 8pm KSA/9pm UAE

About National Geographic Abu Dhabi
Launched in July 2009, the free-to-air National Geographic Abu Dhabi invites viewers in the Middle East to re-think the way they see television – and the world – through smart, innovative programming in the Arabic language. Brought to the region by the Abu Dhabi Media (ADM) and National Geographic Channels International (NGCI), the channel is dedicated to understanding and protecting the world, with its worldwide reputation of producing credible and authentic content that fits different viewers’ interests.