FIFA World Cup special “Mata Mata” is set to hit Italy: Koch Media has secured the DVD rights to the football documentary. In addition, audiences will also be seeing the Brazilian football stars on Belgium’s public-service broadcaster VRT and Norwegian video platform VGTV. VRT and VGTV each plan to air it as part of their coverage of the football tournament later this year.
“Mata Mata” (literally “kill-kill”) is the Brazilian term for a “knockout match”, a win-or-go-home battle as well as a metaphor for life. With unique access to the hidden circles pulling the strings in the background but also to intimate private moments, “Mata Mata” follows Brazilian football talents – Danilo, Thiago, Dante – for almost three years in their fight to fulfill their dreams.
Umberto Bettini, Country Manager Koch Media Italy says: “We are really proud to be part of this important project. Italy is the birthplace of football and our love and passion for this sport will be even stronger this year with FIFA World Cup starting in a while. We are going to offer to Italian people a completely new football experience, a different way to approach this sport, thanks to a deeper insight on football players’ private lives. We believe ‘Mata Mata’ will be able to create a more ‘human’ feeling of players as they are men first, then champions.”
Linn Aronsen, Head of Acquisition at VGTV “We are thrilled to have secured Mata Mata for the Norwegian market! This will complement our running news coverage of the World Cup with background and insight into one of the most important sport events this year.”
Axel Boehm, Senior Vice President Sales, Europe at Red Arrow International says: “‘Mata Mata’ gets incredibly close to both the players and the people behind them, following them for three years on their journey out of the favelas. Some make it, some don’t. I am really excited to see ‘Mata Mata’ now travelling across Europe; it is the ideal companion for any world cup coverage – on any platform.”
About “Mata Mata”
Produced by F24 Film for Germany’s SWR/ ARD, “Mata Mata” is an intimate portrait of rising football talents and the world of the football business.
Telling stories about fame and defeat, about the true lives of sons, families and their agents, “Mata Mata” features Brazilian football players starting at age 15 in different stages of their careers: 17-year-old Danilo, flooded by offers from the most important European clubs. Bayer Leverkusen’s 18-year-old central defender Carlinhos. FC Bayern Munich defender Dante, still dreaming of being called to the Brazilian National Team for the World Cup 2014 at the age of 30.
Crucial changes in fate shape gripping stories – of failure and success. Without using a narrator, “Mata Mata” links motion picture images maintaining the look and feel of a feature film with human stories and defining moments of fear and disappointment, but also of hope and joy.
About Koch Media
Koch Media is a leading producer and distributor of digital entertainment products (software, games and films). The company’s own publishing activities, marketing and distribution extend throughout Europe and the USA. The Koch Media group has more than 19 years of experience in the digital media business, and has risen to become the number one distributor in Europe. With Headquarters in Planegg near Munich/Germany, Koch Media owns branches in Germany, England, France, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the Nordic regions, Benelux and the United States. www.kochmedia.com
About VG
VGTV is one of Norway’s leading web-TV services with +300.000 unique visitors daily. VGTV is part of the VG-group with a total reach of 2.4 million daily.