TV Real Festival 2025

Taking place from June 18 to 20, 2025, the second edition of the TV Real Festival will feature keynotes and panels with leading executives and creatives discussing the world of unscripted, from lifestyle and factual entertainment to blue-chip docs. It will be streamed live and available on-demand on TVRealFestival.com.

Need to convert the times below for where you are? Click on the times above the name of each session to make sure you don’t miss a thing!

Wednesday, June 18

• 9 a.m. EDT
  National Geographic’s Tom McDonald
  The second edition of the TV Real Festival will kick off with an opening keynote conversation with Tom McDonald, the executive VP of global factual and unscripted at National Geographic.
• 10 a.m. EDT
  Lion Television’s Richard Bradley
  Richard Bradley, co-founder and chief creative officer at All3Media-owned Lion Television, will tell TV Real Festival viewers about how the company is curating its eclectic factual slate and building upon its successful co-production models.
• 11 a.m. EDT
  BossaNova Media’s Paul Heaney
  To get an understanding of where the business of factual distribution is today and where it’s headed, we’ll chat with Paul Heaney, CEO and founder of BossaNova Media, about meeting buyers’ needs and maximizing returns to producers.

Thursday, June 19

• 9 a.m. EDT
  Factual Independence
  Exploring the unique positioning of boutique independents, we’re enlisting the expertise of TVF International’s Poppy McAlister and Albatross World Sales’ Anne Olzmann.
• 10 a.m. EDT
  Curiosity’s Clint Stinchcomb
  Clint Stinchcomb, president and CEO of Curiosity, will discuss the recent milestones at the company, which was founded by documentary television pioneer John Hendricks.
• 11 a.m. EDT
  Muck Media’s Mariana van Zeller & Cristina Costantini
  Mariana van Zeller, the host of National Geographic’s acclaimed series Trafficked, and director and producer Cristina Costantini will join the TV Real Festival to share how their company Muck Media, founded by five friends, has assembled a portfolio of some of the buzziest factual shows on linear and streaming.

Friday, June 20

• 9 a.m. EDT
  Bringing UNIVERSUM to the World
  Highlighting the unique role played by pubcasters, this session will feature Gernot Lercher, head of natural history at ORF’s landmark UNIVERSUM strand, and Marion Camus-Oberdorfer, director of acquisitions and distribution investment at ORF-Enterprise, on how they collaborate to bring high-end wildlife to Austrian and global audiences.
• 10 a.m. EDT
  Documentary Channel’s Tom Neff
  We’ll hear from Tom Neff, president and chief creative officer at Documentary Channel, about curating a streaming home for indie docs.
• 11 a.m. EDT
  11:11 Media’s Bruce Robertson
  The TV Real Festival will wrap with a keynote conversation with Bruce Robertson, the chief storyteller at 11:11 Media, the media company launched by reality television icon Paris Hilton and Bruce Gersh.

Screenings

• ZDF Studios’ Dino Birds
  After surviving the last mass extinction event, birds have become one of the most diverse species on Earth. CGI effects bring extinct birds and dinosaurs back to life while experts explore their plumage, colors, birdsong and wings.
• ZDF Studios’ Iconic Islands of the Indian Ocean
  Explores the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius and La Réunion’s fragile nature using drone and underwater technology. It features rare animals and rare coral reefs, while also addressing the threat of refuse washing up on beaches, dying coral reefs and mangroves and the protected Coco del Mar double coconut.
• ZDF Studios’ Ancient Apocalypse
  Using expert insights, archaeological evidence and historical records, this series reveals the hidden fragility of even the mightiest civilizations and the unexpected forces that destroyed them.
• Albatross World Sales’ Liberation Diaries
  Through their diaries, three women from Milan, Paris and Berlin document Europe’s turbulent transition after World War II, revealing powerful stories of resilience, identity and survival.
• Albatross World Sales’ The Right Whale—Tales of Resilience and Hope
  Southern right whales represent one of the greatest conservation success stories of our time, but their Northern cousins are in peril. This cinematic masterpiece explores reasons and possible solutions.
• ORF-Enterprise’s A Sloth Story
  After a rare pale-throated sloth named Slotty is injured in the Guyanese rainforest, wildlife carer Luana rescues her and struggles to provide her specialized diet. As Slotty recovers, the documentary explores sloth survival strategies and the touching bond formed before her return to the wild.
• ORF-Enterprise’s Justin Bonello’s Bushcook
  South African chef Justin Bonello journeys across Southern Africa, exploring its landscapes and cultures through fire-fueled, rustic cooking. The series blends stunning scenery and authentic storytelling, highlighting food as legacy, ethics and a deep connection to life.