October Films Presents the 2009 Nobel Laureate in Literature for Nobel Media

Press Release

19 October 2009

October Films Presents the 2009 Nobel Laureate in Literature for Nobel Media

October Films has been commissioned by Nobel Media AB, the company responsible for the official Nobel TV programming, to produce a 1x30' documentary about the 2009 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Herta Müller, the Romanian-born German novelist.

The documentary will explore the life and career of Müller, a celebrated novelist, poet and essayist noted for her works depicting the harsh conditions of life in Communist Romania. A controversial writer, Müller has written widely about the oppression in her native country and life as a political exile. Müller emigrated to Germany in 1987 and is the first German writer to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1999. Using interviews with Müller and her academic peers, the programme will offer insight into the various themes covered in her work and its significance in today's society.

The Nobel Prize Award Ceremony takes place on 10 December in Stockholm.

Denman Rooke, Managing Director of October Films, said: "Herta Müller is a powerful and moving writer with a fearless poetic insight that has made her stand out in the international literary world. We are very proud to be working with Nobel Media for a second year running to produce this documentary."

Camilla Hylten-Cavallius, Chief Executive Officer, Nobel Media, adds: "We were pleased with the high quality production of last year's documentary and it was well received by international audiences. We are delighted to continue our relationship with October Films."

Every year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. The Nobel Prize in Literature has celebrated the works of authors from many different languages and cultural backgrounds, from William Butler Yeats (1923), Ernest Hemingway (1954), Gabriel García Márquez (1982) and Orhan Pamuk (2006).

The documentary is directed by Guy Evans and executive produced by Denman Rooke for October Films. It will be distributed internationally by Nobel Media.

Press contacts:

Nobel Media

Merci Olsson
Marketing and Communications Manager
Tel: +(46) 738 52 35 95
E-mail: merci.olsson@nobel.se

Franklin Rae Communications

Tel: + (44) 20 7317 5400

Kathryn Meadmore

E-mail: kathryn@franklinrae.com

Mary Jones

E-mail: mary@franklinrae.com

About Nobel Media AB

Nobel Media AB manages and develops rights connected with the Nobel Prize, in the areas of TV/web production, distribution, publishing and events. The company is responsible for all the official TV programming around the Nobel Prize and through these TV productions, strive to spread knowledge about the Nobel Laureates and their achievements, to a global audience. The Nobel Program portfolio comprises a number of TV productions and documentaries: The Nobel Prize Award Ceremonies in Stockholm and Oslo, The Nobel Banquet, Nobel Documentaries, Nobel Minds, Nobel Highlights and the Nobel Prize Concert. These programs reach millions of viewers and web users all over the world.

Nobel Media® and Nobel Prize® are registered trademarks of the Nobel Foundation.

About October Films

October Films is one of the UK's most successful independent production companies with a long-standing reputation for high-quality programming in a wide range of genres, including Popular Factual, Documentary, Current Affairs, History and Science. October attracts worldwide industry recognition; they have been voted one of the Top Ten independent companies in the Televisual Peer Poll for the past twelve years.

Founded in 1989, the company has won over 90 international television awards including BAFTAs, RTS Awards and a number of Emmys. In December 2006 October Films also won the highly prestigious Prix Italia for the second time.

Creating flagship programming for both UK and International broadcasters, October Films' recent and current production slate includes primetime programming such as THE HUNT FOR BRITIAN'S SEX TRAFFICKERS (C4), RUDE TUBE (C4 & E4), CARIBBEAN COPS (Virgin 1), CHRIS RYAN'S ELITE POLICE (NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC), PAKISTAN'S TALIBAN GENERATION (C4, WGBH & ARTE), AFGHANISTAN'S DIRTY WAR (C4 & ARTE), THE HUNT FOR SHANNON MATTHEWS (C4), SUN, SEA AND A & E (Virgin 1), and THE FUN POLICE (C4)

www.octoberfilms.co.uk