Welcome to Maya Vision International

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Maya Vision International is an independent film and television production company, founded in 1983. Since then they have won many awards and become renowned for making work of the highest quality.

Specialising in producing original, landmark documentaries, features and drama for film and television, Maya Vision has developed a unique style, making some of history's greatest stories accessible to a wider public.

Working alongside many broadcasters and funders - including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, five, PBS, UK Film Council and Arts Council England - Maya Vision's highly acclaimed and award-winning catalogue has been screened in more than 140 territories worldwide.

Click to find out how to Contact Us

Now Available: Music from The Story of India with Michael Wood

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We are pleased to announce that the official soundtrack to our recent six-part BBC/PBS series is now available to buy from i-Tunes!

You can download individual tracks from Howard Davidson's stunning and moving score, performed by The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Also available are selected tracks from our friends at Saregama Plc, including the music of A. R. Rahman.

The complete album of all 21 tracks costs just £7.99 / $9.99.

'The Story of India with Michael Wood OST'
by Howard Davidson and The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring the music of A.R. Rahman.

In Production: Alexander's Greatest Battle

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The Battle of Gaugamela, fought in 331BC between Alexander the Great and Darius of Persia is perhaps the greatest of the ancient world. Despite its significance in ancient history, and much speculation that it lies somewhere in the north of modern day Iraq, nobody has ever pinpointed the exact location of the battlefield.

On his first visit back to Iraq since the early 1990s, Michael Wood spent some time with the Allied Forces and took the opportunity to travel out to Mosul to try and pin down the location of Alexander’s third great battle.

Will he be able to uncover the site of the ancient Battle of Gaugamela and, from the site of ancient bloodshed to modern day unrest, what lessons can be learnt from what is seemingly a longstanding fault line of history.

In Production: The English Story

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6 x 60mins for BBC Four and BBC Two. Michael Wood explores the history of England from the grassroots perspective of the ordinary people, and in particular the inhabitants across time of the small village of Kibworth, in Leicestershire.

Recently Aired on PBS: The Story of India with Michael Wood

An epic six-part series across 10,000 years and 10,000 miles tracing the story of the Indian sub-continent from pre-history to the modern day.

“…there is hardly a minute that isn't gorgeous, in terms of camerawork or subject matter, to the point that it makes one's own life seem quite drab.”
Los Angeles Times

“Memorable documentary series require at least three elements: a great story, big ideas and dazzling photography. The six-part history ''The Story of India'' has all three and more.”
Chicago Tribune

The Story of IndiaThe Story of India


For eighteen months, Michael Wood and his crew busily travelled around the entire Indian subcontinent, filming for our major new 6-part series, 'The Story of India'.
Agra, Northern IndiaAgra, Northern India

This is an epic journey with Michael Wood to uncover the fabulous sights and sounds, the dazzling achievements and the dramatic history of the world's oldest, richest and most influential civilisation.

Find out more about The Story of India...

And check out our brand new PBS India site.

Recently Aired: Panorama: Notes From A Dirty Island

Notes From A Dirty IsleNotes From A Dirty Isle

Bill Bryson Takes us on a journey through the Britain he loves and asks, why do we treat our beautiful island so badly?

Recently Launched: RSC Transforming Our Theatres Appeal

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Maya Vision International has produced the video appeal for the Royal Shakespeare Company's 'Transforming Our Theatres' project, which has already been distributed to members, staff, actors, alumni, associate artists and other supporters.

Vickki Heywood of the RSC said of the film, "It's already proved to be a valuable tool in spreading the word about the transformation. It captures the spirit of the project, whilst informing people about our plans for the new theatre."

You can view the film and donate to the appeal by clicking on the RSC logo, above.

Recently Aired: Christina: A Medieval Life

Christina: A Medieval LifeChristina: A Medieval Life

Michael Wood presents a fascinating portrait of ordinary people living through extraordinary times, tracing the life of a real-life peasant of 14th century Hertfordshire. She wasn’t a famous person, or of noble blood, yet Christina’s story is important in understanding our own roots.

In this time of war, famine, floods, climate change and the Black Death, which would claim the lives of half the population, are the beginnings of the end of serfdom, the growth of individual freedom and the start of a market economy.

And, in this absorbing piece of detective work, Wood recounts the history of medieval Britain told not from the top of society – but from the bottom. Through the lives of Christina and her fellow villagers, we see how the most volatile century in British history played a crucial role in shaping the character and destiny of a nation, and its people.

Part of BBC Four's Medieval Season

Recently Aired: Darfur: Between The Lines

A Wide Angle special for WNET thirteen

Darfur: Between The LinesDarfur: Between The Lines

Darfur: Between The Lines reports from Al Fasher, once a sleepy desert town of 40,000 but today home to 100,000 refugees and 10,000 UN personnel.

The film captures the desperation of daily life in Al Fasher's sprawling Abu Shouk refugee camp and travels outside Abu Shouk into rebel held areas to show the realities of surviving in remote villages.

Awards Update: 'The Story of India' and 'Once Upon A Time In Iran'.

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We are pleased to announce that The Story of India with Michael Wood has recently been awarded three 'Accolade' awards, "honoring outstanding achievement in film, television and videography"

Accolade Award of Excellence: Television Mini-series
Accolade Honorable Mention: Cinematography
Accolade Honorable Mention: Editing

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Futher, Kevin Sim's 'Once Upon A Time In Iran' has recently been awarded a 'Highly Commended' honour in the category of Best Documentary at the annual Broadcast Awards. The judges said of the film:

"This study of Iran's cult of martyrdom proved that you can bring international affairs to a big audience. The complexity of the issues made it a 'proper' piece of documented work"

'Once Upon A Time In Iran' was also placed as runner-up at the Sandford St. Martin Trust 2008 Awards. The Chairman of Judges, Revd Dr Colin Morris called it, "beautifully crafted".

Recently Aired: Once Upon A Time In Iran

US Title: 'Pilgrimage to Karbala'

Nominated - Grierson Awards 2007,
Best Documentary on a Contemporary Issue
Once Upon A Time In IranOnce Upon A Time In Iran
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BAFTA award winning director Kevin Sim takes a breath-taking journey from Iran to Iraq to reveal how an ancient murder still shapes the dangerous world of the Middle East.

This is a film about the power of stories featuring presidents and a pilgrimage to the contested heartlands of Shi’a Islam in Iraq.

The film received it's UK Channel 4 Premiere on Thursday, 22nd Febraury 2007.

On Monday, March 26th 2007 the film aired for the first time in the USA, on the PBS network.

The Royal Shakespeare Company: The Complete Works

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To announce the RSC’s year long Complete Works season in Straford-upon-Avon, Maya Vision International were approached to shoot and produced a promotional DVD that was distributed nationwide with copies of The Sunday Telegraph. Featuring Greg Doran, Dame Judi Dench and Michael Boyd amongst others, it’s a distilled look at the depth and breadth of this international collection of artists celebrating and performing the Complete Works of Shakespeare!

created on 2005-08-30 17:07:31 by Maya Vision