Mavera Belgesel's two-season series was awarded “Best History Documentary.”
“Kayıp Kıtalar,” a co-production of Mavera Belgesel and Mavera Prodüksiyon, has won “Best History Documentary” at the ninth Mediterranean Documentary Days. The festival jury said the series strikes “a rare balance between scientific rigor and visual storytelling.”
About the series
“Kayıp Kıtalar” was filmed in 16 countries over 26 months. Tracing ancient trade networks from the Silk Road to the Spice Route through current archaeological findings, its 16 episodes aired over two seasons. The production team included 14 academics along with local guides, excavation directors and museum specialists.
Production process
- 4K cameras, drones and underwater filming
- 3D reconstructions bringing lost port cities and caravanserais back to life
- Working with local crews in 80 percent of shoots, with technical training for local production companies
- Review by an independent scientific advisory board for every episode
Series director Aslı Verimli described the hardest filming as the desert excavations in Central Asia: “With temperatures reaching 47 degrees, the crew worked to a strict safety and water plan. Behind every scene is the years of work of the archaeologists.”
International interest
“Kayıp Kıtalar” aired in 21 countries and has been dubbed into six languages under international distribution agreements. An 8-episode “classroom version” for educational institutions is used as teaching material in 340 schools. The series has also provided video content for the permanent exhibitions of two museums.
Next projects
In 2027 Mavera Belgesel is preparing a new series focused on maritime archaeology. The project will cover shipwreck discoveries in the Aegean and Black Sea. The team continues to accept co-production proposals from independent documentary makers; you can apply through our corporate contact page.
All episodes of the series are available on Mavera Play. For more information see the production page.
From the festival jury
The jury chair listed among the reasons for the award that the series treats local communities “as subjects rather than topics.” The jury especially highlighted the documentary's inclusion of the stories of local workers and women archaeologists at excavation sites. At the award ceremony, Mavera Belgesel's editor-in-chief described the team's work as “the reward of years of patient production.”
The award adds to the 47 national and international awards the group has received in the last five years.
The team behind the production
The series was prepared by a core team of 68 under director Aslı Verimli, director of photography Cüneyt Albayrak and producer Deniz Karasu. On average 12 local technicians worked in each country during filming; Prof. Dr. Hilmi Oray provided the narration. In post-production the series was completed at Mavera Prodüksiyon's color and sound studios on the Kavacık campus.
