With our MIPTV Picks in April, we noted what seemed to be an increase in what might best be called “the heavy stuff” – war, social issues, disease and other not-so-light fare dominated the submissions from international distributors. And while all of these topics make appearances in our final selection of “can’t miss” projects for MIPCOM, the range of content submitted was wider, and even some of the weightier projects carry an inspirational tone. Just be sure to have a hanky on hand when screening a few of these, but also be prepared to laugh out loud and to marvel at the beauty of the world around us. Congratulations to our Best in Show (pictured), which wins a free pass to the 2016 Realscreen Summit for the submitting company.

BEST IN SHOW:
TRANSFATTY LIVES
Partners: Produced by Handsome Cargo; distributed by Film Buff and ro*co films

JAGO: A LIFE UNDERWATER
Partners: Underdog Films in association with Fantomline Pictures, Vistaar Productions & James Morgan Films; distributed by Blue Ant International

AMONG THE BELIEVERS
Partners: Directed by Hernal Trivedi and Mohammed Ali Naqvi; produced by Changeworx, Manjusha Films; worldwide sales agent: Cinephil

BECOMING US
Partners: Produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions for ABC Family; distributed by Cineflix Rights

MUMBAI RAILWAY
Partners: A BBC production; distributed by DCD Rights

BODY DONORS – LIFE AFTER DEATH
Partners: Produced by Daisybeck Studios and GroupM Entertainment for Channel 5 (UK); distributed by Beyond Distribution

A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY
Partners: Produced by Women Rising; distributed by Cinedigm, Tugg andn ro*co films

PLANETARY
Partners: Directed by Guy Reid; produced by The Planetary Collective; distributed by Cargo Film & Releasing

PRINCE PHILIP: THE PLOT TO MAKE A KING
Partners: Produced by Blakeway Productions for Channel 4 (UK); distributed by DRG

GRACELAND HAPPINESS PROJECT
Partners: Produced by Princess Pictures and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation for ABC (Australia); distributed by ABC Commercial

MEGA-YACHTS
Partners: Produced by Icon Films for Channel 4; distributed by TCB Media Rights

WWII: CHINA’S FORGOTTEN WAR
Partners: Produced by Infocus Asia (Singapore) and China International Communication Centre (China) for History Asia; distributed by TVF International

SING IT ON
Partners: Produced by Core Media Group with Get Lifted Film Co. for Pop (U.S.); distributed by Banijay International

SECRET LIVES OF AMERICANS
Partners: Produced by All3Media America for Pivot (U.S.); distributed by Cineflix Rights

EBOLA: DEATH IN A VILLAGE
Partners: Produced by Docdays Productions, with Al Jazeera America and SWR in association with ARTE, with support from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting; distributed by PBS International

I AM CHRIS FARLEY
Partners: Produced by Network Entertainment for Spike TV (U.S.); distributed by FremantleMedia International

SPEED SISTERS
Partners: A Soc Doc Studios production supported by Sundance Institute in association with Chicken & Egg Pictures, Minerva Productions & Whitewater Films; worldwide sales agent: Dogwoof

THE DETECTIVES
Partners: Produced by Minnow Films for BBC2; distributed by Zodiak Rights

iCROCODILE
Partners: Produced by Earth Touch, Smithsonian Networks for Smithsonian Networks, National Geographic Channels International and Sveriges Television AB; distributed by Earth Touch

FORCES OF NATURE
Partners: A BBC production with PBS, coproduced by France Télévisions; distributed by BBC Worldwide