MIPTV 2015 was a hotbed of deal-making activities, and today we look at the television programs out of the Nordic countries for which TV execs made announcements.
MIPTV (Marché International des Programmes de Télévision) is the media market held annually in Cannes, France, where television broadcasters, producers, distributors, and the like gather to screen shows, network with industry players, and ultimately make deals, from buying and selling programs, to co-producing and financing them.
At this year’s MIPTV, the Focus On The Nordics events featured “more than 20 of the top broadcasters, producers, creatives, distributors and digital-media pioneers from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden,” who gathered for a series of showcases, conferences and networking events.
According to Nordisk Film & TV Fond, “Deal making and negotiations on finished and upcoming shows were brisk, especially for long running serials and scripted formats.”
Deals made for European markets include:
Danish comedy-drama Broke (Bankerot) — produced by Danmarks Radio (DR), about “a handful of vaguely dysfunctional characters with many talents but a distinct inability to get their heads round their lives,” and featuring Nicolas Bro and Lars Brygmann of Unit One, and Nicolaj Kopernikus, Tina Gylling Mortensen, and Finn Nielsen of The Killing.
Danish crime drama Follow the Money (Bedrag) — from DR, set for a February 2016 release, “a series that takes us into the world of economic crime in the banks, on the stock exchanges, and in the board rooms,” and features Nikolaj Lie Kaas (The Killing), Waage Sandø (Unit One), and Lars Simonsen (The Bridge).
Danish crime drama Norskov — from Svensk Filmindustri (SF), currently in production for a 2015 release, “a tale of everyday life in a police station and a portrait of the Danish province and a dark drama in the deepest human abysses.”
Danish drama The Legacy: Season 2 (Arvingerne) — Season 1 has screened in the UK, will screen in the US soon.
Danish youth-oriented fantasy series Heartless — from Fridthjof Film, “a mix of pure Scandinavian drama and US fantasy/adventure. It’s ‘True Blood meets The Killing,'” said producer Ronnie Fridthjof.
Finnish crime series Hooked (Koukussa) — upcoming series produced by Moskito Television, “focuses on drug squad investigator (Tommi Eronen) and his first love, an ex-addict (Matleena Kuusniemi) who starts to work with him as a criminal informant.”
Finnish eco-thriller Tellus — produced by Finland’s Yleisradio (YLE), storyline: “A group of activists have executed a series of eco-motivated sabotages, carefully planned not to harm people. But one day things go wrong and a person is killed.” YLE commissioned a second season after the first garnered a 27% share of the viewing audience.
Norwegian mystery/crime drama A Darker Sky (En Mörkare Himmel) — TV production rights recently acquired by SF.
Norwegian war drama The Heavy Water War (Kampen om tungtvannet) — picked up by the US’ MHz Networks and the UK’s Channel 4.
Swedish crime drama Arne Dahl: Season 2 — hopefully will screen in the US after the success of Season 1.
Swedish crime thriller Johan Falk: Season 3 — Ditto.
Swedish political thriller Blue Eyes (Blå ögon) — produced by Strix Drama, described by ZDF Enterprises’ VP and COO Fred Burcksen as “a high concept, long overdue approach to tell current political tendencies in Europe in a fictional authentic setting.” Think of it as a “Swedish House of Cards.”
Remakes were also discussed, including for Follow the Money, Hooked, and Rita, the hit Danish comedy-drama whose third season is currently airing on Denmark’s TV2 and will screen in all of co-financier Netflix’s territories later in 2015.
Stay tuned for more information about which titles will screen in the US and/or UK.
Additional sources: DR Sales, Svensk Filmindustri
__________________
Add your comments on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Share this post/page.