Bei der ifs – Internationale Filmschule Köln ist der dritte Jahrgang des „European Showrunner Training“ gestartet. Erneut unter der Leitung des renommierten dänischen Serienautors und Showrunners Jeppe Gjervig Gram wurden 13 Teilnehmende ausgewählt, darunter auch die Autorin Marie-Therese Thill aus Österreich („School of Champions”).
Die Drehbücher von „School of Champions“ entstanden mit Hilfe von Marie-Therese Thill, die nun am „European Showrunner Training” der ins teilnimmt (Credit: Orf/Superfilm/Stefanie Leo)
Mit ihrem Weiterbildungsangebot „European Showrunner Training” reagiert die ifs auf aktuelle Anforderungen des Serien-Marktes. Mittlerweile ist der dritte Jahrgang gestartet. Unter den laut ifs zahlreichen Bewerbungen wurden 13 qualifizierte Serienautor:innen aus zwölf Ländern ausgewählt. Bei den Teilnehmenden des dritten Jahrgangs handelt es sich um:
• Anna Brotkin, Finnland | „Aikuiset/Adults”, „Rakkaat lapset/Perfect Sisters” (Autorin)
• Tanja Bubbel, Deutschland | „Charité” (Staffelcreator 4. Staffel / Headautorin), „Smilla’s Sense of Snow” (Deutsche Headautorin)
• Charlie Dewulf, Belgien | „Brak/Broke”, „Liefdestips aan Mezelf/Love Tips to Myself”
• Jón Gunnar Geirdal, Island...
Die Drehbücher von „School of Champions“ entstanden mit Hilfe von Marie-Therese Thill, die nun am „European Showrunner Training” der ins teilnimmt (Credit: Orf/Superfilm/Stefanie Leo)
Mit ihrem Weiterbildungsangebot „European Showrunner Training” reagiert die ifs auf aktuelle Anforderungen des Serien-Marktes. Mittlerweile ist der dritte Jahrgang gestartet. Unter den laut ifs zahlreichen Bewerbungen wurden 13 qualifizierte Serienautor:innen aus zwölf Ländern ausgewählt. Bei den Teilnehmenden des dritten Jahrgangs handelt es sich um:
• Anna Brotkin, Finnland | „Aikuiset/Adults”, „Rakkaat lapset/Perfect Sisters” (Autorin)
• Tanja Bubbel, Deutschland | „Charité” (Staffelcreator 4. Staffel / Headautorin), „Smilla’s Sense of Snow” (Deutsche Headautorin)
• Charlie Dewulf, Belgien | „Brak/Broke”, „Liefdestips aan Mezelf/Love Tips to Myself”
• Jón Gunnar Geirdal, Island...
- 6/3/2024
- by Barbara Schuster
- Spot - Media & Film
Fisher King, the leading Finnish company behind some of Scandinavia’s biggest scripted hits including “Bordertown” and “The Helsinki Syndrome,” has gone bankrupt amid challenges that have thrown the Scandinavian TV industry into turmoil.
Beta Film, which acquired Fisher King in 2019 and subsequently launched the umbrella banner Beta Nordic Studios, said the company was declared bankrupt on Dec. 23.
Fisher King was founded in 2013 by executive producer Matti Halonen and chief visual officer Miikko Oikkonen. Over the years, the outfit was able to produce some of the region’s most ambitious drama series through international co-productions. The company’s recent titles include “Estonia,” a limited series directed by Swedish director Måns Månsson and Finnish director Juuso Syrjä, about Europe’s deadliest civil maritime disaster which killed over 850 people in 1994. Oikkonen was a showrunner and co-wrote the show.
Speaking to Variety, Beta Nordic Studios’ executive chairman Justus Riesenkampff said that in spite of its stellar track record,...
Beta Film, which acquired Fisher King in 2019 and subsequently launched the umbrella banner Beta Nordic Studios, said the company was declared bankrupt on Dec. 23.
Fisher King was founded in 2013 by executive producer Matti Halonen and chief visual officer Miikko Oikkonen. Over the years, the outfit was able to produce some of the region’s most ambitious drama series through international co-productions. The company’s recent titles include “Estonia,” a limited series directed by Swedish director Måns Månsson and Finnish director Juuso Syrjä, about Europe’s deadliest civil maritime disaster which killed over 850 people in 1994. Oikkonen was a showrunner and co-wrote the show.
Speaking to Variety, Beta Nordic Studios’ executive chairman Justus Riesenkampff said that in spite of its stellar track record,...
- 1/26/2024
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Big-budget disaster series “Estonia,” Canneseries winner “Power Play” and “Painkiller,” the TV drama debut of Göteborg victor Gabriela Pilcher (“Amateur”) feature among the five contenders for next year’s Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize which serves to underscore the robust breadth of current Nordic scripted series.
Also in the running is “Prisoner,” a second admired Canneseries main competition contender featuring “The Killing” star Sofie Gråbøl, and “Descendants,” the showrunning debut of famed Icelandic thesp Tinna Hrafnsdóttir.
Backed by the Göteborg Film Festival and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the 8th edition of the Prize, awarded to series’ main writers, pits Beta Film, the sales agent on “Estonia” and owner of its producer, “Bordertown’s” Fisher King, against Fremantle, owner of “Power Play” producer Motlys/Novemberfilm and Red Arrow Studios International, the sales agent on “Descendants.” REinvent International Sales handles sales on “Painkiller” and “Power Play.”
The Nordic drama series...
Also in the running is “Prisoner,” a second admired Canneseries main competition contender featuring “The Killing” star Sofie Gråbøl, and “Descendants,” the showrunning debut of famed Icelandic thesp Tinna Hrafnsdóttir.
Backed by the Göteborg Film Festival and the Nordisk Film & TV Fond, the 8th edition of the Prize, awarded to series’ main writers, pits Beta Film, the sales agent on “Estonia” and owner of its producer, “Bordertown’s” Fisher King, against Fremantle, owner of “Power Play” producer Motlys/Novemberfilm and Red Arrow Studios International, the sales agent on “Descendants.” REinvent International Sales handles sales on “Painkiller” and “Power Play.”
The Nordic drama series...
- 12/15/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Welcome to Deadline’s The Hot Ones, our guide to some of the best television being sold at Mipcom next week. Our editorial team has done extensive research in the run-up to the 2023 market and handpicked what we think are sure to be the shows that will be big talking points at this year’s event in Cannes. In between meetings and cocktail parties, you’re sure to hear whispers about the next potential global hit and The Hot Ones is here to guide you. Here’s our pick of top scripted titles headed for the Croisette.
Bargain From left: Jeon Jong-Seo and Jin Sun-kyu in Bargain.
Distributor: Paramount Global Content Distribution
Length: 6×35 minutes
Producers: Sll, Climax Studio
Bargain’s star has been ascending all year, following the Korean drama’s Best Screenplay win at Canneseries in April and the Critics’ Choice gong at Germany’s Seriencamp in Cologne a few months later.
Bargain From left: Jeon Jong-Seo and Jin Sun-kyu in Bargain.
Distributor: Paramount Global Content Distribution
Length: 6×35 minutes
Producers: Sll, Climax Studio
Bargain’s star has been ascending all year, following the Korean drama’s Best Screenplay win at Canneseries in April and the Critics’ Choice gong at Germany’s Seriencamp in Cologne a few months later.
- 10/11/2023
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Creatives behind Estonia – one of Scandinavia’s most expensive drama series of all time – have opened up about the ethical issues surrounding a show spotlighting a tragedy that claimed the lives of 850 people.
Director Måns Månsson, whose past credits include Chernobyl and Snabba Cash, described the cruiseferry’s sinking as a “total national trauma” that needed to be approached with the utmost sensibility, given that authorities are still investigating 30 years on.
“We Scandinavians tend not to be involved with wars so rarely have loss of life on this scale,” he told Deadline, as the show distributed by Beta Film and made by several indies for a number of European networks prepares for launch at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Primetime program.
With budget estimated at around €15M ($16.4M) across eight episodes, Estonia (see an exclusive clip below) charts what happened after midnight on September 28 1994 when a catastrophic storm...
Director Måns Månsson, whose past credits include Chernobyl and Snabba Cash, described the cruiseferry’s sinking as a “total national trauma” that needed to be approached with the utmost sensibility, given that authorities are still investigating 30 years on.
“We Scandinavians tend not to be involved with wars so rarely have loss of life on this scale,” he told Deadline, as the show distributed by Beta Film and made by several indies for a number of European networks prepares for launch at the Toronto International Film Festival’s Primetime program.
With budget estimated at around €15M ($16.4M) across eight episodes, Estonia (see an exclusive clip below) charts what happened after midnight on September 28 1994 when a catastrophic storm...
- 9/7/2023
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Beta Film has dropped the trailer for “Estonia,” a Scandinavian limited series about Europe’s deadliest civil maritime disaster.
The eight-part cinematic show, which is represented in international markets by Jan Mojto’s Beta Film (“Babylon Berlin”), charts the sinking of the Ms Estonia on Sept. 28, 1994, which killed over 850 people.
The series is directed by Swedish director Måns Månsson and Finnish director Juuso Syrjä. While the sinking of the ship is an important part of the show, “Estonia” also spotlights the tentacular probe launched in the aftermath of the tragedy by the Joint Accident Investigation Committee established by Sweden, Estonia and Finland.
Showrunner Miikko Oikkonen, who co-wrote the series with Olli Suitiala and Tuomas Hakola, said that when he “started to read the final report and went through the material, (he) realized the investigation itself was even more interesting than the accident.”
“It was a power play, a political game...
The eight-part cinematic show, which is represented in international markets by Jan Mojto’s Beta Film (“Babylon Berlin”), charts the sinking of the Ms Estonia on Sept. 28, 1994, which killed over 850 people.
The series is directed by Swedish director Måns Månsson and Finnish director Juuso Syrjä. While the sinking of the ship is an important part of the show, “Estonia” also spotlights the tentacular probe launched in the aftermath of the tragedy by the Joint Accident Investigation Committee established by Sweden, Estonia and Finland.
Showrunner Miikko Oikkonen, who co-wrote the series with Olli Suitiala and Tuomas Hakola, said that when he “started to read the final report and went through the material, (he) realized the investigation itself was even more interesting than the accident.”
“It was a power play, a political game...
- 8/31/2023
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Toronto International Film Festival unveiled its Primetime program on Monday, which includes nine TV series that will be screening at the festival including new shows from filmmakers Lulu Wang, Shawn Levy and Steven Knight.
The Netflix limited series “All the Light We Cannot See,” directed and executive produced by Levy and written by Steven Knight based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, will have its world premiere at TIFF. The festival will also host the world premiere of “The Farewell” filmmaker Lulu Wang’s new original series “Expats,” which is set to debut on Prime Video.
“This year’s Primetime programme is bigger than ever and gives audiences the exclusive and unmatched opportunity to celebrate the best new international series together, in cinema, on the big screen,” Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer, said in a statement. “TIFF audiences will be the first to see the Prime Video series Expats...
The Netflix limited series “All the Light We Cannot See,” directed and executive produced by Levy and written by Steven Knight based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, will have its world premiere at TIFF. The festival will also host the world premiere of “The Farewell” filmmaker Lulu Wang’s new original series “Expats,” which is set to debut on Prime Video.
“This year’s Primetime programme is bigger than ever and gives audiences the exclusive and unmatched opportunity to celebrate the best new international series together, in cinema, on the big screen,” Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer, said in a statement. “TIFF audiences will be the first to see the Prime Video series Expats...
- 8/14/2023
- by Adam Chitwood
- The Wrap
The Toronto International Film Festival has unveiled its Primetime programme for 2023 which includes the world premieres of Bad Boy and All the Light We Cannot See.
“This year’s Primetime programme is bigger than ever and gives audiences the exclusive and unmatched opportunity to celebrate the best new international series together, in cinema, on the big screen,” says Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer.
“TIFF audiences will be the first to see the Prime Video series Expats – Lulu Wang’s highly anticipated follow up to The Farewell, starring Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue and Ji-young Yo., a Pulitzer-Prize winning adaptation from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight, a high-octane Korean thriller, a brand new vision from the creator of Euphoria, an atypical love story between Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough, a contemporary Scandinavian tragedy, and three powerful Canadian series, all spotlighting underrepresented voices from an exciting new wave of storytellers.”
Primetime Programme Alice & Jack
Victor Levin,...
“This year’s Primetime programme is bigger than ever and gives audiences the exclusive and unmatched opportunity to celebrate the best new international series together, in cinema, on the big screen,” says Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer.
“TIFF audiences will be the first to see the Prime Video series Expats – Lulu Wang’s highly anticipated follow up to The Farewell, starring Nicole Kidman, Sarayu Blue and Ji-young Yo., a Pulitzer-Prize winning adaptation from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight, a high-octane Korean thriller, a brand new vision from the creator of Euphoria, an atypical love story between Domhnall Gleeson and Andrea Riseborough, a contemporary Scandinavian tragedy, and three powerful Canadian series, all spotlighting underrepresented voices from an exciting new wave of storytellers.”
Primetime Programme Alice & Jack
Victor Levin,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Armando Tinoco
- Deadline Film + TV
Selections include Fremantle sales title Alice & Jack with Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson; Netflix series All The Light We Cannot See from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight.
TIFF brass have announced the Primetime section, a nine-strong roster of series which includes Expats, Lulu Wang’s follow-up to The Farewell for Prime Video starring Nicole Kidman in the saga of a close-knit group of Hong Kong expatriates.
The selection includes Fremantle sales title Alice & Jack (UK) a Channel 4 romance from Victor Levin starring Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson; and All The Light We Cannot See (USA) from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight,...
TIFF brass have announced the Primetime section, a nine-strong roster of series which includes Expats, Lulu Wang’s follow-up to The Farewell for Prime Video starring Nicole Kidman in the saga of a close-knit group of Hong Kong expatriates.
The selection includes Fremantle sales title Alice & Jack (UK) a Channel 4 romance from Victor Levin starring Andrea Riseborough and Domhnall Gleeson; and All The Light We Cannot See (USA) from Shawn Levy and Steven Knight,...
- 8/14/2023
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Internationale Filmschule Köln’s showrunner programme is headed by ’Borgen’ writer Jeppe Gjervig Gram
As the role of showrunner becomes increasingly important in European series production, the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln’s European Showrunner Programme has secured an additional three years of funding from Creative Europe – Media Programme of the European Union.
The Film-und-Medienstiftung Nrw is on board as a funding partner and Netflix is continuing to support the programme both financially and in terms of experts and content. In addition to Series Mania and the Film Festival Cologne, the ifs has gained the Seriencamp and the Film Festival Göteborg as new festival partners.
As the role of showrunner becomes increasingly important in European series production, the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln’s European Showrunner Programme has secured an additional three years of funding from Creative Europe – Media Programme of the European Union.
The Film-und-Medienstiftung Nrw is on board as a funding partner and Netflix is continuing to support the programme both financially and in terms of experts and content. In addition to Series Mania and the Film Festival Cologne, the ifs has gained the Seriencamp and the Film Festival Göteborg as new festival partners.
- 3/14/2023
- by Tim Dams
- ScreenDaily
The fund is open to investing in English language projects.
Finland’s Aurora Studios is expanding its Finnish Impact Film Fund to also invest in international co-productions, at the same time the fund grows from €5.5m to €13.5m after a new round of financing.
Petri Kemppinen, CEO of Aurora Studios, explains: “We are primarily interested in Nordic and European producers and their projects, which offer opportunities for co-productions and the participation of Finnish talent. The fund is able to make investments in individual projects from €100,000 up to €1.2m.” The fund is open to investing in English language projects in the right circumstances,...
Finland’s Aurora Studios is expanding its Finnish Impact Film Fund to also invest in international co-productions, at the same time the fund grows from €5.5m to €13.5m after a new round of financing.
Petri Kemppinen, CEO of Aurora Studios, explains: “We are primarily interested in Nordic and European producers and their projects, which offer opportunities for co-productions and the participation of Finnish talent. The fund is able to make investments in individual projects from €100,000 up to €1.2m.” The fund is open to investing in English language projects in the right circumstances,...
- 11/3/2022
- by Wendy Mitchell
- ScreenDaily
It’s pitch dark and stormy and Pelle Heikkilä, one of Finland’s biggest stars, is getting slammed by massive waves in a 10-meter-deep water tank.
The shoot of “Estonia,” a Scandinavian limited series about Europe’s deadliest civil maritime disaster, is underway in Belgium at an indoor water stage. The eight-part cinematic show, which is budgeted at €15 million (14.7 million) and is being shopped by Jan Mojto’s Beta Film (“Babylon Berlin”) at Mipcom, charts the sinking of the Ms Estonia on Sept. 28, 1994, which killed over 850 people.
The series is directed by Swedish director Måns Månsson and Finnish director Juuso Syrjä, who are polar opposites, one coming from festival-friendly auteur filmmaking, the other coming from high-end commercials.
Like the cast and crew of the series, the tragedy itself involved multiple countries, including Estonia, because it was an Estonian ship and departed from Tallinn; Sweden, because nearly half of the people...
The shoot of “Estonia,” a Scandinavian limited series about Europe’s deadliest civil maritime disaster, is underway in Belgium at an indoor water stage. The eight-part cinematic show, which is budgeted at €15 million (14.7 million) and is being shopped by Jan Mojto’s Beta Film (“Babylon Berlin”) at Mipcom, charts the sinking of the Ms Estonia on Sept. 28, 1994, which killed over 850 people.
The series is directed by Swedish director Måns Månsson and Finnish director Juuso Syrjä, who are polar opposites, one coming from festival-friendly auteur filmmaking, the other coming from high-end commercials.
Like the cast and crew of the series, the tragedy itself involved multiple countries, including Estonia, because it was an Estonian ship and departed from Tallinn; Sweden, because nearly half of the people...
- 10/19/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Beta has pre-sold sprawling Finnish drama series “Estonia” to Germany’s broadcaster Seven.One Entertainment Group, the parent company of ProSieben. This acquisition marks the start of a collaboration between Beta and Seven.One Entertainment.
The eight-hour drama, about the deadliest civil maritime disaster in recent European history, is now in its third week of shooting.
Produced by Fisher King, a subsidiary of Beta Nordic Studio, the drama charts the sinking of the Ms Estonia on September 28, 1994 which claimed the lives of over 850 people. The series also chronicles the tentacular investigation launched in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Miikko Oikkonen created the series based on numerous testimonies of survivors, which were classified until recently. The story is told though the perspectives of survivors, investigators and journalists.
“Estonia” reunites the creative team behind “Chernobyl,” including award-winning Swedish director Måns Månsson (“Snabba Cash”), cinematographer Jani-Petteri Passi and the VFX company Dneg.
The series...
The eight-hour drama, about the deadliest civil maritime disaster in recent European history, is now in its third week of shooting.
Produced by Fisher King, a subsidiary of Beta Nordic Studio, the drama charts the sinking of the Ms Estonia on September 28, 1994 which claimed the lives of over 850 people. The series also chronicles the tentacular investigation launched in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Miikko Oikkonen created the series based on numerous testimonies of survivors, which were classified until recently. The story is told though the perspectives of survivors, investigators and journalists.
“Estonia” reunites the creative team behind “Chernobyl,” including award-winning Swedish director Måns Månsson (“Snabba Cash”), cinematographer Jani-Petteri Passi and the VFX company Dneg.
The series...
- 7/22/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Beta Film has acquired world sales rights to “Estonia,” an ambitious Finnish series telling the true story of Europe’s deadliest maritime disaster of the 20th century. The eight-part event drama will reteam “Bordertown” creator Miikko Oikkonen and helmer Juuso Syrjä (Bordertown), who will split directing duties with Måns Månsson (“Snabba Cash”).
Finland’s biggest drama project to date, “Estonia” is produced by Beta Nordic Studio’s Finnish banner Fisher King, and co-produced by Swedish Kärnfilm Ab, Panache Production Belgium and the Estonian Amrion Oü. Also co-producing are streaming service C More Finland and Sweden, along with the broadcaster TV4 and MTV Finland, in collaboration with Beta Film.
The character-driven series, whose shoot is due to start in the spring, will captures the true event of the sinking of the Ms Estonia, the country’s largest ship, in September 1994. The cruise ferry was hit by a major storm, which led to uncontrolled tilting.
Finland’s biggest drama project to date, “Estonia” is produced by Beta Nordic Studio’s Finnish banner Fisher King, and co-produced by Swedish Kärnfilm Ab, Panache Production Belgium and the Estonian Amrion Oü. Also co-producing are streaming service C More Finland and Sweden, along with the broadcaster TV4 and MTV Finland, in collaboration with Beta Film.
The character-driven series, whose shoot is due to start in the spring, will captures the true event of the sinking of the Ms Estonia, the country’s largest ship, in September 1994. The cruise ferry was hit by a major storm, which led to uncontrolled tilting.
- 2/1/2022
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix has acquired the Finnish movie “Bordertown – The Mural Murders,” a spinoff of the popular Nordic crime series which is now in its third season.
Produced by Matti Halonen and Johannes Lassila at Fisher King, “Bordertown – The Mural Murders” will start shooting next month and will be released theatrically in Finland by the newly-launched distribution banner Aurora Studios. Netflix has global rights to the movie outside of Finland.
The movie brings back “Bordertown”‘s key cast, Ville Virtanen, Anu Sinisalo and Sampo Sarkola. The screenplay is written by Miikko Oikkonen and Antti Pesonen, and Juuso Syrjä will direct.
The plot of the movie follows brilliant police investigator Kari Sorjonen chasing his arch enemy Lasse Maasalo. The movie is set against the backdrop of a social media voting contest in which people have voted on without whom the country would be better off. When three of the most-voted people disappear, Sorjonen...
Produced by Matti Halonen and Johannes Lassila at Fisher King, “Bordertown – The Mural Murders” will start shooting next month and will be released theatrically in Finland by the newly-launched distribution banner Aurora Studios. Netflix has global rights to the movie outside of Finland.
The movie brings back “Bordertown”‘s key cast, Ville Virtanen, Anu Sinisalo and Sampo Sarkola. The screenplay is written by Miikko Oikkonen and Antti Pesonen, and Juuso Syrjä will direct.
The plot of the movie follows brilliant police investigator Kari Sorjonen chasing his arch enemy Lasse Maasalo. The movie is set against the backdrop of a social media voting contest in which people have voted on without whom the country would be better off. When three of the most-voted people disappear, Sorjonen...
- 9/25/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Beta Nordic Studios, a unit of Munich-based sales firm Beta Film, led by CEO Jan Mojto, has acquired a 25 percent stake in Iceland’s Sagafilm, further expanding its presence in the Nordics.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The production company will become part of Beta Nordic Studios, which also houses Beta’s Swedish production joint venture with Patrick Nebout, Dramacorp, and Matti Halonen and Miikko Oikkonen’s Finnish banner Fisher King.
Sagafilm is known as Iceland’s oldest production company, with credits in the film, TV series and documentaries space. It also makes commercials and provides local production support for foreign ...
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The production company will become part of Beta Nordic Studios, which also houses Beta’s Swedish production joint venture with Patrick Nebout, Dramacorp, and Matti Halonen and Miikko Oikkonen’s Finnish banner Fisher King.
Sagafilm is known as Iceland’s oldest production company, with credits in the film, TV series and documentaries space. It also makes commercials and provides local production support for foreign ...
Beta Nordic Studios, a unit of Munich-based sales firm Beta Film, led by CEO Jan Mojto, has acquired a 25 percent stake in Iceland’s Sagafilm, further expanding its presence in the Nordics.
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The production company will become part of Beta Nordic Studios, which also houses Beta’s Swedish production joint venture with Patrick Nebout, Dramacorp, and Matti Halonen and Miikko Oikkonen’s Finnish banner Fisher King.
Sagafilm is known as Iceland’s oldest production company, with credits in the film, TV series and documentaries space. It also makes commercials and provides local production support for foreign ...
Financial terms weren’t disclosed.
The production company will become part of Beta Nordic Studios, which also houses Beta’s Swedish production joint venture with Patrick Nebout, Dramacorp, and Matti Halonen and Miikko Oikkonen’s Finnish banner Fisher King.
Sagafilm is known as Iceland’s oldest production company, with credits in the film, TV series and documentaries space. It also makes commercials and provides local production support for foreign ...
Four years after it was founded, the Finnish company is entering its second phase of expansion. Helsinki-based venture capital company Ipr.Vc has announced the creation of a €42 million fund specialised in European film, TV and web content. With this move, the firm is planning to raise about €60-70 million by the end of next year. Ipr.Vc, the first Nordic venture capital investment firm dedicated to media content, was founded four years ago by entrepreneurs Timo Argillander, Tanu-Matti Tuominen and Jarkko Virtanen, and invested €20 million in 16 content projects or companies, and in the development of 14 projects. Some of their backed productions include Miikko Oikkonen’s crime series Bordertown, and features such as Dome Karukoski’s Tom of Finland and Klaus Härö’s One Last Deal. During this second phase of expansion, the funds for which have been raised through a group of institutional, private and public investors, the firm will.
- 10/16/2019
- Cineuropa - The Best of European Cinema
Beta has taken a majority stake in Finland’s Fisher King and created Beta Nordic Studios.
German film and TV group Beta Film is expanding its presence in the Nordics, taking a majority stake in Finnish film and TV production company Fisher King and creating regional umbrella group Beta Nordic Studios (Bns).
Beta Film first entered the Scandinavian production scene in 2016, with the creation of Dramacorp, its joint venture with veteran Swedish-French drama executive Patrick Nebout.
Its newly created Bns will serve as an umbrella for all of Beta’s production activities in the Nordics. It will focus on local scripted projects with international appeal,...
German film and TV group Beta Film is expanding its presence in the Nordics, taking a majority stake in Finnish film and TV production company Fisher King and creating regional umbrella group Beta Nordic Studios (Bns).
Beta Film first entered the Scandinavian production scene in 2016, with the creation of Dramacorp, its joint venture with veteran Swedish-French drama executive Patrick Nebout.
Its newly created Bns will serve as an umbrella for all of Beta’s production activities in the Nordics. It will focus on local scripted projects with international appeal,...
- 10/14/2019
- by 1100380¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Jan Mojto’s Munich-based production and distribution company Beta Film has taken a majority stake in Finnish production company Fisher King, and has launched Sweden-based Beta Nordic Studios, which will serve as an umbrella for Beta’s production activities in the Nordic region.
Beta Nordic Studios will focus on local scripted projects with an international appeal, which can be leveraged via Beta Film’s international distribution network.
Beta Film’s executive VP Justus Riesenkampff and the newly appointed CEO Martin Håkansson, a former executive at Lagadère Sports and Nice Entertainment Group, will serve as directors of Beta Nordic Studios.
As well as Fisher King, Beta production operations in the Nordic region include Dramacorp, a joint venture with Swedish-French drama executive Patrick Nebout.
Fisher King was founded in 2013 by executive producer Matti Halonen and chief visual officer Miikko Oikkonen. Over the past six years, it has raised the quality and reputation...
Beta Nordic Studios will focus on local scripted projects with an international appeal, which can be leveraged via Beta Film’s international distribution network.
Beta Film’s executive VP Justus Riesenkampff and the newly appointed CEO Martin Håkansson, a former executive at Lagadère Sports and Nice Entertainment Group, will serve as directors of Beta Nordic Studios.
As well as Fisher King, Beta production operations in the Nordic region include Dramacorp, a joint venture with Swedish-French drama executive Patrick Nebout.
Fisher King was founded in 2013 by executive producer Matti Halonen and chief visual officer Miikko Oikkonen. Over the past six years, it has raised the quality and reputation...
- 10/14/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Beta Film, the German producer and distributor of TV and film, has formed Sweden-based Beta Nordic Studios (Bns), which will act as an umbrella group for the company’s production activities in Scandinavia.
The move comes in the wake of Beta taking a majority stake in Finnish film and TV production outfit Fisher King, which has credits including the crime drama series Bordertown and fantasy drama series Nymphs, both of which originated in Finland but attracted international finance and were sold to international territories. Matti Halonen and Miikko Oikkonen founded the Helsinki-based company in 2013.
Also in the Bns group is Dramacorp, the joint venture set up in 2016 by veteran Swedish-French drama executive Patrick Nebout and Beta CEO Jan Mojto, which has Swedish series Agent Hamilton coming up – the show celebrated its premiere at Mipcom this week and a second series has been given the green light for production in 2020.
Martin Håkansson,...
The move comes in the wake of Beta taking a majority stake in Finnish film and TV production outfit Fisher King, which has credits including the crime drama series Bordertown and fantasy drama series Nymphs, both of which originated in Finland but attracted international finance and were sold to international territories. Matti Halonen and Miikko Oikkonen founded the Helsinki-based company in 2013.
Also in the Bns group is Dramacorp, the joint venture set up in 2016 by veteran Swedish-French drama executive Patrick Nebout and Beta CEO Jan Mojto, which has Swedish series Agent Hamilton coming up – the show celebrated its premiere at Mipcom this week and a second series has been given the green light for production in 2020.
Martin Håkansson,...
- 10/14/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Germany's Beta Film, the TV production and sales outfit behind such series as Babylon Berlin, has made a major move northward, taking a majority stake in Finnish production company Fisher King and launching a new Swedish operation, Beta Nordic Studios.
The moves, announced on the eve of international television market Mipcom on Sunday, will give Beta a significant beachhead in Scandinavia. The German group already has significant production operations or production partnerships in Germany, Spain and Italy.
Fisher King was set up in 2013 in Helsinki, by executive producer Matti Halonen and chief visual officer Miikko Oikkonen. They quickly established the company ...
The moves, announced on the eve of international television market Mipcom on Sunday, will give Beta a significant beachhead in Scandinavia. The German group already has significant production operations or production partnerships in Germany, Spain and Italy.
Fisher King was set up in 2013 in Helsinki, by executive producer Matti Halonen and chief visual officer Miikko Oikkonen. They quickly established the company ...
- 10/14/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Update: Zdf Enterprises, Fisher King, BeIN and Netflix deals; Fmi acquires War Child doc sales rights.
The blurring of the lines between film and TV as well as the platforms on which both features and series are distributed was a recurrent theme at Mipcom on Tuesday.
At a panel on the the crossover of talent from film to TV, speakers See-Saw Film‘s COO Hakan Kousetta, eOne Television president of global scripted programming Pancho Mansfield and Wme Img partner Chris Rice were unanimous that there was no turning back the trend.
“We’ve stopped looking at them as different,” said Rice, who helped package the BBC’s The Night Manager and Canal Plus, Sky Italia and HBO’s The Young Pope. “Virtually ever actor and director has come round to this. It’s a great time to tell stories.”
Kousetta said See-Saw Films had expanded into TV from a feature film base “accidentally” after Australian Oscar and Cannes...
The blurring of the lines between film and TV as well as the platforms on which both features and series are distributed was a recurrent theme at Mipcom on Tuesday.
At a panel on the the crossover of talent from film to TV, speakers See-Saw Film‘s COO Hakan Kousetta, eOne Television president of global scripted programming Pancho Mansfield and Wme Img partner Chris Rice were unanimous that there was no turning back the trend.
“We’ve stopped looking at them as different,” said Rice, who helped package the BBC’s The Night Manager and Canal Plus, Sky Italia and HBO’s The Young Pope. “Virtually ever actor and director has come round to this. It’s a great time to tell stories.”
Kousetta said See-Saw Films had expanded into TV from a feature film base “accidentally” after Australian Oscar and Cannes...
- 10/18/2016
- ScreenDaily
Zdf Enterprises, Fisher King, BeIN and Netflix deals; Fmi acquires War Child doc sales rights.Zdf Enterprises and Fisher King Ltd sign first-look deal
Zdf Enterprises and Fisher King Ltd, the award-winning Finnish production company of producer Matti Halonen and director Miikko Oikkonen have signed a first-look deal. Under the accord, Zdf Enterprises will have exclusive, first-look rights to all scripted content developed by Fisher King, to serve as a financier and handle worldwide distribution.
The first project selected under the project is the character-driven thriller series Watchdog set against the backdrop of contemporary European legal, financial and insurance institutions with Helsinki, London and The Hague as key locations.
Fisher King’s previous dramas include Bordertown which premiered on Finnish broadcaster Yle on Oct 16, capturing 26% of the territory’s audience.
Eao report
European feature films account for 31% of all films broadcast in Europe, according to a new report released by the European Audiovisual Observatory at Mipcom.
Breaking...
Zdf Enterprises and Fisher King Ltd, the award-winning Finnish production company of producer Matti Halonen and director Miikko Oikkonen have signed a first-look deal. Under the accord, Zdf Enterprises will have exclusive, first-look rights to all scripted content developed by Fisher King, to serve as a financier and handle worldwide distribution.
The first project selected under the project is the character-driven thriller series Watchdog set against the backdrop of contemporary European legal, financial and insurance institutions with Helsinki, London and The Hague as key locations.
Fisher King’s previous dramas include Bordertown which premiered on Finnish broadcaster Yle on Oct 16, capturing 26% of the territory’s audience.
Eao report
European feature films account for 31% of all films broadcast in Europe, according to a new report released by the European Audiovisual Observatory at Mipcom.
Breaking...
- 10/18/2016
- ScreenDaily
NonStop Sales, an Scandinavian-based international sales company will handle world sales for Hansal Mehta’s Shahid which is based on the life of slain human rights activist and lawyer Shahid Azmi.
Shahid will have its world premiere on September 9 at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be represented by NonStop Sales.
NonStop Sales represents more than 25 production companies worldwide and has more than 500 titles within all genres including masterpieces by Ingmar Bergman. The latest films in their slate include Xavier Koller’s Someone Like Me, Miikko Oikkonen’s Nymphs, Kimmo Koskela’s Soundbreaker and Threes Anna’s Silent City. NonStop Sales is part of Turner Broadcasting Nordic.
Shahid will have its world premiere on September 9 at the Toronto International Film Festival and will be represented by NonStop Sales.
NonStop Sales represents more than 25 production companies worldwide and has more than 500 titles within all genres including masterpieces by Ingmar Bergman. The latest films in their slate include Xavier Koller’s Someone Like Me, Miikko Oikkonen’s Nymphs, Kimmo Koskela’s Soundbreaker and Threes Anna’s Silent City. NonStop Sales is part of Turner Broadcasting Nordic.
- 9/4/2012
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Berlinale Co-Production Market
Thirty-eight film projects from twenty-five countries have been selected for the eighth Berlinale Co-Production Market which will run from February 13 to 15, 2011. The producers and directors of these projects will meet with 450 potential co-production and financing partners during the event. No Indian project has found a place in the 38 projects that have been chosen out of 352 entries.
Three projects have also been chosen for the “Rotterdam-Berlinale Express”, in collaboration with CineMart Rotterdam. These projects will participate in both the CineMart and the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
In cooperation with the Berlinale Talent Campus, eleven projects by newcomers have been selected from 270 additional entries for the “Talent Project Market”.
The official selection of projects for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2011:
Love Isreal (dir: Julia von Heinz), 2Pilots Filmproduction, Germany
They Are All Dead (dir: Beatriz Sanchis), Avalon P.C., Spain
Saints (dir: Seyfi Teoman), Bulut Film, Turkey
Darkness by Day (dir: Martin Desalvo), Doménica Films,...
Thirty-eight film projects from twenty-five countries have been selected for the eighth Berlinale Co-Production Market which will run from February 13 to 15, 2011. The producers and directors of these projects will meet with 450 potential co-production and financing partners during the event. No Indian project has found a place in the 38 projects that have been chosen out of 352 entries.
Three projects have also been chosen for the “Rotterdam-Berlinale Express”, in collaboration with CineMart Rotterdam. These projects will participate in both the CineMart and the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
In cooperation with the Berlinale Talent Campus, eleven projects by newcomers have been selected from 270 additional entries for the “Talent Project Market”.
The official selection of projects for the Berlinale Co-Production Market 2011:
Love Isreal (dir: Julia von Heinz), 2Pilots Filmproduction, Germany
They Are All Dead (dir: Beatriz Sanchis), Avalon P.C., Spain
Saints (dir: Seyfi Teoman), Bulut Film, Turkey
Darkness by Day (dir: Martin Desalvo), Doménica Films,...
- 1/14/2011
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
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