It’s a brand-new year and with everyone crossing their fingers that this will be the one when the world returns to normal, C21 Screenings has another list of scintillating Hot Properties for this month.

Even if Covid-19 does disappear in 2022, humanity will be left with its most immediate issue, and the first show on the list is a reminder of that. It Takes a Flood (1×70’), distributed via Amcomri-owned Abacus Media Rights, looks at the floods that have hit the UK and other parts of the world in recent years. Also examining Germany and China, the film aired on UK pubcaster ITV in November and is helmed by Oscar winner Kevin MacDonald.

For a film that shows what humans can restore to nature given the chance, look no further than Prince Charles’ Green Grand Design (1×60’) from Canadian distributor Blue Ant International. The show is an exclusive look at the heir to the UK throne’s ambitious restoration of Dumfries House, a rundown estate in one of the most deprived parts of the country. Filmed over 10 years, this blue-chip documentary follows the Prince’s intrepid and painstaking journey during the restoration that, in turn, changed the fortunes of an entire community.

Germany’s Autentic Distribution is bringing Light & Glamour – History of the French Riviera (1×52’) to the January 2022 playlist. The fame of the Côte d’Azur is based on a glamorous and historic past that is closely interwoven with the legendary Grand Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. With never-before-seen archival material of the luxurious hotel, viewers can re-live the golden years of the glamorous French Riviera.

The final factual show on this month’s playlist is Successors of Soma, from Japan’s Nomaoi Fukushima Central Television Co. Soma Nomaoi is a festival that dates back 1000 years, beginning as a military exercise for samurai, and is now Japan’s biggest samurai festival. The show delves into life at the festival, where events include a 1000-metre horse race, and proceedings end with a man dressed in white capturing a horse with his bare hands.

Great British History Hunters (4×60’) is distributed from the UK’s BossaNova Media, and unpacks the stories behind some of the UK’s recent archaeological finds. The series was originally commissioned for UK free-to-air channel More 4, and made in conjunction with the British Museum by UK prodco Tuesday’s Child.

From archaeology to forensics, Expert Witness is a true crime reality series from UK distributor Cineflix Rights. The series is a must-watch for crime fans, as it reveals how forensic specialists of all kinds used science, determination and their mind-blowing expertise to uncover critical hidden clues in everything from fibres and fragments to fly larvae and digital fingerprints.

BBC2 doc The Real Peaky Blinders, from Plimsoll-owned Magnify Media, explores the mass gang movement that originated in Birmingham and other industrial cities in 19th century England and evolved into modern gangsterism in the early 20th century.

Netherlands-based Off The Fence is selling Secrets of Big Data (6×60’), an investigation into our obsession with data and how it contains both promise and peril for our future. This series tells the stories of the future that big data is bringing to our doorstep and is available as pre-sale.

Two UK celebs are fronting a new format that sees them help struggling UK businesses. Emma & AJ Get to Work, from London’s Passion Distribution, is a four-parter following presenters Emma Willis and AJ Odudu as they set out on a mission to help deserving families from all over the UK. The show originally aired on UK pay channel W.

In drama, global content company A+E Global Content Sales is selling Next of Kin, a copro between A+E Networks in the US and Finnish streamer Elisa Viidhe about DNA theft. The Helsinki-based protagonist joins forces with a cybersecurity agent to uncover the true reason why her DNA was recently stolen, ultimately revealing a dark past of genetic tampering.

Next up is a Dutch series Bonnie & Clyde, from global distributor Banijay Rights. The four-part miniseries named after the two US outlaws follows two young lovers and their violent quest for freedom which led to them being dubbed the Dutch Bonnie and Clyde by the press. In 2014, Antonio Marcos van der Ploeg and Enise Bircan captivated the whole of the Netherlands when they went on a Low Countries crime spree, including several major offences like attempted murder. Netherlands prodco Totem Media has made the series.

Another European series on the list is All You Need, from Germany’s Bavaria Media International. The series is a classic take on the 20-something comedy drama about friends living together, with the only twist being that they’re all gay. Production has been handled by Germany’s UFA Film.

Another German series is The Shift, distributed by Beta Film. This hospital drama comes from the mind of Oscar nominee Lone Scherfig, known for 2009 film An Education. This eight-parter was commissioned by Danish broadcaster TV2 and stars The Killing’s Sofie Gråbøl as the head of a maternity ward. The series focuses on several other characters too and has been described by Scherfig as ‘Nordic light.’

Love Me (6×60’), from the UK’s DCD Rights, is an Australian series starring Hugo Weaving as a father who has to deal with grief along with his two children after a tragic event. Through their pain, however, love is always threatening to poke its head up. Currently in production with Warner Bros, the series will air this year.

Family Law (Season 2), from distributor eOne, is a legal procedural following a family law practice that is as dysfunctional as its clients. The series is produced by Calgary-based Seven4 Films and Lark Productions for Global Television.

Candy Coated Christmas, sold by LA’s MarVista Entertainment, is a TV movie made for US SVoD service Discovery+. In the film, a woman returns to her late mother’s hometown for Christmas in dire financial straits. Despite her scheme to get rich again, she finds herself falling in love with the town – and the handsome tenant living in her mother’s old house.

Vienna Blood (Season 2) is available from German distributor Red Arrow Studios International, and jumps on two trends – namely crime and the early 1900s period theme. The crime drama set in 1900s Vienna comes from acclaimed screenwriter Steve Thompson, and has aired on UK channel BBC2 since 2019.

German content is soaring on this month’s list, with Marnow Murders (8×45’) the latest crime offering from Studio Hamburg Enterprises. The show debuted last year in Germany, and takes place in a sweltering hot city where two detectives are trying to stop a serial killer with seemingly no pattern to follow.

Ridley Road, from the producers of Channel 4 show It’s a Sin and available from France’s StudioCanal, is a spy thriller inspired by the sharp suits of 1960s London. A joint commission between UK channel BBC One and US network PBS Masterpiece, the series has also been acquired by Canal+ in France, Now Studio in Hong Kong, ABC in Australia and Disney+ for Benelux among others.

East Asian drama continues to soar in popularity, too. Anonymous, from Japan’s TV Tokyo Corporation, is a crime drama following a new police department that uncovers anonymous online abusers and takes in the officers who can’t work anywhere else.

Stories to Stay Awake is a Spanish reboot of the classic horror series from the 1950s by Chicho Ibáñez Serrador. This time, four top Spanish directors – Rodrigo Cortés, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Paula Ortiz and Paco Plaza – are bringing the iconic horror series back to life with a modern cinematic edge. The new version has already been snapped up by Amazon Prime Video Spain, where it debuted in November. Distribution is being handled by Germany’s ZDF Enterprises.

Finally in the world of kids’ content, season 2 of Aussie animation Little J & Big Cuz is available from the Australian Children’s Television Foundation. The show is about a couple of indigenous Australian kids living with their Nanna and dog and escaping through the gap in Nanna’s fence to have adventures.

Nina & Olga, from London distributor Beyond Rights, is a series inspired by Nicoletta Costa’s book series Olga the Cloud. The show follows a six-year-old girl as she starts school with her friend, who is a cloud.

Also in the kids’ content space, Angry Birds Slingshot from kids’ distribution specialist Cake that explores the lives of those Angry Birds before they climb into their slingshots. The show is produced by Finland’s Rovio Entertainment.

The final offering on the list is Mumfred & Monkey, from US-based Television Syndication Company (TVS). All are welcome into the Monkeyville Food Factory with factory owner Mumfred and his puppet Monkey. The fast-paced show has different lessons to take from each episode and features a range of diverse characters.

That’s all for January, stay tuned for more Hot Properties in February!

It’s a brand-new year and with everyone crossing their fingers that this will be the one when the world returns to normal, C21 Screenings has another list of scintillating Hot Properties for this month.

Even if Covid-19 does disappear in 2022, humanity will be left with its most immediate issue, and the first show on the list is a reminder of that. It Takes a Flood (1×70’), distributed via Amcomri-owned Abacus Media Rights, looks at the floods that have hit the UK and other parts of the world in recent years. Also examining Germany and China, the film aired on UK pubcaster ITV in November and is helmed by Oscar winner Kevin MacDonald.

For a film that shows what humans can restore to nature given the chance, look no further than Prince Charles’ Green Grand Design (1×60’) from Canadian distributor Blue Ant International. The show is an exclusive look at the heir to the UK throne’s ambitious restoration of Dumfries House, a rundown estate in one of the most deprived parts of the country. Filmed over 10 years, this blue-chip documentary follows the Prince’s intrepid and painstaking journey during the restoration that, in turn, changed the fortunes of an entire community.

Germany’s Autentic Distribution is bringing Light & Glamour – History of the French Riviera (1×52’) to the January 2022 playlist. The fame of the Côte d’Azur is based on a glamorous and historic past that is closely interwoven with the legendary Grand Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. With never-before-seen archival material of the luxurious hotel, viewers can re-live the golden years of the glamorous French Riviera.
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