Hot Properties March 2023
International distributors are getting their ducks in a row as we say goodbye to winter and head into spring. This month’s Hot Properties is very drama-laden, with seven titles on the playlist, as well as plenty of factual, kids and other genres.
Plenty of European drama is on the Hot Properties playlist for C21’s Digital Screenings this month, starting with The Swarm (ZDF Studios), an eight-part thriller series from Emmy-winning showrunner Frank Doelger (Game of Thrones), based on Frank Schätzing’s international bestseller of the same title.
Made in Oslo (Federation Studios) is a series created and written by Kathrine Valen Zeiner and directed by Marit Moum Aune that explores how far one woman will go to become a mother, while The Architect (Viaplay Group) is described as “a pitch-black, keenly observed satire about an all-too-near future.”
The Island of Thirty Coffins (Asacha Media Group) follows a woman who lost her son at birth 15 years ago – until she receives a video suggesting that he may not be dead, and 1985 (StudioCanal) sheds light on the untold story of the true Brabant killings that shattered Belgium during the 1980s. Broken Ties (About Premium Content), meanwhile, follows a cunning and obsessive Israeli detective who pairs up with a rigidly professional Spanish investigator to uncover a shadowy international baby trafficking ring.
From Canada comes Plan B (Red Arrow Studios International), a high-concept psychological drama about a man on a desperate and relentless quest to save his relationship – using time travel.
On the comedy front, this month’s playlist includes Daughter of the Bride (Fox Entertainment Global), a movie about a daughter who tries to sabotage her mother’s wedding while navigating her own love life and career woes.
In the unscripted space, this month’s playlist features a slew of documentaries. These include Hitler’s Engineers: Building the Third Reich (Cineflix Rights), which promises to expose the truth about the Third Reich, while Citizens at War: A Year in Ukraine (Blue Ant International) has exclusive interviews with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife, Olena, about the trauma and triumphs of the war-torn nation and its people.
Interrogation Raw (A+E Media Group) explores the twists and turns of some of the most fascinating criminal interrogations ever conducted, while Wanted – The World’s Most Dangerous Arms Dealer (Autentic Distribution) focuses on Karl Lee, aka Li Fangwei, the Chinese businessman who is probably the most dangerous unknown person in this world.
Next up, Most Expensivest (Vice Distribution) sees rapper 2 Chainz “seeking out the Most Expensivest collections and meeting the big ballers who stack racks on insanely specific passions,” according to the producers. Stumbo Record Breakers (GWR Studios) explores the rich history and culture of South Africa and features South Africans break some amazing records.
Rounding out the factual slate are Iriomote – The Fabric Of Life (NHK/NHK Enterprises), about unique creatures found nowhere else on Earth, and the second season of Mary Makes It Easy (Boat Rocker) in which Mary Berg showcases her cooking skills.
Moving into reality and entertainment formats, check out Love Triangle (Banijay Rights), described as “a ground-breaking, voyeuristic and addictive relationship series tackling the superficiality of modern dating head-on,” while Self-Made (Sony Pictures Television Formats) is a reality competition format in which entrepreneurs get a chance to redevelop their brand and finesse their products, with the help of a team of industry experts. Super Travel Japan (Japan Program Catalog – BEAJ) offers a new style of travel, visiting wonderful locations throughout Kyushu.
For buyers looking for children’s content, this month’s playlist includes The Singalings (Jetpack Distribution), featuring the musical adventures of Melody, Harmony and Bop, while Little J and Big Cuz (Australian Children’s Television Foundation) follows a couple of Indigenous Australian kids living with their Nanna and Old Dog.
That’s all for March, stay tuned for more Hot Properties next month!
