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The Content London Drama Series Pitch 2023, which offers a £30,000 marketing prize for the winner, with shortlisted projects showcased to the global coproduction community during the three-day event, has opened forentries, with special categories for African and Indian projects this year.
The Pitch is open to early stage scripted drama and comedy series fromestablished producers and distributors looking for international finance to close the gap.
The competition is open to producers from any territory, with up to 15 projects shortlisted and selected to present a live pitch to the internationalbusiness at Content London on November 28.
This year two special sub categories will be open to projects from the fast-developing Africa and India markets, with at least two entries from each ofthese territories guaranteed a place in the London final.
Each of the finalists will be profiled by C21 during the event and interviews about the projects will be published online and in the Content London Dailies.
They will also be invited to a networking event during Content London to meet with interested parties.
The winning pitch will be announced on November 30 at Content Londonand will receive a marketing package through C21Media worth £30,000 to support development and pre-sales promotion of the show.
The deadline for entries is 6 October 2023.
Successful submissions will be notified if they have been selected to pitch on October 27.
Entrants should note the country of origin of each production at entry stage.
The pitch provides a high-visibility opportunity for companies aiming to useContent London and its relationship with C21Media.net as a marketingplatform to release new series.
For further information email [email protected].
Drama Series Pitch Finalists:
Pegasus
Synopsis
Based on the nonfiction book Pegasus: How a Spy in Your Pocket Threatens the End of Privacy, Dignity, and Democracy written by Laurent Richard, Sandrine Rigaud, and Mark Zwonitzer. Pegasus tells the story of the collaboration of more than forty investigative journalists from seventeen media organizations around the world. Coordinated by Forbidden Stories, the Pegasus Project revealed how a single private corporation had made it possible for dozens of governments around the world to conduct warrantless cyber surveillance on thousands of unsuspecting private citizens, government officials, activists and journalists by capturing control of their own mobile phones. Among them, the fiancée of the murdered Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi but also journalists in Mexico, members of the French government, relatives of princess Latifa.
Pitching
Miura Kite
SVP Global TV
Participant
In her role as Executive Vice President of Global Television for Participant, Miura Kite oversees Participant’s narrative television slate by identifying, developing, packaging and executive producing high-end properties for premium cable, digital and emerging platforms. At Participant, she helped develop Ava DuVernay’s limited drama series When They See Us for Netflix, and Executive Produced two seasons of Noughts + Crosses for BBC1 and the docuseries Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey for Netflix. Current projects include Interior Chinatown set up at Hulu and other shows in development at FX, Netflix, AMC and Sky UK.
Nathalie Perus
General Manager
Atlantique Productions
Nathalie Perus is General Manager of Atlantique Productions. She brings 20 years of experience in TV content and international co-productions, first as a TV executive, then as a producer and writer in France and the US. Based in New York from 2015 to 2021, she founded the professional organization French in Motion and the transatlantic co-production program US & French Connection. As a producer and writer, she collaborated with multiple companies among which Europa Corp TV, Dynamic Television, Son & Lumiere, etc..
GENRE
Thriller 10x60 returnable
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Amit Cohen, Ron Leshem
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
Mediawan
LOOKING FOR
Commissions from Europe, the Middle East and South America
COMPANY PROFILE
Participant’s more than 100 films have earned 87 Academy Award® nominations and 21 wins, including Best Picture, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Foreign Language. Participant has earned 44 EMMY® Award nominations and 11 wins, including two wins for the groundbreaking When They See Us.
Atlantique Productions, a company of Mediawan Studio, is a leading
French producer of high-end TV series and expert in international
co-productions.
Created in 2015, Mediawan is on e of the main independent European
studios producing audiovisual content with over 60 production labels in
France, Germany England, Italy, Spain, the United-States, the
Netherlands, Finland and Senegal.
Contact: [email protected]; [email protected]
Atlantique Productions, a company of Mediawan Studio, is a leading French producer of high-end TV series and expert in international co-productions.
Created in 2015, Mediawan is on e of the main independent European studios producing audiovisual content with over 60 production labels in France, Germany England, Italy, Spain, the United-States, the Netherlands, Finland and Senegal.
Boy Under Water
Synopsis
BOY UNDER WATER is a crime thriller series that
starts twisting the knife when the shocking murder of a black teen boy
cracks open the lies, violence and toxic conditioning at the core of
the local community, an affluent white resort-town crouched on the
shores of the humid, roiling waters of Hartbeespoort Dam in South
Africa.
Everything leading up to the murder, and the aftermath - two
timelines twisting into a thrilling hunt with Police, the teenagers and
their parents circling the truth. All eyes turn to Stefan, an isolated
teenager new to town and his story doesn't hold water.
Who killed Manda? Hatred is nurture, not nature.
BOY UNDER WATER is a crime thriller series that starts twisting the knife when the shocking murder of a black teen boy cracks open the lies, violence and toxic conditioning at the core of the local community, an affluent white resort-town crouched on the shores of the humid, roiling waters of Hartbeespoort Dam in South Africa.
Everything leading up to the murder, and the aftermath - two timelines twisting into a thrilling hunt with Police, the teenagers and their parents circling the truth. All eyes turn to Stefan, an isolated teenager new to town and his story doesn't hold water.
Who killed Manda? Hatred is nurture, not nature.
Pitching
Zandré Coetzer
Producer, co-founder
Nagvlug Films
Co-founder of Nagvlug Films. Zandré has produced multiple award winning
scripted shows and films one of which was selected as South Africa’s
official entry to the 94th Academy Awards. In her career she has
produced two theatrical feature films, fourteen made for TV Films, four
short films and thirteen television series (some series had multiple
seasons) that where all fully commissioned.
Nico Scheeper
Writer, director
As a writer/director, BOY UNDER WATER is Nico Scheeper’s third long-form TV project. He wrote and directed all 8 episodes his my most recent crime series, DONKERBOS, for Showmax in South Africa. The series was selected to the 2023 Berlinale Series Selects and was nominated for 7 South African Film and Television Awards.
GENRE
Crime Thriller
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Nico Scheepers, Writer/Director. Zandré Coetzer, Producer. Chanél Muller, Writer/Producer.
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
Letter of intent from M-net
LOOKING FOR
We are looking for a broadcast partner, presales and international distribution.
COMPANY PROFILE
Nagvlug Films is an award-winning South African
production company run by filmmakers. We are passionate about
storytelling that connects people from anywhere, with stories from
everywhere.
We focus on finding characters, communities and experiences, and
using our skills to create films that interrogate the human condition.
Every project we create or collaborate on gets developed, produced and
filmed with great care and integrity, from sending the first call sheet
to delivering the final product.
From the desolation of the Karoo to the forest of Magoebaskloof, we can work anywhere, to bring stories to audiences everywhere.
Contact: [email protected]
Nagvlug Films is an award-winning South African production company run by filmmakers. We are passionate about storytelling that connects people from anywhere, with stories from everywhere.
We focus on finding characters, communities and experiences, and using our skills to create films that interrogate the human condition. Every project we create or collaborate on gets developed, produced and filmed with great care and integrity, from sending the first call sheet to delivering the final product.
From the desolation of the Karoo to the forest of Magoebaskloof, we can work anywhere, to bring stories to audiences everywhere.
Layla Is Relevant
SYNOPSIS
Layla Khan Patel is a 23-year-old Indian woman
who never made it, even after Barney & Friends. Even after her hit
teen show. Even after burning all her bridges with her family. But after
her slime meltdown at the Teen Choice Awards goes viral, Layla finds
herself dropped by her agent and forced to call her hometown of
Sarnia,Ontario home once again... with a mockumentary crew in tow to
make her own self-released reality series, naturally. If you can't be
Selena Gomez, you can at least be a Kardashian.
Only problem is Layla’s mom doesn’t want to talk to her, her intense
gamer cousin Rayna has taken over her old bedroom, her little brother
Sai is embarrassed of her.Somehow, she’s not filling the hole in her
heart with all these cameras in her face. Oh well, that’s the price of
fame.
Layla Khan Patel is a 23-year-old Indian woman who never made it, even after Barney & Friends. Even after her hit teen show. Even after burning all her bridges with her family. But after her slime meltdown at the Teen Choice Awards goes viral, Layla finds herself dropped by her agent and forced to call her hometown of Sarnia,Ontario home once again... with a mockumentary crew in tow to make her own self-released reality series, naturally. If you can't be Selena Gomez, you can at least be a Kardashian.
Only problem is Layla’s mom doesn’t want to talk to her, her intense gamer cousin Rayna has taken over her old bedroom, her little brother Sai is embarrassed of her.Somehow, she’s not filling the hole in her heart with all these cameras in her face. Oh well, that’s the price of fame.
PITCHING
Shreya Patel
Actress, writer and filmaker
Model-turned-actress, writer, and filmmaker, Shreya Patel is the honoree of Forbes Under 30, Top 100 Most Powerful Women of Canada to name a few. She’s the leading actress in Strangers In A Room, Vivid, and The Intersection. Her debut documentary, ‘Girl Up’, about domestic human trafficking was partnered with Toronto International Film Festival and Civic Action Summit. Her music video directorial, Freedom Dance, has over 1.2 million views on YouTube. During COVID, she gathered 66 countries and made a documentary called Unity- #LOVESPREADS Faster Than Virus showcasing the plight of the human spirit. Currently, she is working on the slate of Window Dreams Production.
Rabiya Mansoor
Comedian, writer, actor, producer
Rabiya Mansoor (she/they) is a Pakistani-Calgarian comedian, writer, actor, producer, and recovering lawyer. She's written on shows like DINO RANCH and STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE: BERRY IN THE BIG CITY and is a graduate of the Respectability Entertainment Lab and Break the Room’s Muslim Episodic Lab. She’s in development and post-production on a slate of projects supported by CMF, IPF, Bell Fund, Telus Fund, OntarioCreates, Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, and the Sketch Comedy Project Fund. Their co-created digital series centering mental health, GET UP AISHA, is coming soon to CBC Gem.
GENRE
Comedy
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Rabiya Mansoor, Writer/Producer. Shreya Patel, Writer/Producer.
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
Window Dreams Productions Inc.
LOOKING FOR
Coproduction partners and funding, commissions for UK, India, Canada, global commissioning, other pre-sales.
COMPANY PROFILE
Window Dreams Productions is focused on impact driven stories centering
and uplifting underrepresented storytellers. Our leadership has a
history of producing tv series, documentaries, music videos, web series
and more. The goal of WDP is to give BIPOC creators the tools to become
their own producers and proverbially send the ladder down to uplift
other marginalized voices. A member of the CMPA and the CFC Fifth Wave
Lab (Cohort 4). Credits include: Get Up Aisha (CBC Gem), Unibrow
(ReelAsian), Freedom Dance (as seen in Rolling Stone India), Unity
(Munich International Film Festival), and Girl Up (TIFF x Civic Action).
Contact: [email protected]; [email protected]
(Not) A Time To Die
SYNOPSIS
In an emergency, a paramedic is the first one to
arrive on the scene. KALLE, 40, works as an ambulance paramedic and has
seen it all. He's fast, experienced, and equipped with a dark sense of
humor.
Kalle and his colleagues face new challenges when the criminal teen
gangs from Sweden start spreading to Helsinki. Kalle learns his nephew
RONI, 15, is inside the gangs and wants to help him out. Soon Kalle is
in between worlds: the gangs start to trust him, and the police want
Kalle to become their mole. Kalle takes bigger and bigger risks for
Roni, eventually putting his colleagues and family at risk. But can you
ever mend a deep wound with a quick fix?
(Not) A Time To Die twists a popular genre, crime, with a totally new kind of main character: a paramedic.
In an emergency, a paramedic is the first one to arrive on the scene. KALLE, 40, works as an ambulance paramedic and has seen it all. He's fast, experienced, and equipped with a dark sense of humor.
Kalle and his colleagues face new challenges when the criminal teen gangs from Sweden start spreading to Helsinki. Kalle learns his nephew RONI, 15, is inside the gangs and wants to help him out. Soon Kalle is in between worlds: the gangs start to trust him, and the police want Kalle to become their mole. Kalle takes bigger and bigger risks for Roni, eventually putting his colleagues and family at risk. But can you ever mend a deep wound with a quick fix?
(Not) A Time To Die twists a popular genre, crime, with a totally new kind of main character: a paramedic.
PITCHING
Jemina Jokisalo
Head of drama
Jemina Jokisalo is a Head of Drama and
experienced screenwriter at Solar Republic, one of the largest
independent production companies in Finland. In her job she comes up
with, develops and searches for ideas for new, exciting TV-dramas and
works as the head writer in many of them. The series Jokisalo creates
and writes stand out from the crowd and always have a high concept
angle.
Jokisalo's work has been nominated in the C21 Drama Awards (Best
Newfrom Drama Series) and for the Golden Venla (Finnish Emmy) in
multiple categories. Her latest series "Moneyshot" is a comedy about
making feminist porn for Elisa Viihde. The series is distributed by
Federation Studios and Nordisk and it will be released in 2024.
Jemina Jokisalo is a Head of Drama and experienced screenwriter at Solar Republic, one of the largest independent production companies in Finland. In her job she comes up with, develops and searches for ideas for new, exciting TV-dramas and works as the head writer in many of them. The series Jokisalo creates and writes stand out from the crowd and always have a high concept angle.
Jokisalo's work has been nominated in the C21 Drama Awards (Best Newfrom Drama Series) and for the Golden Venla (Finnish Emmy) in multiple categories. Her latest series "Moneyshot" is a comedy about making feminist porn for Elisa Viihde. The series is distributed by Federation Studios and Nordisk and it will be released in 2024.
GENRE
Crime, drama
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Writers Jemina Jokisalo, Markus Laitinen
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
In development with Nelonen
LOOKING FOR
Distribution partner and funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Solar Republic is run by Head of Drama Jemina
Jokisalo and Executive Producer Samuli Norhomaa. The company's drama
slate has gained a lot of international attention and they are currently
developing and producing multiple dramas with international partners
attached.
The company's latest work is Moneyshot, a drama comedy about making
feminist porn. The broadcaster is Elisa Viihde, and the international
distributors are Federation Studios and Nordisk. The series will be
released in 2025.
We want to be the most interesting production company in Finland.
Contact: [email protected]
Solar Republic is run by Head of Drama Jemina Jokisalo and Executive Producer Samuli Norhomaa. The company's drama slate has gained a lot of international attention and they are currently developing and producing multiple dramas with international partners attached.
The company's latest work is Moneyshot, a drama comedy about making feminist porn. The broadcaster is Elisa Viihde, and the international distributors are Federation Studios and Nordisk. The series will be released in 2025.
We want to be the most interesting production company in Finland.
Rivals
SYNOPSIS
In Danish town Elvenspring, the river was straightened out a hundred years ago to feed a power plant, at great cost to the environment.
Municipal biologist Karin Felder, married to Frederik and mother of five, is fighting to return the river to its original course, reversing the negative effects on fish- and wildlife.
When Frederik suddenly dies, Karin is left alone with their children, constantly fighting for the future of nature, and with suspicions about foul play between her husband and his brother, industry magnate Jarl, who opposes the river project.
At the same time, local news reporter Robert is digging in to why his family history has been purposely obscured from Elvenspring.
A hundred-year-old body emerges from the water, putting Karin’s work at risk, jeopardizing the safety of her family, and setting Jarl and Robert on a collision course.
PITCHING
Anders Rønnow Klarlund
Creator
Anders Rønnow Klarlund has made feature films and TV series as a writer and director for more than 25 years. In recent years, he has achieved domestic and international acclaim as creator of the TV series White Sands (2021) as well as the thriller Loving Adults (2022), which is the most viewed foreign language movie ever on Netflix. Since 2010, Klarlund has published 7 crime novels with a writing partner under the pseudonym A.J. Kazinski. Their books have been published in 26 countries.
Piv Bernth
Producer
Piv Bernth is responsible for some of the biggest Danish TV series successes in the last 25 years. From 1998 she worked at the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, DR, producing the Emmy Award-winning Nikolaj and Julie and the internationally acclaimed and BAFTA-winning The Killing. In 2012, Piv was made head of DR Drama, which under her auspices produced Borgen, The Legacy, Follow the Money and Rides Upon the Storm. In 2017, Piv founded the production company Apple Tree Productions along with Lars Hermann, which is behind Baby Fever (Netflix) and the award-winning series Blackwater (SVT) and Chorus Girls (TV 2).
GENRE
Drama 6 x 42 min.
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Creator: Anders Rønnow Klarlund, Producer: Piv Bernth, Executive Producer: Lars Hermann, Director: Hans Fabian Wullenweber
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
TV 2 Denmark, ITV Studios, The National Danish Film Institute and the West Danish Film Fund.
LOOKING FOR
Co-production partners and pre-sales.
COMPANY PROFILE
Apple Tree Productions is a Danish and Swedish production company,
developing and producing high quality drama series. The company was
founded by Piv Bernth and Lars Hermann in 2017 with ITV Studios as
partner. Apple Tree is behind international successes like Baby Fever
for Netflix, Blackwater for SVT (Best Series Award in International
Panorama, Series Mania, Best Mini-series at Prix Europa, Best Television
Drama Award at Krystallen and Best Nordic Series at THIS Series), One
of the Boys for Viaplay and Chorus Girls for TV 2 (Golden Nymph Award
for Best Actress at Monto-Carlo and Best Mini-Series at THIS Series).
Contact: [email protected]
Gloria
SYNOPSIS
In 1985, amid the violent political fight against the decadent drug
trade and political war in Nigeria, a naïve unknown drug smuggler,
Gloria, is forced to choose between finding her husband’s killer and
exposing the number one drug kingpin in Nigeria, after getting busted on
a drug trafficking trip
out of the country. Through her journey she discovers a world of
betrayal and deception while realising that the good guys never win in
the real world.
PITCHING
Adesua Okosun
Film director, writer, producer
Adesua Okosun is a Nigeria American film director, writer and producer,
developing a world-class reputation for thought provoking storytelling.
Adesua specializes in creating deeply moving projects that push the
boundaries of everyday stories within African communities. Adesua is the
Co-Founder of Blackverse Studios, a film and creative production
company that challenges the established and celebrates the uncommon
stories in West Africa. To date, Blackverse Studios has worked on
projects in a growing list of countries such as Ghana, Ivory Coast,
Senegal, Kenya, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cuba, Bangkok, Germany,
the US. Headquartered in Lagos Nigeria.
Adesua made her directorial debut with "Contact" a fictional movie made
in partnership with the NBA All star. She also premiered her documentary
series “The Otherside”, based on years of research gathered through her
travels all over the African continent at the Berlinale film festival
in 2020.
She also finished two amazing projects with Netflix focusing on the
Covid crisis in Nigeria and a short film for Netflix that aired at the
Oscars in 2021. She has worked on projects with Kanye West, Mars Galaxy,
Metaverse and the V&A museum in London
GENRE
Drama
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Adesua Okosun
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
None yet
LOOKING FOR
Co-production partnership and funding
COMPANY PROFILE
Blackverse Studios is culturally conscious film production house,
dedicated to creating content that challenges the established and
celebrates the uncommon. We are a film, commercial production and
creative services company. Rooted in Lagos, Nigeria, our Production team
branches out to USA, France, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Kenya.
Contact: [email protected]
GNOMES
SYNOPSIS
GNOMES is a hilarious, genre-bending, comedy-horror series with a lot of heart -
combining the creature mayhem of Gremlins with the character-driven comedy (and bloodiness!) of Hot Fuzz. Set in the sleepy small town of Nompton, it
follows a group of local police officers who must fight to save their
home when an army of demonic, blood-thirsty Garden Gnomes awaken and
start terrorising their peaceful community.
PITCHING
Joel Kohn
Filmmaker, producer and director
Joel Kohn is an award-winning Jewish-Australian
filmmaker, producer, and director with extensive experience in TVC’s,
content, and long-form film and TV production. He holds a master's
degree in communications with honours from RMIT and has trained with
acclaimed directors such as Anthony Minghella (Cold Mountain) and Greg
Mclean (Wolf Creek) through funded attachments and placements.
Joel's experience ranges from TV directing to story development and
writing for film and TV, and he worked as a director and creative
director at SHERPA (the TVC production arm of Hardie Grant Media) for
over 4 years before transitioning into freelance directing. Joel’s
talent was recognised in 2017 when he was selected for for the Screen
Producers Association “Ones to Watch” and won the emerging producer SBS
Television first-look award for his project Seeker.
In 2019, Joel's short film script for THE MIRROR, a dark
family-fantasy film with Jewish themes, was chosen for the prestigious
Jewish International Film Festival short film fund. The project went on
to win best short film at the Australian Academy (AACTA) Awards in 2020
and screened at 40+ festivals around the world, winning numerous other
accolades. It was also long listed for consideration at the 2021 Academy
Awards.
Joel Kohn is an award-winning Jewish-Australian filmmaker, producer, and director with extensive experience in TVC’s, content, and long-form film and TV production. He holds a master's degree in communications with honours from RMIT and has trained with acclaimed directors such as Anthony Minghella (Cold Mountain) and Greg Mclean (Wolf Creek) through funded attachments and placements.
Joel's experience ranges from TV directing to story development and writing for film and TV, and he worked as a director and creative director at SHERPA (the TVC production arm of Hardie Grant Media) for over 4 years before transitioning into freelance directing. Joel’s talent was recognised in 2017 when he was selected for for the Screen Producers Association “Ones to Watch” and won the emerging producer SBS Television first-look award for his project Seeker.
In 2019, Joel's short film script for THE MIRROR, a dark family-fantasy film with Jewish themes, was chosen for the prestigious Jewish International Film Festival short film fund. The project went on to win best short film at the Australian Academy (AACTA) Awards in 2020 and screened at 40+ festivals around the world, winning numerous other accolades. It was also long listed for consideration at the 2021 Academy Awards.
GENRE
Comedy-horror / 6 x 30 mins
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Producers: John Molloy, Richard Kelly, Joel Kohn. Writer: Tegan Higginbotham
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
STAN (Australia)
LOOKING FOR
Pre-sale, gap funding, international network or streaming partner
COMPANY PROFILE
Screen Invaders is an Australian production
company founded by award-winning film-maker Joel Kohn. We specialise in
developing, creating, and producing high-end, world-class scripted
content for the modern audience, with a focus on genre-bending stories
that entertain, challenge, and feed our imagination.
GNOMES is a collaboration between Screen Invaders and Australian
powerhouse production company 2JONS, run by John Molloy and Richard
Kelly – producers of the ABC/CW series "Barons", the STAN crime-drama
series “The Gloaming”, and the new STAN holiday film “Red Hot
Christmas”.
Contact: [email protected]
Screen Invaders is an Australian production company founded by award-winning film-maker Joel Kohn. We specialise in developing, creating, and producing high-end, world-class scripted content for the modern audience, with a focus on genre-bending stories that entertain, challenge, and feed our imagination.
GNOMES is a collaboration between Screen Invaders and Australian powerhouse production company 2JONS, run by John Molloy and Richard Kelly – producers of the ABC/CW series "Barons", the STAN crime-drama series “The Gloaming”, and the new STAN holiday film “Red Hot Christmas”.
THE WINTER PACK
SYNOPSIS
THE WINTER PACK is a character-driven action
series based on Jacob Lindfors' book series set within the Swedish
Special Forces, SOG. A tale of crime, secrets, family, revenge, guilt
and the price of taking another person's life - regardless of the cause.
We follow recruits Kassian, adopted from Rwanda and Madeleine,
daughter of a General, who join SOG for entirely different reasons. When
criminal gang Winter Pack attacks their task force group and abducts
Riot, their troop commander, Kassian and Madeleine must put their
differences aside and go rogue on a dangerous national security mission
to save him and stop the Winter pack from carrying out more atrocities.
Meanwhile, kidnapped teenage girl Joline develops Stockholm Syndrome
for Emil, leader of the Winter Pack, but will she end up joining or
sabotaging her captors’ cause?
THE WINTER PACK is a character-driven action series based on Jacob Lindfors' book series set within the Swedish Special Forces, SOG. A tale of crime, secrets, family, revenge, guilt and the price of taking another person's life - regardless of the cause.
We follow recruits Kassian, adopted from Rwanda and Madeleine, daughter of a General, who join SOG for entirely different reasons. When criminal gang Winter Pack attacks their task force group and abducts Riot, their troop commander, Kassian and Madeleine must put their differences aside and go rogue on a dangerous national security mission to save him and stop the Winter pack from carrying out more atrocities.
Meanwhile, kidnapped teenage girl Joline develops Stockholm Syndrome for Emil, leader of the Winter Pack, but will she end up joining or sabotaging her captors’ cause?
PITCHING
Anni Faurbye Fernandez
Producer, CEO
Nevis
Producer Anni Faurbye Fernandez is Nevis’ CEO. Anni has a wealth of producing and financing experience from her time as producer and CEO at Swedish prod co Yellowbird, where her producing credits include Occupied, Rebecka Martinsson, Wallander and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy. At Cinenord, Anni produced Wisting and Atlantic Crossing.
Cindy Hanson
Creative producer
Cindy Hanson is a creative producer with a strong development and production track record in the British, Irish and Scandinavian industry. Script editing credits during her years in-house at BBC Drama include Waking the Dead, Silent Witness, Occupation and Five Minutes of Heaven. As a development executive at Cinenord, Cindy produced hugely successful shows such as Wisting and Atlantic Crossing.
GENRE
Action, drama, 8x45 min
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Christoffer Örnfelt, Mikkel Bak Sørensen (writers), Anni Faurbye Fernandez, Cindy Hanson and Moa Westeson (producers)
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
Creative Europe Media. International distributors are Federation and Nordisk Film Distribution
LOOKING FOR
We would like to attach a European or North American broadcaster or streamer.
COMPANY PROFILE
NEVIS Productions (est 2020) is an independent production company with
offices in Copenhagen and Stockholm, run by its female founders and
vastly experienced producers Anni Faurbye Fernandez (Danish), Cindy
Hanson (Norwegian) and Moa Westeson (Swedish). Nevis is backed by UK
production company NEVISION. We aim to be a Nordic powerhouse that
creates commercially successful, critically acclaimed storytelling of
premium quality for local and international TV and theatrical markets.
Nevis has produced the Danish drama series Nordland’ 99 for DR and NRK
and an upcoming feature film about the Swedish pop band Gyllene Tider to
premiere Summer 2024.
Contact: [email protected]; [email protected]
I Am Māui
SYNOPSIS
When ARIKI a streetwise kid from state care is
fostered by JANET and BRUCE WILSON an estranged couple from the River
City, he mysteriously acquires strange new abilities.
Befriended by an outcast group of teens led by WAIRERE an aspiring
clairvoyant, he is drawn into their fight against an energy company that
threatens the National Park. Helping to clear the way for the
commercial interests is MAWHERO, a man with a dark energy that spans
centuries.
Ariki’s arrival in town is noted by the neighbour KAHU, a master in
the traditional arts who sees something special in this boy. Now Ariki
must release his own self-doubt, learn to harness this new found power,
and step into the space of legend.
When ARIKI a streetwise kid from state care is fostered by JANET and BRUCE WILSON an estranged couple from the River City, he mysteriously acquires strange new abilities.
Befriended by an outcast group of teens led by WAIRERE an aspiring clairvoyant, he is drawn into their fight against an energy company that threatens the National Park. Helping to clear the way for the commercial interests is MAWHERO, a man with a dark energy that spans centuries.
Ariki’s arrival in town is noted by the neighbour KAHU, a master in the traditional arts who sees something special in this boy. Now Ariki must release his own self-doubt, learn to harness this new found power, and step into the space of legend.
PITCHING
Julian Arahanga
Head writer, creator
Julian Arahanga is a multi-talented story teller known for his acting in Once Were Warriors, Broken English and The Matrix. He has produced award winning films and is the creator of the ground breaking reality series Songs from the Inside filmed inside New Zealand prisons. Julian was the head writer and show runner of the period comedy-drama Colonial Combat, and was director of the series Tongue Tied and It Takes a Village. This year he has produced the feature documentary River of Freedom and is executive producer of the feature film Koka. Julian is the head writer and creator of I Am Maui.
Becs Arahanga
Writer, director
Becs Arahanga is a remarkable talent who has burst onto the film and television scene as a writer/director with a uniquely authentic voice. Making three films in two years, she has wowed people, touched their hearts, and had them slapping their thighs with unbridled laughter. Becs has an instinctual knack for story, comedy, and a strong understanding of the human condition. Her credits include the multi-award-winning feature film ‘Vai’ the indigenous short film epic Hinekura, Laundry and Kairakau. She is the protégé of Lee Tamahori and was 2nd unit director on his latest film The Convert’.
GENRE
Teen Supernatural YA
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Writer Julian Arahanga, Director Peter Burger, Producers Jared Connon, Julian Arahanga, Nicole Horan
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
Maori Television, TVNZ
LOOKING FOR
Equity investment / Coproduction / Distribution
COMPANY PROFILE
Awa Films is an independent production company based in Wellington New
Zealand. We tell bold character driven stories with locally authentic
voices that resonate with global audiences. The company is founded by
Julian and Becs Arahanga a husband and wife duo that are among the
leading voices in the New Zealand production scene. Our content
development and creation spans genres and formats from dramatic
features, feature documentaries, dramatic and comedy series and factual
series. We engage industry creatives of the highest calibre from New
Zealand’s wealth of professional talent.
Contact: [email protected]; [email protected]
Song of the Sun God
SYNOPSIS
A gripping contemporary emotional thriller that
plunges us into the loves, lies and misdemeanours of close-knit British
family, the Rajans, set against the fallout, today, of decades of
conflict between Sri Lanka’s Tamil and Sinhalese communities, derived in
no small part from that “paradise” island’s colonial history.
Dhara, a specialist surgeon in Colombo, Sri Lanka, goes missing after visiting her niece Leela (Charithra Chandran) in London.
Realising that she inadvertently put her aunt in danger, Leela’s
investigation takes her from London, not only to this beautiful island,
with its violent history and uneasy present, but also into the darkest
choices of her own family, now scattered around the globe.
Across three generations of Tamil women, the story goes behind the
Tamil Tiger headlines, unearthing a little known 21st-Century war, and
enabling Leela to finally piece together her own obscure past.
A gripping contemporary emotional thriller that plunges us into the loves, lies and misdemeanours of close-knit British family, the Rajans, set against the fallout, today, of decades of conflict between Sri Lanka’s Tamil and Sinhalese communities, derived in no small part from that “paradise” island’s colonial history.
Dhara, a specialist surgeon in Colombo, Sri Lanka, goes missing after visiting her niece Leela (Charithra Chandran) in London.
Realising that she inadvertently put her aunt in danger, Leela’s investigation takes her from London, not only to this beautiful island, with its violent history and uneasy present, but also into the darkest choices of her own family, now scattered around the globe.
Across three generations of Tamil women, the story goes behind the Tamil Tiger headlines, unearthing a little known 21st-Century war, and enabling Leela to finally piece together her own obscure past.
PITCHING
Karen Radzyner
Executive Producer
Photoplay Films
KAREN RADZYNER joined Photoplay Films as Executive Producer and Head of Development in early 2022. Previously a commissioning editor at SBS where she commissioned several award-winning digital series. In 2023 she released two series she produced – multi-award-winning SBS Digital Original Appetite, which launched in Competition at CanneSeries and ABC ME’s The Disposables, which premiered at the inaugural SXSW Sydney. Previously she produced multi-award-winning TV mini-series – ABC’s Paper Giants and Nine’s Two Twisted; as well as indie feature, Being Venice, before a decade in development and finance roles at Scott Free London, SBS, Screen Australia and Screen NSW.
Charithra Chandran
Lead actress, associate producer
CHARITHRA CHANDRAN is an actor, producer and activist, best known for her performances in Netflix’s Bridgerton and will soon be seen in Prime Video’s How to Date Billy Walsh. She is currently in development on the TV adaptation of Song of the Sun God for which she also serves as an associate producer. Chandran is also the newest global ambassador for Room to Read, a charity committed to improving literacy and gender equality across Asia and Africa. Fluent in three languages and a graduate of University of Oxford, Charithra currently resides in London.
GENRE
Scripted Drama / 6 x 1 hour / Emotional thriller
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Producers Claire Mundell, Karen Radzyner, Shankari Chandran, Charithra Chandran, Olivia Hetreed; Lead writer Olivia Hetreed
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
Cineflix Media (distribution and development); SBS (development); Screen Australia; Screen NSW
LOOKING FOR
UK commission, Indian commission or pre-sale, other pre-sales; or global commission
COMPANY PROFILE
Synchronicity Films is the UK production company
behind Bafta-winning BBC-One THE CRY; Seoul International Drama
Award-winning and BAFTA- and RTS-nominated BBC drama MAYFLIES; THE
PARTY'S JUST BEGINNING; the major adaptation of NY-Times-best-selling
novel THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ for Sky and Peacock, in
post-production; and BIFA-winning features ONLY YOU and WEEKEND.
Photoplay Films Australia exec-produced award-winning features SWEET
COUNTRY, BERLIN SYNDROME and GOLDSTONE and released two series in 2023 –
multi-award-winning SBS comedy-noir APPETITE (In-Competition
CanneSeries) and ABC ME’s THE DISPOSABLES, (premiered SXSW Sydney).
Exec-Producer Karen Radzyner’s previous credits include
multi-award-winning mini-series – ABC’s PAPER GIANTS, Nine’s TWO TWISTED
and feature, BEING VENICE.
Contact: [email protected]
Synchronicity Films is the UK production company behind Bafta-winning BBC-One THE CRY; Seoul International Drama Award-winning and BAFTA- and RTS-nominated BBC drama MAYFLIES; THE PARTY'S JUST BEGINNING; the major adaptation of NY-Times-best-selling novel THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ for Sky and Peacock, in post-production; and BIFA-winning features ONLY YOU and WEEKEND.
Photoplay Films Australia exec-produced award-winning features SWEET COUNTRY, BERLIN SYNDROME and GOLDSTONE and released two series in 2023 – multi-award-winning SBS comedy-noir APPETITE (In-Competition CanneSeries) and ABC ME’s THE DISPOSABLES, (premiered SXSW Sydney). Exec-Producer Karen Radzyner’s previous credits include multi-award-winning mini-series – ABC’s PAPER GIANTS, Nine’s TWO TWISTED and feature, BEING VENICE.
Barbara
SYNOPSIS
The chess prodigy Daniel suffers from a
neurological disorder and uses an electric wheelchair. He has been
raised by adoptive parents until he discovers that the most popular TV
show host of the country, Barbara, is his mother. The entire nation sees
Barbara as a charming role model but her life crumbles when her son
Daniel suddenly appears. Daniel is incredibly charismatic and has great
personal strength to fight for what is right.
Daniel has grown up with his overprotective adoptive parents Arnar
and Marta. When Daniel meets the rebellious Hulda, he finds a partner
that will help him break free from his protected life and establish a
connection with Barbara.
As Daniel finally manages to arrange a reunion with Barbara, we
follow the mother and son as they learn from each other in ways that are
heartwarming and hilarious.
The chess prodigy Daniel suffers from a neurological disorder and uses an electric wheelchair. He has been raised by adoptive parents until he discovers that the most popular TV show host of the country, Barbara, is his mother. The entire nation sees Barbara as a charming role model but her life crumbles when her son Daniel suddenly appears. Daniel is incredibly charismatic and has great personal strength to fight for what is right.
Daniel has grown up with his overprotective adoptive parents Arnar and Marta. When Daniel meets the rebellious Hulda, he finds a partner that will help him break free from his protected life and establish a connection with Barbara.
As Daniel finally manages to arrange a reunion with Barbara, we follow the mother and son as they learn from each other in ways that are heartwarming and hilarious.
PITCHING
Tinna Proppé
Producer
Tinna Proppé is an established producer having worked in the industry since 2009 with multiple titles under her belt, such as the TV series Sisterhood, co-commissioned by Síminn and Viaplay and distributed worldwide by NBC Universal, the international feature film Operation Napoleon, co-produced by ZDF Germany and distributed worldwide by Beta Cinema and Magnolia in USA as well as the TV series The Minister and Stella Blomkvist. Furthermore she has taken part in developing and producing projects that have received recognition and awards such as, the NFTVF script award at Gothenburg Film Festival, best pitch at C21, Best TV series at Series Mania and multiple Edda Awards to name a few.
Haukur Björgvinsson
Director and screenwriter
Haukur Björgvinsson is a director and screenwriter whose passion is occult, weird and sci-fi stories mixed with dramas and thrillers. His work has screened at festivals like Raindance, Nordisk Panorama, Pöff Shorts - Tallinn Black Nights and Santa Barbara. He won the Icelandic academy award for his short film Heartless and received a VIMEO STAFF PICK as well. For film and television Haukur is repped by David Gardner at Artists First. For commercials, Haukur is repped by Scott Pugnetti at Equals Management .
GENRE
Drama
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Haukur Björgvinsson (writer, director) - Tinna Proppé (producer)
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
Stöð 2/Channel 2 (local broadcaster)
LOOKING FOR
Co-production partners and distributors
COMPANY PROFILE
Sellout ehf. is a newly established production
company formed by the producer Tinna Proppé and writer/director Haukur
Björgvinsson. The company was born out of a shared passion to bring
never-before-seen stories to life on the big screens, embracing the
weird, the extraordinary, and the exhilarating.
Our commitment to pushing the boundaries of storytelling is matched
only by our dedication to high-quality production values. We collaborate
with a diverse range of talent, both established and emerging, to craft
visually stunning and intellectually stimulating projects. From
thought-provoking dramas to mind-bending science fiction, we strive to
deliver stories that captivate and inspire.
Contact: [email protected]; [email protected]
Sellout ehf. is a newly established production company formed by the producer Tinna Proppé and writer/director Haukur Björgvinsson. The company was born out of a shared passion to bring never-before-seen stories to life on the big screens, embracing the weird, the extraordinary, and the exhilarating.
Our commitment to pushing the boundaries of storytelling is matched only by our dedication to high-quality production values. We collaborate with a diverse range of talent, both established and emerging, to craft visually stunning and intellectually stimulating projects. From thought-provoking dramas to mind-bending science fiction, we strive to deliver stories that captivate and inspire.
Dead Man Talking
SYNOPSIS
DEAD MAN TALKING is a returnable, episodic, 30-minute drama.
Think OZ meets The Wonder Years.
We first meet Jimmy Harris in his 40’s, strapped to a gunrey, being wheeled into the execution chamber to receive the kill shot.
So begins his final act of reflection, as he bequeaths the audience all
the collected wit and wisdom of his death row decades: he is the Dead
Man Talking.
Jimmy Harris was 21 when he was sentenced to death in 1981 for a crime he did not commit.
Many of Jimmy's stories concern his own experience – some do not –
but the narrative is from his perspective, voiced by him, curated by
him.
Each episode is a tile in an expanding mosaic, a crisp standalone
story with the weight and simplicity of a fable: with strong serial
elements and returning characters.
DEAD MAN TALKING is a returnable, episodic, 30-minute drama.
Think OZ meets The Wonder Years.
We first meet Jimmy Harris in his 40’s, strapped to a gunrey, being wheeled into the execution chamber to receive the kill shot.
So begins his final act of reflection, as he bequeaths the audience all
the collected wit and wisdom of his death row decades: he is the Dead
Man Talking.
Jimmy Harris was 21 when he was sentenced to death in 1981 for a crime he did not commit.
Many of Jimmy's stories concern his own experience – some do not – but the narrative is from his perspective, voiced by him, curated by him.
Each episode is a tile in an expanding mosaic, a crisp standalone story with the weight and simplicity of a fable: with strong serial elements and returning characters.
PITCHING
Jivi Singh
Writer
Jivi is a writer of drama and comedy a working class man of Indian heritage from Birmingham. Jivi is just putting the finishing touches to his directorial debut the feature documentary film Whiteballed. He is also in production of season 1 of his animation series The Shrink Show.
David Evans
Director
As a director of television dramas, features films and documentary features, David Evans is a RTS award winner and Emmy and BAFTA nominee. Best known for Downton Abbey and Unforgiven, David has most recently been the series director of Domina
GENRE
Drama
WRITER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCERS
Writer Jivi Singh, Director David Evans, Producer Nick Pitt
PARTNERS (IF ATTACHED)
None
LOOKING FOR
Co-production partners and funding
COMPANY PROFILE
IFF Content was Co-Founded in 2018 by Jivi Singh
(writer) David Evans (director) and Nick Pitt (producer) with the aim of
making socially conscious content for a global audience.
Focusing on untold narratives and stories of injustice and marginalisation.
Engaging an audience through strong emotion to shine a light on Big Issues.
Often rooted in fact, IFF tell stories that allow the audience to discover their own outrage.
As a writer, director, producer combination iFF Content is the
creative triangulation of these three, very different, energies and
skill sets.
Contact: [email protected]; [email protected]
IFF Content was Co-Founded in 2018 by Jivi Singh (writer) David Evans (director) and Nick Pitt (producer) with the aim of making socially conscious content for a global audience.
Focusing on untold narratives and stories of injustice and marginalisation.
Engaging an audience through strong emotion to shine a light on Big Issues.
Often rooted in fact, IFF tell stories that allow the audience to discover their own outrage.
As a writer, director, producer combination iFF Content is the creative triangulation of these three, very different, energies and skill sets.
