Inspired by the true events of Elan Lichris (Lemon Tree, Reading Lolita of Tehran), “Yosel Schumacher’s Aidation”), “Helsinki 1939” AJ Anila (“Code Named: Anica, Peacemaker”) and “Nuclear Sunset Cruise” “Nuclear” Cruise (“Talling Black Night Film Festival’s TV Beat Co-Funding Market” The Buzzy series is flooded in the Estonian capital from November 17-18.
Eight premium series from eight different countries, including Estonia, Germany, Spain, Israel and the Czech Republic, were selected from a record 56 applications, up 40% last year. Some of the most established European talent and banners from 27 countries, with Estonia, Finland and Germany at the top of the list, were invited to the chance to win the European Series Co-Production Award, worth 50,000 euros (58,600).
“There were more high quality applications and projects compared to last year,” said Petri Kempinen, co-head of the TV Beats Forum, the drama section of the industry @Tallinn & Baltic events at Talinn Black Nights Film Festival, which set 2018 with increased visibility of drama series from the Baltic family, Northeast (CEE).
“In today’s challenging times when funding is scarce, especially for development, it’s extremely appealing to European indie producers who have to look under any stone for potential partners,” observed TV Beats Forum’s co-head head head Rusato Ibonen.
As she explained, the pre-selection process involving four industry experts prioritized the possibility of co-production of projects, particularly from non-traditional partners.
Of the eight selected projects, half were pitched early on other TV drama platforms. Spanish mystery drama “Dark Waters” (“Aigües de Foscor”) bowed at Sitges Festival’s Fanpitch 2024 and Berlinale Series Market 2025. Seriencamp Conference Award at TV Beats Joint Asset Market 2023.
“Crime is still a favorite genre, but there are also some fascinating true stories with a bit of nostalgia,” Kemppeinen noted. “The Cold War seems like a popular subject, why isn’t it in a growing world,” Toyvenen said, referring to the “little” satire of “nuclear sunset cruises,” filled with “rock whiskey,” packed with East German cruises in the middle of Cuba’s missile crisis. “Overall, this slate reveals a true passion for storytelling from the creative team, allowing us to tell you that these titles are not generated by AI!” Toivonen has been added.
In addition to the hot TV drama collaborative pitch event, TV Beats will host its second screening date with five fresh titles from the program. The “Danish Women” in France/Iceland previously exhibited by Benedict Erlingsson in Series Mania, and featured the Finnish suspense mystery “Icebreaker” in 2024 Mipdramian Drams in Candes in Cauur. From Ove Musting, Czech-Slovak-Ukraine Political Striller Lukáš Hanulák and Leticia Dolera from Moloch Files in the Spanish drama Pubertat-Secrets, Lies, and Human Castles. “Once again, we’ve put together a fascinating selection of fresh dramas. This year we’ve integrated the screening into the Main Days of the TV Beat Forum, so we can’t miss the screening!”
TV Beats will also be hosting a launch training program for CEE’s MidPoint series for emerging professionals, as well as a brand new serial bridge baltics backed by the series Mania Institute and Institut Français. Please note this space for more details coming soon.
A complete overview of TV Beats’ joint fundraising market lineup:
“Normal business” (6×45′, Estonia)
Written by Hendrik Toompere Jr. and Mehis Pihla
Produced by Evelin Penttilä and Johanna Maria Tamm for Stellar Film (“Sauna Day”, “The Exalted”).
“A dark comedy inspired by the Danske Bank scandal, a world where capitalism does not cover all sin,” says Logline. Set in Estonia in the 1990s, we follow Artur, a restless child in a Soviet-style residential block with big dreams. Leaded by charismatic banker Oliver, Artur is quickly swept into a wild finance world where gorgeous orgy, cash-packed bags and bear hunting with high-ranking officials become a regular occurrence. Behind the charm, he is washing billions for Russian oligarchs. As interests rise, relationships break and body surface, Artur has to decide whether to protect himself or blow whi with the very system that built him.
“Challenging the Clouds” (6×40′, Croatia)
Written and produced by Carla Lurich and Jelena Masharich
Produced by Dober Film
A teenage drama based on Ivana Shajat’s award-winning novels “Chasing the Clouds” and “The Flying Dragon.” Six teenagers gather at the party. After Luke’s death, their lives have changed irreparably. The series unfolds through nonlinear storytelling, with each episode being told from a different perspective. “In this series, we want to explore the themes of loneliness, adolescent bullying and peer pressure,” said Lurich, who wants to find a partner in Scandinavian and Baltic Seas in Tallinn.
“Dark Waters” (“Aigües de Foscor”, 8×50′, Spain)
Written by Amelia Mora of Mecter Manteca
Produced by Juanzola of the Federation Spain and Tonoforghera of the Last Media
The project was developed by Lastor Media in Barcelona, Federation Studios in Catalonia and Federation Spain using Icelandic co-developer New Media Arc. It was written by the highly-proclaimed screenwriter Amèlia Mora (Undercover, La Unidad) along with Héctor Manteca. Directed by Victor Garcia (The Girl of Communion).
It is based on original ideas by executive producer Maria Rocher. Park Ranger Arnau finds the corpse of a woman who shares the same unusual birth mark that he and his daughter have. This discovery reveals a supernatural mystery. “It’s a powerful story about a father who fears losing his daughter, depicting the myth that connects Catalonia and Iceland,” Roche said.
“Forward” (“Post-up”, 6×50′, Czech Republic)
Written by Lukáš Sigmund
Produced by Michal Kollár and Jana Kluková from KFS Productions (“Ultimate”) for Jesca TV adaptation
Crime Procedures and Mental Health Family Drama. When a reasonable murderer detective begins to find the same body over and over, discovers the connection between the case and her family, she must investigate the nature of her own reality.
“The series explores genetic trauma, psychological mystery, and the blurred boundaries between reality and perception,” Kurkova said. “At the heart of it, “Forward” also addresses the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease, portraying memory not only as a narrative device, but as a fragile disappearing thread that connects identity and relationships. ”
“Helsinki 1939” (6×45′, Finland)
Written and directed by AJ Annila
Eero Hietala and Sara Norberg produced two studios to take (“Hildur”)
A historic drama from veteran filmmaker AJ Annila (codename: Anica, Peace Maker, Sauna). The international war correspondent team fights to report the truth. However, Finnish propaganda units are lying to defeat the overwhelming enemy. “During the winter war in Finland, the luxurious hotel Kemp in Helsinki will become a battlefield for the timely theme of disinformation,” Hietala said.
“Nuclear Sunset Cruise” (4×45′, Germany)
Written by Robert Kraus and Florian Puchart
Martin Lehwald, Marcos Kantis and Philipp Goeser produced for the Schiwago film, in collaboration with ARD Degeto
Directed by Oscar-winning Florian Gallenberger for the short film “Quiero,” he has recently been credited with the photo “Perfect Match.” A historic comedy about East German cruise ships that sail by mistake during Cuba’s missile crisis. With nuclear war approaching and deck chair battles furious, the real problem is: Can they survive from each other?
“The true story of Ms Völker freundschaft East-German Cruise Ship serves as a powerful symbol of our world today,” Goeser said. “It speaks not only of the history of the Cold War from an unexpected angle, but also of a timely connection to a new tension between the East and West, growing political instability, and an upcoming climate crisis.”
“Yosel Schumacher’s Aidation” (6×60′, Israel)
Written by Eran Riklis and Moshe Zonder
Moshe Edery of King Films in the UK for Israeli Keshet TV, produced by Eran Riklis Productions
It was co-created and written by Elan Lichris (Tehran’s ‘Reading’, ‘Lemon Tree’, ‘The Syrian Bride’, ‘Tehran’ (‘Tehran’, ‘Fauda’) one of Israel’s most famous filmmakers.
“In the early 1960s, the acquiring of a seven-year-old Jewish boy by his ultra-Orthodox grandfather leads to three women clashing with his fate and faith, leading to a fierce conflict between the Israeli Mossad Secret Service and the mysterious global web of the Orthodox community,” Riklis said. “Following Yosere’s trials and hardships in the US, we merge intimate and painful drama in a powerful socio-political setup wrapped as a psychological thriller, about pain, love, loss, faith, fanaticism and secrets on so many levels.”
“Wool” (6×50′, Serbia, Iceland, Germany)
Creator Milena Zambasovich writes Muraden Machisevic, Bilkil Blair Ingolfson, Steich Theodora
Produced by Milena Danbasovich for Film Road Production, co-produced with Jonas Marguer Ingolfson and Mira Ósk for Icelandic ACT4, and co-produced with Danna Stern for German transport production.
In Yugoslavia in the 1960s, visionary women unite village housewives into knitting groups. Their traditional crafts have become a global fashion sensation, changing country life and defiing norms.
