Vienna-based ORF Enterprises is bringing the Portuguese mystery drama “Jones” to Berlin for its international market debut at the EFM Series Market, pitching the six-part series as a premium export detective squad with a supernatural hook.
Produced by Portuguese pubcaster RTP’s Caracol Studio, “Jones” is written and directed by Bruno Gascón (“Calga”) and will be headlined by British actor Amanda Abbington (“Sherlock,” “Mr. Selfridge”) alongside a Portuguese-led ensemble.
The story begins in a luxurious mansion in Sintra. There, a dysfunctional family gathers to celebrate an engagement, but the night ends in a murder and a house full of suspects.
Inspector Oliver Jones, played by Jose Pimenton (Netflix’s 1899), takes on cases with the unsettling advantage of being able to communicate with the dead.
His talent traps him in an unlikely partnership with his victim, Julia (Laura Dutra, “Vermelho Sangue”). Julia’s poisonous tongue and post-mortem presence throw the investigation off balance as conflicting truths come to light.
Shot in Sintra and Vila Nova de Foz Core, “Jones” combines the mechanics of an Agatha Christie-esque puzzle box with the dark humor and pressures of a family drama.
Abington plays Eve, an intelligent but slightly off-kilter actress whose obsession with the case draws her into the investigation and complicates the group’s dynamics.
The cast also includes Rafael Morais (Rabo de Peixe), Ivo Canelas (Gloria), Louis Morrison (Ordem Moral), Raquel Rocha Vieira (Labo de Peixe), and Paula de Magalhães (Irreversível). Cinematography was by Hugo Azevedo (“La Rabo de Peixe”).
“Jones” will join the Berlin Series Market platform on Monday, February 16th, with two episodes screening on CinemaxX 1, followed by a Q&A with Gascón and Reed Abbington and Morais.
Prior to the event, Armin Luttenberger, head of international content sales at ORF-Enterprise, answered a Variety Q&A about how ORF is positioning the series in the current market.
Have you already started selling this series overseas? With which buyers in which regions have you already concluded contracts?
Yes, we have started overseas sales and are actively launching this series into the market. While negotiations are ongoing and subject to confidentiality, we cannot publicly name buyers or regions, but momentum is strong and conversations are well underway in several key markets.
What specific gap does “Jones” fill in ORF-Enterprise’s drama catalog?
For ORF-Enterprise, this is a premium title from Portugal with a distinctly international feel. In other words, it’s the kind of genre-driven drama that feels rooted and specific, yet travels with ease. This expands our horizons with a high-concept mystery engine and strong ‘event series’ positioning, establishing a truly European collaboration with Portuguese pubcaster RTP and production giant Caracol Studios. The best-selling ORF original drama films and series definitely form the perfect foundation to expand our portfolio with ‘The Joneses’. We hope our entire fiction catalog will benefit as well from adding this fresh color to our international sales offerings.
Crime, family drama, supernatural mystery, etc. How do you market this series?
We’re pitching it as a premium murder mystery/investigative thriller with a supernatural edge. It’s grounded enough for criminal buyers and at a high enough level to stand out in a crowded field. The supernatural elements are not decorative; It’s part of the storytelling mechanism and hook.
Which buyer profile is most readily accepted? Can you tell me why?
The most readily receptive buyers are those actively programming the premium scripted genre, including streamers, premium pay platforms, and ambitious broadcasters with a clear appetite for event crime. They respond because this series has a sharp logline, a strong binge-pull, and a clear marketing handle.
What window model are you aiming for to maximize price and visibility?
Our priority is to secure premium value and visibility in each region with the right first window partners, ideally with meaningful exclusivity that strengthens our positioning. From there, build a smart secondary window strategy to extend the reach and longevity of your title without diluting its brand.
Which regions are currently responding best to premium drama from Portugal and what is driving demand?
We are seeing the highest response in markets where buyers are already used to premium European dramas that go beyond the usual ‘big language’ and are actively looking for fresh origin stories. This demand is driven by audience desire for unique worlds combined with a universal genre engine and platforms seeking curated, high-quality differentiation.
This series is published in both Portuguese and English. Does multilingualism raise the ceiling or create friction in current negotiations?
Multilingualism primarily raises the ceiling, expanding positioning options and broadening the buyer base. In fact, we adjust our deliverables to market realities, leaning towards subscription-first where authenticity is the selling point and ensuring a clean dubbing path where dubbing is the default. without sacrificing tone or pace.
“Jones”
