‘Operation Sabre’ Among Five Event Series Heading to First Screening Day at Tallinn TV Beats Forum (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned movie lover with over three decades of experiencing various cinematic masterpieces from around the globe, I find myself utterly thrilled by the lineup of the TV Beats Screening Day at Tallinn Black Nights. The curated slate of high-end series, particularly those hailing from Central and Eastern Europe and the Nordic region, promises a captivating blend of stories that not only engage but also resonate with the current global climate.

Two captivating series, “Operation Sabre” by Beta Film’s Serbian thriller and the co-production between Latvia and Ukraine titled “Mutiny,” are among the five premium television shows chosen for the TV Beats Forum’s initial Screening Day at Tallinn Black Nights. The event commences on November 20th.

The remaining selections on our carefully chosen list include Keshet International’s Finnish mystery thriller titled “Valhalla Project”; “A Wolfe’s Palate”, a series from Lithuania that boasts the highest production budget to date and features Edward Holcroft; as well as the period light crime drama “Von Fock” from Estonia.

The event will feature screenings of an individual episode from each program, along with presentations of relevant case studies involving the main creative minds and production teams.

As a film enthusiast, I’m excited about the upcoming TV Beats Screening Day – an innovative initiative by the organizers behind the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event series. This event promises to showcase, in a captivating manner, the cream of the crop from the Baltics, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Nordic region, offering us a glimpse into some truly remarkable films!

Tiina Lokk, director of the Black Nights Film Festival (also known as PÖFF) and industry advisor, stated that The Screening Day is simply an extension of our TV Beats section. Originally, we held evening events to highlight promising new shows, their creators, and producers. However, since evenings are already packed with various networking activities, we found that a daytime format would offer a more concentrated and effective presentation for all participants.

Toomas Ili, head of content at Elisa’s leading platform in Estonia and leader of the selection committee, stated: “We had numerous conversations with our team about the direction we wanted to take, as this was the first TV Beats Screening Day. In the end, we decided to focus on new or emerging series from our region, with a few exceptions. In total, we reviewed over ten exceptional series, but due to time constraints, we had to narrow it down to just five. This wasn’t an easy decision,” he conceded.

Apart from the exceptional skill showcased by the cast and crew, the chosen series were strategically crafted in collaboration with European partners to appeal to diverse audiences worldwide. They offer a wide variety of compelling narratives that span genres, from the dramas “Mutiny” and “Operation Sabre,” which are inspired by actual events and tackle issues like resistance against undemocratic forces and corrupted systems, to the eco-friendly mystery thriller “Valhalla Project.” Additionally, there’s the crime drama with supernatural elements titled “A Wolfe’s Palate,” a period crime series called “Von Fock” set in Estonia’s grand manors and castles, and more.

Snežana van Houwelingen, the producer of “Operation Sabre”, expressed her excitement about returning to Tallinn, a city where her show was presented at the Midpoint Series workshop in 2022. She emphasized the significance of sharing success stories or case studies at TV industry gatherings, not just for business-to-business interactions with sales representatives but also for the creative community. This is to underscore that local shows can effectively gain traction on an international level.

All of the titles are scheduled for their initial release within the U.S. in 2025, with the exception of “Mutiny,” which had a successful debut on the Latvian platform TET back in April. The five productions will also be showcased at the upcoming Mipcom content market in Cannes.

The TV Beats Forum, jointly led by Petri Kemppinen and Roosa Toivonen, is scheduled to take place in Tallinn and online from November 18th to 20th.

Here is a quick dive into the series:

“Operation Sabre” (This & That Productions, Serbia, Bulgaria)

8-episode crime thriller, inspired by the true events surrounding the assassination of Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić in 2003. The series was jointly created and directed by Goran Stanković and Vladimir Tagic. This and That Productions, along with Bulgaria’s Agitprop, produced it for broadcast on RTS, the Serbian public broadcaster. Internationally, it is represented by Beta Film. It has garnered accolades at both Canneseries (Best Ensemble Cast) and Brno’s Serial Killer Festival (Best TV Show).

“Mutiny” (Cinevilla Films, Latvia)

A seven-part television series, inspired by real-life events, portrays a man’s battle against the authorities which culminated in a mutiny on a Soviet warship in 1975. Andrejs Ēķis (“Dream Team 1935”) is both the director and producer of this project, collaborating with Dita Cimermane, Aija Ansone, and Vitaly Dokalenko under the banner of the prominent Latvian production company Cinevilla Films. Since its debut in April last year, it has been the top-rated program on the Latvian platform TET for a continuous four months.

“A Wolfe’s Palate” (Lithuania, Finland, Germany)

This is a six-part psychological drama that incorporates mystical elements, starring Edward Holcroft (“The English Game”, “Kingsman”) and Tommi Korpela (“Rare Exports, A Christmas Tale”). The film is helmed by commercially-focused director Vėlyvis (known for “The Generation of Evil” and “Zero 2”). Daiva Varnaitė-Jovaišienė and Asta Liukaitytė from Kino-Kultas in Vilnius are producing, along with Tero Kaukomaa (“Iron Sky”) and Josef Brandmaier for Son of a Pitch, Telia Lietuva, and national broadcaster LRT (Lithuanian Radio and Television) as partners.

“Valhalla Project” (Snapper Films, Finland)

It was recently announced that the mystery thriller produced by Juha Wuolijoki for Finnish streaming platform Elisa Viihde, titled EbMaster, has been selected by Keshet International. This six-part, multi-lingual TV series, created and written by Jari Olavi Rantala, features Sara Soulié, Alistair Brammer, Iben Dorner, and Joonas Saartamo in the leading roles.

“Von Fock” (Zolba Productions, Estonia), Latvia, Italy)

Leana Jalukse, a renowned Estonian writer known for her work on “Mother,” which was Estonia’s Oscar entry, is collaborating with German writer Lilian von Keudell and screenwriter/author Ain Kütt on a four-part period crime drama. This project is adapted from Kütt’s own crime novel, “Detective von Fock.” Arun Tamm, a well-known Estonian director behind films like “Bad Hair Friday” and “Container,” is set to direct the series. Jevgeni Supin of Zolba Productions (“Who Shot Otto Mueller”), Helen Lõhmus, Latvia’s Bergmane Productions, Nafta, Italy’s Movie.Mento, and Albolina Film are involved in production. The show will be aired across the Baltics on ETV, with LTV and LRT serving as the main commissioners.

2024-09-30 13:19

‘Operation Sabre’ Among Five Event Series Heading to First Screening Day at Tallinn TV Beats Forum (EXCLUSIVE)

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