As a seasoned film enthusiast who has traversed the globe in search of captivating narratives, I must admit that my heart skips a beat when I come across stories like these emerging from the Balkans. The region’s rich history and tumultuous past provide a fertile ground for compelling tales, as evidenced by the two series under the spotlight at this year’s Sarajevo Film Festival.
As a film enthusiast who has had the privilege of attending several international film festivals, I can attest that this week at the Sarajevo Film Festival was particularly exciting. Being immersed in the Balkan film scene, I witnessed two captivating series receiving well-deserved attention. The local creatives behind these productions shared their secrets for transforming regional stories into global sensations, and it was fascinating to learn about their unique approaches. Their passion and dedication to storytelling were truly inspiring, and I left the festival feeling invigorated and eager to delve deeper into the world of Balkan cinema.
On Sunday evening, the red-carpet regional debut took place for “Operation Sabre,” a gripping Serbian crime drama. This production, which delves into the 2003 assassination of the Serbian Prime Minister Zoran Đinđić, was showcased in the Long Form Competition at Canneseries this year. The series is masterfully crafted by Goran Stanković and Vladimir Tagić, serving as both its creator and director.
Snezana van Houwelingen, the producer behind This and That Productions based in Belgrade, explained that when they started crafting the script, the creative team always had a worldwide audience in mind. They collaborated with Martichka Bozhilova from Agitprop for Radio Television of Serbia on this project.
As a passionate cinephile, I’ve always felt that this tale held global appeal, despite being deeply rooted in Serbia – a local event with universal resonance. Throughout the creative process, our focus was on crafting a television series that would resonate with viewers from all corners of the globe.
Anna Rohde, a creative leader in international affairs at Beta Film Group, has been involved with the project since as far back as 2019. This is the year when our company took notice of it, after it received an award during the CineLink Drama pitching events held in Sarajevo. Our distribution arm, Beta Film, now represents this series on a global scale.
“Starting from there on, it was unmistakably evident that things were very global,” Rohde stated. The Munich-based multinational company, renowned for its productions and distributions, was promptly pondering ways to capitalize on its extensive international influence to develop a sensational Balkan blockbuster. This potential project, titled “I Know Your Soul” – a crime drama directed by the Academy Award-nominated Jasmila Žbanić (“Quo Vadis, Aida?”), which recently triumphed at the Heart of Sarajevo TV Awards – was a significant aspect of their regional portfolio.
Rohde mentioned, “We talked about potential ways we could collaborate as co-producers. What unique elements could we bring to make this project appealing globally? Essentially, it was about finding ways to work together effectively.”
Emmanuel Eckert, deputy director of acquisition at Mediawan Rights, noted a change in the methodology employed by the French television distribution heavyweight concerning TV series production. He expressed that their aim is now to assist producers in financing their shows, a role they are increasingly taking on. This is quite distinct from 10 years ago when they simply received completed shows ready for sale. Instead, he emphasized, Mediawan Rights is moving towards being collaborative partners rather than just distributors.
As a history enthusiast and a fan of supernatural stories, I was thrilled when I heard about the company’s latest acquisition at Series Mania. Having always had a fascination with World War II and ancient Roman history, the prospect of a series that combines these two elements in a unique way piqued my interest. The story of “Constantine’s Crossing,” which revolves around the Nazis’ hunt for powerful relics once belonging to Emperor Constantine the Great, promises an exciting blend of history and supernatural intrigue. I can’t wait to see how this series unfolds, and I believe it will be a fantastic addition to the company’s lineup.
Emmanuel admitted that describing it as “a Serbian series featuring vampires, werewolves, Nazis, and a mystic cross” wasn’t an easy task. However, what truly captivated him was not just the skill of the production team, but also the exceptional script. He emphasized that the script is often the deciding factor.
“The show titled ‘Constantine’s Crossing’ is based on the popular Serbian novel penned by Dejan Stojiljkovic. This series was jointly produced by Telekom Serbia and Firefly Productions, a company located in Belgrade. The script for this series was developed by Djordje Milosavljevic and Boban Jevtić, who is one of the co-founders at Firefly.”
Jevtic, a past leader of the Serbian Film Center and an acclaimed screenwriter for films and television, stated that the supernatural aspects of the series were deliberately emphasized by its makers as they aimed to attract global audiences by highlighting these elements from the outset.
“He stated that when considering a massive-scale project, our goal is to create something that resonates globally, yet retains a powerful, unique local flavor through its genre.”
These conventional elements are widely used in television production across the globe, particularly in fledgling industries aiming to develop a distinctive, universally recognized style – similar to what Scandinavian crime dramas represent as Nordic Noir for different regions.
Instead of using a universal approach when striving to uncover the secret formula for producing a globally successful TV show, Beta’s Rohde advised aspiring creators in Sarajevo to avoid adopting a one-size-fits-all strategy.
She shared this news: “Unfortunately, I don’t have a recipe for you,” she said. But here’s something exciting: “There’s an abundance of creativity and tales in this area that makes it a fascinating exploration.” She continued with enthusiasm, “Each story is unique, and we can’t wait to dive into them all. We welcome any ideas or suggestions you might have.”
Meanwhile, Emmanuel observed that the nations once part of Yugoslavia, historically known for their turbulence and conflict, could benefit by uniting through their common past and cultural essence.
“When discussing the Balkans, it’s crucial to remember that we’re not referring to a single nation,” he pointed out. “We collaborate with Serbia, Croatia, and several other nations. However, I believe our strength lies in unity.”
The Sarajevo Film Festival runs Aug. 16 – 23.
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2024-08-20 09:47