As an avid enthusiast of captivating narratives that resonate with a profound sense of life experience, I find myself utterly enthralled by the diverse and intriguing lineup unveiled by Beta Film for Mipcom 2024. The sheer magnitude of historical epic “Rise of the Raven,” produced by the illustrious Robert Lantos, promises to be one of the most monumental European TV productions in history – and that’s saying something coming from the creators behind “Babylon Berlin” and “Swarm.


Beta Film, a well-known and dynamic independent European production company, has showcased its Mipcom sales lineup. This collection is spearheaded by the ten-part saga titled “Rise of the Raven,” along with a fresh acquisition, “Last to Brake,” which is inspired by the true tale of Finnish motorcycle racing legend Jarno Saarinen, and now includes 288 episodes of the Greek daily series sensation called “The Beach.

Additionally, two Eagle Eye Drama series have been released: the PBS and Channel 4 procedural “Patience,” featuring Laura Fraser known for “Breaking Bad”; and “Bookish,” written and starring Emmy Award winner Mark Gatiss of “Sherlock” and “Doctor Who”. Furthermore, a compelling story about internet troll redemption called “A Better Man” from the acclaimed broadcasters NRK and ZDF.

Slated as one of Mipcom’s largest global debuts and hailed by Beta Film as one of the most grandiose European TV series ever made – a claim that carries weight given Beta is behind hit shows like “Babylon Berlin” and “Swarm” – the highly anticipated “Rise of the Raven,” produced by multiple award-winning Robert Lantos (“Sunshine,” “The Sweet Hereafter,” “Eastern Promises”), will officially premiere, as announced, in the Grand Auditorium of Cannes Palais des Festivals on Tuesday, October 22nd.

A trailer unveiled by EbMaster in early September highlights the grandeur and ambition of the series, as it narrates the thrilling 10-part account of the remarkable historical event where Hungarian military leader Janos Hunyadi successfully halted the Ottoman Empire’s seemingly relentless progress into Europe. The Battle of Belgrade in 1456 was a decisive victory for Hunyadi. To give the series a contemporary feel, as Hunyadi faces off against the Ottoman forces, his first love Mara and strong-willed wife Erzsébet endure unwanted sexual advances from other men during their struggles.

The four-part series titled “Last to Brake,” which was chosen for the Venice TV Awards and is inspired by real events, vividly portrays the euphoria of triumph and the nerve-wracking peril inherent in ’70s motorcycle racing. It follows Finn Saarinen, a charming, captivating racer who defies the odds, as he competes against three-time and current world champion Giacomo Agostini in the 1972 350cc World Championship. Agostini, seemingly invincible with his unbeaten streak in head-to-head races since 1967, is the one Finn aims to dethrone.

The series titled ‘Last to Break’ is created by Funfar, a company based in Helsinki (known for ‘Bad Company’), jointly produced with Fireframe and Finnish public broadcaster YLE. The script has been penned by Sami Keski-Vähälä (‘Gracious Night,’ ‘Brothers’), while Simon Kaijser (‘Spinning Man,’ ‘Before We Die’) is in charge of direction. You can catch all four episodes at Mipcom.

As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to share that my beloved series, “The Beach,” is all set to make a grand appearance at Mipcom on October 21st. This captivating drama, nestled in the vibrant summer of free love within a hippie commune on the enchanting island of Crete, boasts an impressive collection of 288 episodes!

Orestis Plakias from Foss in Athens explained, ‘We contemplated treating a long-standing show similar to how we handle mini-series,'” referring to their productions such as the Netflix original series “Maestro in Blue” and the 2023 Series Mania competition entry “Milky Way.

A drill down on other Beta Film Mipcom highlights:  

“Patience,”  

In a forthcoming six-part crime series, set amidst the rich history of York, “Breaking Bad” actor Fraser portrays Detective Bea Metcalf – a seasoned and astute investigator. She partners with Patience Evans, an insightful autistic police archivist, brilliantly played by Ella Maisy Purvis, known for her roles in “Kind of Spark” and “Malpractice.” This captivating drama is brought to you by Eagle Eye Drama, airing on PBS (United States) and Channel 4 (U.K.).

“Bookish,”

As an ardent enthusiast, I’m eagerly anticipating the next masterpiece from the brilliant mind of Mark Gatiss, who not only stars but also creates and headlines a captivating crime drama titled “Bookish.” Set in the enchanting backdrop of post-war 1946 London, this six-part series sees me, playing the role of a bookshop owner, assisting the police in solving intriguing mysteries. This mesmerizing production, brought to life by Eagle Eye Drama for UKTV, has been described as stylish and vibrant by Beta Film. Production is set to commence in April 2024.

“A Better Man,”

A four-part drama, produced by top Norwegian company Maipo Film (“State of Happiness”), centers around the transformation of Norway’s most notorious internet troll and misogynist. Starring Norwegian acting legend Anders Baasmo Christiansen (“Kon-Tiki,” “The King’s Choice”), this compelling series is written and directed by experienced professional Thomas Seeberg Torjussen (“Kuppel 16,” “ZombieLars”). This thought-provoking production is backed by Norway’s NRK and ZDF channel ZDFneo.

Moving on to more exciting updates, Beta will showcase the fourth installment of “Sisi,” a hugely popular series on RTL+ and currently distributed in over 120 countries. The Nordic Noir thriller “Helsinki Syndrome,” starring Peter Franzén from “Vikings,” has been greenlit for another season. Similarly, the Italian youth sensation “Prisma,” focusing on identical teenage twins defying traditional gender roles, has also been commissioned for a second run.

Read More

2024-10-02 11:17