Period Crime Drama “Von Fock” Toplines Zolba Productions’ International TV Slate (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned movie connoisseur with roots deeply entrenched in the rich tapestry of Eastern European cinema, I find myself truly captivated by the ambitious slate unveiled by Estonia’s Jevgeni Supin from Zolba Productions. The forthcoming series “Von Fock” promises to be a delightful fusion of historical intrigue, romantic suspense, and a dash of Baltic grandeur that is sure to leave audiences spellbound.


Jevgeni Supin from Zolba Productions in Estonia, who’s known for the initial Viaplay original “Who Shot Otto Mueller,” has announced his lineup of five premium dramas. These include “My Dear Mother,” represented by Film.UA Group, and “Von Fock,” which will have its global debut at Tallinn TV Beats’ inaugural Screening Day on November 20th.

Supin’s broad portfolio and the quality of his television productions, presented as collaborative efforts across borders, showcase not only his aspirations to position Estonian and Baltic dramas on the international stage but also his groundbreaking advancements in multi-national production.

The crime series “Von Fock”, for example, was the first Estonian production to receive backing from both Creative Europe’s Media Program and Eurimages’ pilot program for co-produced series in June. As Supin, who has recently left his position as head of TV Beats Forum to focus solely on producing, stated, “This European funding was incredibly important to us.” This validation demonstrates that independent producers from the Baltics are on the right path and that our goal of sharing Estonian, Lithuanian, Latvian stories and culture beyond our national borders has been acknowledged, which is significant.

Produced collaboratively by Zolba Productions, Bergmane Productions from Latvia, Movie.Mento and Albolina Film of Italy, the movie titled ‘Von Fock’ is an adaptation of the historical crime novels ‘Detective von Fock’ penned by Ain Kütt. Ain Kütt joined forces with Leana Jalukse from Estonia (whose film “Mother” was Estonia’s entry for the Oscars) and Lilian von Keudell from Germany to write the screenplay for this production.

Estonian enfant terrible Arun Tamm (“Bad Hair Friday”, “Container”) is directing.

In the early 19th century, amidst the aristocratic circles of Baltic Germans in Estonia, the narrative unfolds. The protagonist, Paul von Fock, and Baron Sagadi (Priit Pius) embark on a series of investigations into unsolved murders. Simultaneously, they chase after Maria von Nottbeck’s affection (portrayed by Aurora Ruffino).

Supin refers to it as an “intriguing mystery combined with a touch of romance and a dash of suspense, set within an aristocratic environment.” Its authenticity is strengthened by the use of real filming locations and historic manors and castles.

The series produced by Eesti Telefilm for ETV has been funded by various organizations including LTV (Latvia), LRT (Lithuania), Estonian Film Institute, Latvian Investment Agency LIAA, Italian tax credit, and IDM Film Commission Südtirol.

Supin, collaborating with Helen Lõhmus, mentioned that they are in talks about worldwide distribution rights with a prominent company. The nationwide launch is planned for the spring of 2025.

As a cinephile, I’m eagerly anticipating my next cinematic encounter – the psychological drama titled “My Dear Mother”. This unique production represents the inaugural international collaboration between Estonia’s premier streaming service, Elisa, and Ukraine’s Film.UA.

This limited series is inspired by real-life events and features Doris Tislar (from “The Class”), Elina Reinold (from “Revenge Office”), and Indrek Ojari (from “Names Engraved in Marble”). In simpler terms, it’s a show based on true events starring Doris Tislar, Elina Reinold, and Indrek Ojari.

As a cinephile penning this review, I had the privilege of watching Doris Tääker’s directorial masterpiece, a work born from his own creative script, skillfully co-crafted with Elisa Estonia’s content head Toomas Ili and Tiina Lokk, the esteemed director of Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

As the body of Alina’s (30) tragically murdered mother is discovered on a beach, the plot thickens: could Alina be a calculating manipulator or a long-suffering victim of abuse throughout her life? This gripping series produced by Film.UA is set to debut in spring 2025 on Elisa Huub.

During collaboration with Elisa Estonia on another premium series in its initial stages, titled “Operation Silver Wolf,” which is likened to a fusion of “The Da Vinci Code” and “Indiana Jones” – Supin secured separate agreements for two additional projects with the swiftly growing platform Go3 based in the Baltic region.

The production titled “A Girl from Tallinn,” which Go3 owns secondary distribution rights following commissioner ETV, is being jointly produced with Film.UA from Ukraine and Agitprop from Bulgaria. Support for this project comes from the Bulgarian Film Centre and Creative Media.

Renowned director Ilmar Raag (“The Class,” “A Lady in Paris”) will soon be helming a drama where Ivan, a reformed criminal now running a business in Ukraine, encounters a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Maria, the woman he lost 30 years ago under tragic circumstances in Tallinn during the tumultuous ’90s. The filming is scheduled for next summer.

Justinas Docka, head of content for Go3, stated that ‘A Girl From Tallinn’ is another significant endeavor, demonstrating our commitment to creating top-tier content suitable for both local and global audiences. This isn’t the first time Go3 has supported high-profile projects; they were also behind the award-winning Latvian dramedy ‘Soviet Jeans’ at Series Mania.

Following the exciting news shared by EbMaster earlier, I’m thrilled to be part of the collaboration between Go3 and Supin on the upcoming project titled “Let it Snow.” This lighthearted crime/comedy, which partially unfolds in the enchanting landscapes of Finland, is a joint production with Take Two Studios.

The song ‘Let it Snow’ is scheduled to be featured” or “The presentation of ‘Let it Snow’ is planned for” at the TV Beats Co-financing Market (November 18th-20th), which takes place during Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event.

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2024-09-30 13:17