Wildfire Eco Thriller ‘Lume’ Swooped on by ZDF Studios (EXCLUSIVE)

As a seasoned media professional who has followed the evolution of European television for decades, I find “Lume” to be an exceptionally intriguing and timely production. The blend of police investigation, arson drama, and ecological thriller makes it stand out amidst the crowded landscape of contemporary scripted series.

“Recently, ZDF Studios obtained international distribution rights for ‘Lume,’ an ecological thriller that takes place near the northern border of Portugal and Spain where frequent wildfires are causing significant damage to the landscape.

This week at the Mipcom trade fair, the powerful production and distribution unit of a major European public broadcasting giant, ZDF Studios, is launching “Lume” into the market.

The selection of “Lume” by ZDF marks another instance of global attention towards this series. Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming platform, Max, will broadcast the show in Spain and Portugal, coinciding with RTP and Televisión de Galicia (TVG), public broadcasters for Portugal and Galicia, Spain’s North-West region, for simultaneous airing.

In June, during the second round of the Council of Europe’s pilot program for Series Co-Production Support, ‘Lume’ was one of the nine European series that received co-financing. These grants are given to support top-tier production quality.

In Lisbon, Coral Europa and Setemedia collaborated to create a six-part dramatic thriller, titled “Seara,” which is set in a hamlet located on the border between Portugal and Galicia’s capital, Santiago de Compostela. The story unfolds as a devastating forest fire rages on, with journalist Lucía delving into the mystery. Driven by personal motives, she feels compelled to uncover the truth since she hails from the village and her father, who was accused of igniting a lethal fire, took his own life in prison.

The television series “Lume” was developed by Irene Pin (“Amnesia 3.0”) and co-written with Sara Rodi, who is a lead writer for the groundbreaking 2022 co-production between RTP and RTVE called “Sequía.” This production is executive produced by Alberto Domínguez from Setemedia and José Amaral of doe Coral Europa, who have previously worked on popular Portuguese series such as “Dry Water,” “Gloria,” and “Vanda.” These projects are key contributors to Portugal’s growing presence in premium scripted television.

The ensemble features Lúcia Moniz, a Portuguese Academy Sophia Award-winner known for “Love Actually” and “Uma Vida à Espera,” along with Albano Jerónimo, Ricardo Pereira from Portugal, as well as Cristina Castaño, Xúlio Abonjo, and Alfonso Agra hailing from Spain. Their respective works include “The Domain,” “Amor Amor,” “La que se avecina,” “Sin plomo,” and “Serramoura.

In the TV show, Lucía uncovers influential economic entities linked to the forest fire. This revelation gained renewed relevance when, in September, Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro vowed to pursue and prosecute the criminal elements profiting from these wildfires, following the extensive ecological destruction they had caused.

Susanne Frank, Director of Drama at ZDF Studios, expressed her immediate agreement regarding the relevance of the topic and the collaborators in this project,” she said. “For decades, we’ve been collaborating with Spain and Portugal, and we are thrilled to further strengthen our long-standing relationship by expanding it into more joint ventures and co-productions.

Fernando R. Ojea, TVG’s Program Director, remarked that the series boasts all the essential elements for a hit production. This is not only because of the skillful teams working on it, but also due to its unique script. The story unfolds in the context of an intriguing and captivating theme – forest fires – which is seldom explored in fiction,” (paraphrased)

The series indeed builds on two burgeoning and exciting co-production axes on Europe’s TV scene: ZDF and Spanish public broadcast networks, and Portugal and Spain, and more particularly Galicia.

As a film enthusiast, I’m excited to share that ZDF and national Spanish state TV RTVE have collaborated significantly on two remarkable productions. The first is the epic adventure series “Boundless,” directed by Simon West, famously known for “Con Air.” This captivating production stars Alvaro Morte and Rodrigo Santoro. Most recently, they’ve teamed up again for a light crime procedural titled “Weiss & Morales.” This compelling show will be the highlight of a panel discussion at this year’s Mipcom, under its Spain Country of Honor strand.

Supported by RTP and TVG, Portugal and Galicia have ignited a captivating production line, showcasing series like “Dry Water,” which straddle the boundary between high-end fiction and free-to-air television entertainment. Broadcast executives are eagerly investigating collaborative production possibilities.

Jose Fragoso, RTP’s Program Director, expressed that the series ‘Lume’ serves as another chance to capitalize on the collaboration potential for scripted content between Portugal and Spain. He shared this view with EbMaster.

As a devoted cinema enthusiast, I’d put it this way: “The plot weaves together police investigations and the persistent saga of arson, a theme that resonates deeply in both nations. The power of the storyline and the brilliance of the creative minds behind it promise a series that will leave you spellbound and on the edge of your seat until the final episode.

TVG’s Ojea pointed out that it’s a significant accomplishment on its own that the project reunites Galicia and Portugal, as both regions’ public broadcasters are participating in it.

The film “Lume” is helmed by the acclaimed director Sérgio Graciano, a multiple Emmy winner and nominee from Portugal (“Laços de Sangue”), in collaboration with Giselle Llanio, a Spanish director who has been nominated for the Emmys twice previously (“Pazo da familia”).

EbMaster engaged in a discussion with Bruno de Lima Santos, the Managing Director of Coral Europe, as well as Domínguez, Pin, and Rodi, concerning the concept behind “Lume” and its pressing significance in today’s world.

In the first half of 2024, crime dramas and thrillers made up approximately 39% of the scripted series orders in Western Europe, as reported by Ampere Analysis. So, what sets “Lume” apart from other similar productions?

Alberto Domínguez: “Lume” is a top-selling thriller series, but it’s unique as it tackles wildfires as a societal concern. The occurrence of such fires isn’t confined to just Spain, Portugal, but also countries like Germany and Canada. It’s a global problem we are addressing with great care during our production.

Lima Santos: The key lies in the two terms we’ve used to categorize its type since the start: Eco-thriller. Ecological matters affect all communities, while thrillers are currently popular. By blending these elements, our series becomes an intriguing mix, sparking interest among broadcasters and society as a whole.

Pin: The genre is really important. Also, the way that we’ve developed it, creating powerful characters who attempt to understand what’s happening. That helps audiences who hear a lot about wildfires but don’t stop many times to think about their true causes.

Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein previously explained the success of their Canal+-SVT series “Midnight Sun” to me, highlighting that it was a blend of a thriller, a social issue exploration, and a psychological drama. They mentioned that as they developed one aspect, they’d shift focus to another. Similarly, “Lume” encompasses all three genres…

We aimed to construct a primary character who wasn’t merely driven by profession but also had a profound personal motivation for uncovering the truth. This aspect was designed to foster strong emotional connections with the audience, as they empathize with her. Our priority was to develop characters that felt authentic and complex, traits often shaped by their past experiences, particularly their childhood, which we understand carries significant weight.

Forest fires has become, and it’s no joke, a burning issue but its media focus can be different….

Last month in Portugal, a staggering 100 fires broke out in a single night. Confronted with this crisis, the Prime Minister could not help but address the issue, suggesting that these incidents might be linked to illicit activities.

Dominguez: In Galicia, the media often discusses accidents or fires caused by arsonists or individuals with mental health issues. However, our series uncovers the economic motivations behind these blazes.

And what is the state of production?

Lima Santos: We filmed from July to early September, and now we’re in post-production. Our aim is to launch the project during the first half of 2025. If RTP and TVG can find a suitable date on their schedules, we hope to release it in the first quarter, with all three platforms simultaneously releasing the content.

2024-10-21 08:47

Wildfire Eco Thriller ‘Lume’ Swooped on by ZDF Studios (EXCLUSIVE)

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