From Namibian western to animated revenge thriller, from Bosnian family saga to a lesbian vampire breakup story, 10 upscale scripted TV projects were spotlighted at the Berlinale Series Market’s Co-Pro Series on Tuesday morning, representing “unique and bold choices with regard to genre and perspective, on top of great storytelling,” Martina Bleis, Head of the Berlinale Co-Production Market, observed before the presentation..
“This should attract buyers and co-producers now, and will surely convince discerning audiences once they have been made,”
With Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy joining climate change satire “S.O.L.,” created by late Ruth McCance, or Cannes-awarded director Aida Begić now focusing on “Mirrors,” it was a high-profile affair.
“This female family chronicle serves as a bridge between two centuries, two eras and two societies, shedding light on the hidden lives of Balkan women. Female secrets touch on taboos such as sexuality, violence and mental health. What would...
“This should attract buyers and co-producers now, and will surely convince discerning audiences once they have been made,”
With Oscar winner Simon Beaufoy joining climate change satire “S.O.L.,” created by late Ruth McCance, or Cannes-awarded director Aida Begić now focusing on “Mirrors,” it was a high-profile affair.
“This female family chronicle serves as a bridge between two centuries, two eras and two societies, shedding light on the hidden lives of Balkan women. Female secrets touch on taboos such as sexuality, violence and mental health. What would...
- 2/21/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Argentina’s Daniel Burman’s international spy thriller “Witness 36” has won the coveted Series Mania Award at Co-Pro Series, the Berlinale Series Market’s annual project pitching event.
The prize consists of an invitation to the production’s team to present again at the industry centrepiece at next month’s Lille-based get-together, the Series Mania Forum’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions.
“Witness 36” joins 15 other projects at the Pitching Sessions as a sixteenth project presented out of competition in partnership with the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
The Award seems particularly appropriate, given to one of Latin America’s most prominent filmmakers, who broke out internationally with a double Berlin Silver Bear win in 2004 for his fourth feature “Lost Embrace,” but who has embraced premium drama series creation without giving up his cinema career.
Berlin also saw him announce in 2017 that Mediapro had taken a stake in his TV company Oficina Burman, one of its earliest projects,...
The prize consists of an invitation to the production’s team to present again at the industry centrepiece at next month’s Lille-based get-together, the Series Mania Forum’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions.
“Witness 36” joins 15 other projects at the Pitching Sessions as a sixteenth project presented out of competition in partnership with the Berlinale Co-Production Market.
The Award seems particularly appropriate, given to one of Latin America’s most prominent filmmakers, who broke out internationally with a double Berlin Silver Bear win in 2004 for his fourth feature “Lost Embrace,” but who has embraced premium drama series creation without giving up his cinema career.
Berlin also saw him announce in 2017 that Mediapro had taken a stake in his TV company Oficina Burman, one of its earliest projects,...
- 2/20/2024
- by John Hopewell and Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Oscar-winning writer Simon Beaufoy – behind “Slumdog Millionaire,” “127 Hours” or “The Full Monty” – has joined “S.O.L.”
The six-episode thriller, presented at Berlinale’s Co-Pro Series and developed with TV4, is produced by Warp Films (UK) and Rainy Days (Sweden). It was created by Ruth McCance. Diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, she died in December, aged 53.
“Ruth had written a pilot episode script and outlines for the remaining five episodes,” explained producer Peter Carlton.
“It had always been our intention to bring on another writer to work alongside her. When we knew Ruth was dying, we spoke about the future of the project. We felt we would like to complete the work she had started in her honor and for her kids.”
“With her blessing, we are doing just that. We were able to tell her it had been selected for Berlinale.”
Beaufoy was an “obvious first choice,” Carlton stated.
The six-episode thriller, presented at Berlinale’s Co-Pro Series and developed with TV4, is produced by Warp Films (UK) and Rainy Days (Sweden). It was created by Ruth McCance. Diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, she died in December, aged 53.
“Ruth had written a pilot episode script and outlines for the remaining five episodes,” explained producer Peter Carlton.
“It had always been our intention to bring on another writer to work alongside her. When we knew Ruth was dying, we spoke about the future of the project. We felt we would like to complete the work she had started in her honor and for her kids.”
“With her blessing, we are doing just that. We were able to tell her it had been selected for Berlinale.”
Beaufoy was an “obvious first choice,” Carlton stated.
- 2/20/2024
- by Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
McCance died aged 53 on December 19 last year, shortly after being diagnosed with cancer.
Colleagues and friends have paid tribute to “free spirit” and “brilliant role model”, Northern Ireland-born, Sweden-based film and TV writer and executive producer Ruth McCance, who has died aged 53 from cancer.
McCance was diagnosed in November of last year with stomach cancer, and died just five weeks later.
During her career she worked on films including Lynne Ramsay’s Ratcatcher, Thomas Vinterberg’s It’s All About Love, Soren-Kragh Jakobson’s Skagerrak and Garth Jennings’s Son Of Rambow.
McCance grew up in Belfast. Her mother was a...
Colleagues and friends have paid tribute to “free spirit” and “brilliant role model”, Northern Ireland-born, Sweden-based film and TV writer and executive producer Ruth McCance, who has died aged 53 from cancer.
McCance was diagnosed in November of last year with stomach cancer, and died just five weeks later.
During her career she worked on films including Lynne Ramsay’s Ratcatcher, Thomas Vinterberg’s It’s All About Love, Soren-Kragh Jakobson’s Skagerrak and Garth Jennings’s Son Of Rambow.
McCance grew up in Belfast. Her mother was a...
- 1/15/2024
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Sheffield-based Warp Films, whose musical “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” hits Amazon next month, has announced a partnership with production and financing studio Anton.
The two companies plan to develop a slate of television series and feature films, with Anton financing a development fund from which they plan to identify and develop “high-value IP projects,” with Anton representing global rights on any project that goes ahead.
As part of the initiative, Kasheina Vencatasawmy has been promoted to head of development at Warp Films and Gwen Gorst has been promoted from senior development producer to executive producer.
The first projects in development are an adaptation of Honoré de Balzac’s novel “Lost Illusions,” written by Ruth McCance, who has moved from executive producer on Sky Atlantic’s “Little Birds” to a writer-showrunner role as well as “Blade in the Dark” (based on the role-playing game), while Gorst is working with “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie...
The two companies plan to develop a slate of television series and feature films, with Anton financing a development fund from which they plan to identify and develop “high-value IP projects,” with Anton representing global rights on any project that goes ahead.
As part of the initiative, Kasheina Vencatasawmy has been promoted to head of development at Warp Films and Gwen Gorst has been promoted from senior development producer to executive producer.
The first projects in development are an adaptation of Honoré de Balzac’s novel “Lost Illusions,” written by Ruth McCance, who has moved from executive producer on Sky Atlantic’s “Little Birds” to a writer-showrunner role as well as “Blade in the Dark” (based on the role-playing game), while Gorst is working with “Everybody’s Talking About Jamie...
- 8/27/2021
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Sheffield-based production house Warp Films (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) is partnering with production and financing studio outfit Anton on a slate of high-end television series and feature films.
Anton will finance a development fund to identify high-value IP and commission scripts from leading UK and international talent, and will handle sales on the projects. On the initial slate is an English-language TV adaptation of French novel Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac. Ruth McCance will write the project as she transitions into a writer-showrunner role following a stint executive producing Warp Films’ melodrama Little Birds.
Also in development is Blades in the Dark, which is described as “an ambitious television adaptation of one of the most popular role-playing games in the world”.
Warp Films’ Kasheina Vencatasawmy has been promoted to head of development to oversee the slate, she will work alongside Regional Development Assistant Soph Webberley. Elsewhere, Gwen Gorst is...
Anton will finance a development fund to identify high-value IP and commission scripts from leading UK and international talent, and will handle sales on the projects. On the initial slate is an English-language TV adaptation of French novel Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac. Ruth McCance will write the project as she transitions into a writer-showrunner role following a stint executive producing Warp Films’ melodrama Little Birds.
Also in development is Blades in the Dark, which is described as “an ambitious television adaptation of one of the most popular role-playing games in the world”.
Warp Films’ Kasheina Vencatasawmy has been promoted to head of development to oversee the slate, she will work alongside Regional Development Assistant Soph Webberley. Elsewhere, Gwen Gorst is...
- 8/27/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
First project is a reinvention of Balzac’s novel ‘Lost Illusions’.
UK-based production company Warp Films has formed a creative and commercial partnership with Anglo-French producing and financing outfit Anton to develop a slate of features and television series with an international focus.
Anton will finance a development fund to identify high-value IP and commission scripts from leading talent, both in the UK and internationally, which both companies will jointly develop. Anton, which co-finance will also represent global rights on all projects.
The joint venture begins with an irreverent English language re-invention of the classic French novel Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac,...
UK-based production company Warp Films has formed a creative and commercial partnership with Anglo-French producing and financing outfit Anton to develop a slate of features and television series with an international focus.
Anton will finance a development fund to identify high-value IP and commission scripts from leading talent, both in the UK and internationally, which both companies will jointly develop. Anton, which co-finance will also represent global rights on all projects.
The joint venture begins with an irreverent English language re-invention of the classic French novel Lost Illusions by Honoré de Balzac,...
- 8/27/2021
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
HBO Max has released a trailer for “Hacks,” an original series debuting on May 13.
The ten-episode season follows the dark relationship between a legendary Las Vegas comedian and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old.
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder star alongside Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Paul W. Downs, Mark Indelicato, Poppy Liu, Johnny Sibilly, Meg Stalter and Rose Abdoo.
“Hacks” is created and showrun by Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky. Downs, Aniello and Statsky executive produce alongside Michael Schur, David Miner and Morgan Sackett. The studio is Universal Television.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
Dates
Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV Plus have announced that Elliot Page will be featured on the next episode of “The Oprah Conversation,” debuting April 30. “The Oprah Conversation: Elliot Page” will present a deeply honest conversation with the actor, producer and lifelong social justice advocate. In a time when the rights of transgender...
The ten-episode season follows the dark relationship between a legendary Las Vegas comedian and an entitled, outcast 25-year-old.
Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder star alongside Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Kaitlin Olson, Christopher McDonald, Paul W. Downs, Mark Indelicato, Poppy Liu, Johnny Sibilly, Meg Stalter and Rose Abdoo.
“Hacks” is created and showrun by Downs, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky. Downs, Aniello and Statsky executive produce alongside Michael Schur, David Miner and Morgan Sackett. The studio is Universal Television.
Also in today’s TV news roundup:
Dates
Oprah Winfrey and Apple TV Plus have announced that Elliot Page will be featured on the next episode of “The Oprah Conversation,” debuting April 30. “The Oprah Conversation: Elliot Page” will present a deeply honest conversation with the actor, producer and lifelong social justice advocate. In a time when the rights of transgender...
- 4/28/2021
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
It’s common for channels to make hyperbolic claims when introducing a new show, but when Sky’s drama heads describe Little Birds as ‘not like anything else on telly,’ they’re not wrong.
The drama’s six 45-minute episodes inspired by a series of erotic short stories combine to form a lavish period melodrama with few points of TV comparison. Little Birds is an exploration of female sensuality and liberation set against a backdrop of colonial violence and simmering rebellion. It’s a provocative, heightened, almost cartoonish fairy tale about struggles for personal and political independence. It’s colourful and stylised, tongue-in-cheek yet earnest, with a killer 1950s soundtrack.
Take a look at the trailer:
If that appealed, then here’s everything you need to know:
Where was it filmed?
Little Birds was largely filmed in summer 2019 in the Spanish town of Tarifa, on the southernmost tip of Spanish Andalusia,...
The drama’s six 45-minute episodes inspired by a series of erotic short stories combine to form a lavish period melodrama with few points of TV comparison. Little Birds is an exploration of female sensuality and liberation set against a backdrop of colonial violence and simmering rebellion. It’s a provocative, heightened, almost cartoonish fairy tale about struggles for personal and political independence. It’s colourful and stylised, tongue-in-cheek yet earnest, with a killer 1950s soundtrack.
Take a look at the trailer:
If that appealed, then here’s everything you need to know:
Where was it filmed?
Little Birds was largely filmed in summer 2019 in the Spanish town of Tarifa, on the southernmost tip of Spanish Andalusia,...
- 8/4/2020
- by Louisa Mellor
- Den of Geek
Exclusive: Billions’ David Costabile, Transparent’s Amy Landecker and Parenthood’s Matt Lauria have joined the cast of Sky Atlantic period drama Little Birds alongside Juno Temple.
The Dirty John star is fronting the adaptation of Anais Nin’s infamous collection of erotic short stories, which is set in Tangier in 1955, in the famous international zone, one of the last outposts of colonial decadence and follows troubled Temple’s American debutante Lucy Savage as she faces a culture shock.
Costabile, who also starred in Breaking Bad, plays Lucy’s larger than life father, Grant Savage, an arms manufacturer who wants to control his daughter, while Landecker, who also starred in Doctor Strange, plays his loquacious wife Vanessa. Having set Lucy up with an English Lord, Hugo Cavendish-Smythe, played by Hugh Skinner, Grant thinks he has a malleable, potentially useful son-in-law but unbeknownst to the Savages, Hugo has already lost his heart to someone else.
The Dirty John star is fronting the adaptation of Anais Nin’s infamous collection of erotic short stories, which is set in Tangier in 1955, in the famous international zone, one of the last outposts of colonial decadence and follows troubled Temple’s American debutante Lucy Savage as she faces a culture shock.
Costabile, who also starred in Breaking Bad, plays Lucy’s larger than life father, Grant Savage, an arms manufacturer who wants to control his daughter, while Landecker, who also starred in Doctor Strange, plays his loquacious wife Vanessa. Having set Lucy up with an English Lord, Hugo Cavendish-Smythe, played by Hugh Skinner, Grant thinks he has a malleable, potentially useful son-in-law but unbeknownst to the Savages, Hugo has already lost his heart to someone else.
- 6/13/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: A period drama starring Dirty John star Juno Temple and a sci-fi drama set in the 23rd Century are the first two original commissions from recently promoted Sky drama chief Cameron Roach.
Temple, who also starred in films such as Antonement and Killer Joe, is fronting Little Birds, an adaptation of Anais Nin’s infamous collection of erotic short stories.
Written by The Girl Who Fell to Earth author Sophia Al-Maria and directed by Billions and House of Cards director Stacie Passon, Little Birds is produced by The Last Panthers and This Is England producer Warp Films. Set in Tangier in 1955, in the famous international zone, one of the last outposts of colonial decadence, it follows troubled American debutante Lucy Savage, played by Temple, as she faces a culture shock.
Thrilled to escape her controlling parents, Savage arrives full of anticipation for her marriage to her English fiancée, Lord Hugo Cavendish-Smythe,...
Temple, who also starred in films such as Antonement and Killer Joe, is fronting Little Birds, an adaptation of Anais Nin’s infamous collection of erotic short stories.
Written by The Girl Who Fell to Earth author Sophia Al-Maria and directed by Billions and House of Cards director Stacie Passon, Little Birds is produced by The Last Panthers and This Is England producer Warp Films. Set in Tangier in 1955, in the famous international zone, one of the last outposts of colonial decadence, it follows troubled American debutante Lucy Savage, played by Temple, as she faces a culture shock.
Thrilled to escape her controlling parents, Savage arrives full of anticipation for her marriage to her English fiancée, Lord Hugo Cavendish-Smythe,...
- 2/19/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Warp Films is ramping up in the international high-end drama space. The UK-based company behind features Submarine, '71 and This Is England (and its TV spinoffs) has hired Ruth McCance as co-production executive. She transfers from Eccho Rights. Based in Stockholm, McCance has previously worked as a development exec at Potboiler Productions, Ruby Films, Pathe and Film4 in the UK. Warp is making a major move into international high-end drama with The Last Panthers which is…...
- 10/2/2015
- Deadline TV
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