The titles were chosen with the support of the MIP Markets Drama Advisory Board, a group of leading international industry executives with broad experience in commissioning, acquisition and co-production.
French actor, writer and singer, Joséphine Draï, star of the Netflix comedy series The Hook Up Plan (Plan Cœur), is host for the event and will introduce 10-minute-long exclusive previews of 11 upcoming series, chosen for their writing, production values, creativity, originality and worldwide appeal.
“After the terrible, tumultuous year that was 2020, it is really uplifting to see such a strong list for MIPDrama’s Official Selection this year,” Advisory Board member, Sky’s Sarah Wright, said. “There is a dazzling array of programming on offer this year.”
Fellow Board member Aline Marrache, of Universal Music Media & Content, added: “The level of production is significantly growing each year and the series have more and more original intrigues.”
For Board member Anette Romer of SVT Productions, the selection demonstrated that “writers and producers continue to aim high”.
Here is the selection :
AGATHA CHRISTIE’S SVEN HJERSON, Sweden
Pitch: An Agatha Christie detective story set, for the first time, in Scandinavia.
Genre: Crime, Whodunnit
Production: B-Reel Films, TV4/CMore, Nadcon, ZDF, Government of Åland & Agatha Christie Limited
Distribution: ZDF Enterprises
ANNE BOLEYN, United Kingdom
Pitch: An intimate psychological thriller about Tudor Queen Anne Boleyn, told from a new perspective.
Genre: Period drama
Production: Fable Pictures
Distribution: Sony Pictures Television
CONTAINER, Russian Federation
Pitch: A gripping drama highlighting the challenges and choices of contemporary surrogacy.
Genre: Drama
Production: START, Yellow, Black and White
Distribution: Yellow, Black and White
DON’T LEAVE ME, Italy
Pitch: The deep web. The deeper you go, the more evil you find. Everything is for sale — drugs, weapons, organs… and children.
Genre: Thriller
Production: Paypermoon Italia, Rai Fiction
Distribution: Federation Entertainment
FURIA (FURY), Norway and Germany
Pitch: Two people, four identities, who must work together to bring down a terrifying far-right terror cell.
Genre: Crime
Production: Monster Scripted and X Filme
Distribution: Keshet International
LUCKY DAY, Switzerland
Pitch: What would you do if you won the lottery? A Swiss family faces life-changing dilemmas.
Genre: Comedy
Production: IDIP Films, Perpetual Soup
Distribution: About Premium Content
PANDORE, Belgium
Pitch: Set in Brussels, Pandore is a political drama about the collision between politics and justice.
Genre: Political drama
Production: Artemis Productions, RTBF
Distribution: About Premium Content
SUPERNORMAL, Spain
Pitch: Patricia is a boss at an investment bank, but is also determined to be a mother, wife, daughter and sister.
Genre: Comedy-drama
Production: Movistar+ in collaboration with Secuoya
Distribution: Beta Film
THE BEAST MUST DIE, United Kingdom
Pitch: A contemporary revenge thriller set on the Isle of Wight, about a mother avenging her son’s death.
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Production: New Regency Television International, Scott Free
Distribution: New Regency
THE WINEMAKER, Germany, Austria
Pitch: Successful winemaker Matteo’s secret Mafia past comes back to haunt him.
Genre: Thriller, Drama
Production: good friends FilmprodUnited Kingdomtion in co-production with Satel Film for ZDF and ServusTV
Distribution: Beta Film
WHITSTABLE PEARL, United Kingdom
Pitch: Crime, debauchery and murder in the beautiful English seaside town of Whitstable.
Genre: Crime
Production: Buccaneer Media
Distribution: Cineflix Rights
MIPDrama takes place on Friday, April 9 at 12.30 CEST. After the showcase, the audience of international buyers will be invited to vote for the series that will take away the prestigious MIPDrama Buyers’ Coup de Cœur. The vote closes on Thursday, April 15 and the showcase will be available until the following day, when the winning series will be announced online. The final selection of 11 reflects the lasting, global demand for drama series. Two comedy series also feature in the line-up, a reminder that in spite of — or because of — a difficult year, audiences need to laugh.
This article originally appeared in the MIPTV 2021 Preview magazine, which you can read in full once registered for Digital MIPTV. Find out how, here!
