BBC Buys HBO Max Thriller ‘Spy/Master’
The BBC has acquired HBO Max thriller Spy/Master as it continues to beef up its iPlayer offering. Acquired from Warner Bros. Discovery, the show stars Happy Valley’s Alec Secăreanu as the most trusted advisor to Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu. With his government poised to uncover that he’s a secret agent for the Soviets, Godeanu uses a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to defect to the U.S. The series also stars Aidan McArdle, Ana Ularu (Who Is Erin Carter?), Laurențiu Bănescu (Boss), Andreea Vasile (Umbre), Nico Mirallegro (Our Girl), lulian Postelnicu (Arest) and Elvira Deatcu (Clanul). “A classic spy drama set at the height of the Cold War, Spy/Master is an atmospheric, complex thriller, dripping with style and suspense,” said Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition. The show was nominated for the inaugural...
The BBC has acquired HBO Max thriller Spy/Master as it continues to beef up its iPlayer offering. Acquired from Warner Bros. Discovery, the show stars Happy Valley’s Alec Secăreanu as the most trusted advisor to Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu. With his government poised to uncover that he’s a secret agent for the Soviets, Godeanu uses a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to defect to the U.S. The series also stars Aidan McArdle, Ana Ularu (Who Is Erin Carter?), Laurențiu Bănescu (Boss), Andreea Vasile (Umbre), Nico Mirallegro (Our Girl), lulian Postelnicu (Arest) and Elvira Deatcu (Clanul). “A classic spy drama set at the height of the Cold War, Spy/Master is an atmospheric, complex thriller, dripping with style and suspense,” said Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition. The show was nominated for the inaugural...
- 3/27/2024
- by Max Goldbart and Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Former HBO Europe execs Johnathan Young and Ioanina Pavel have resurfaced with their own indie.
The pair have launched May One, which will be based in Bucharest, Romania — one of the former homes of HBO Europe. They are out of the gate with Subteran, a Netflix series announced last October that is produced alongside Tudor Rue from Mobra Films and now filming.
May One will seek to develop, produce and provide creative partnership for quality series shot in Romania, working with established and new talent from both within and outside the country. The company will look to open up Romanian resources and talent to the international industry to create collaborations in Europe and beyond.
In that sense, it harks back to HBO Europe’s ethos, which sought to bring together Central Eastern European talent with others from Western Europe and the U.S. It was considered one of the key international producers in the region,...
The pair have launched May One, which will be based in Bucharest, Romania — one of the former homes of HBO Europe. They are out of the gate with Subteran, a Netflix series announced last October that is produced alongside Tudor Rue from Mobra Films and now filming.
May One will seek to develop, produce and provide creative partnership for quality series shot in Romania, working with established and new talent from both within and outside the country. The company will look to open up Romanian resources and talent to the international industry to create collaborations in Europe and beyond.
In that sense, it harks back to HBO Europe’s ethos, which sought to bring together Central Eastern European talent with others from Western Europe and the U.S. It was considered one of the key international producers in the region,...
- 2/29/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Frank Spotnitz, “The X-Files” exec producer and “Medici” creator, will figure alongside Israeli producer Eilon Ratzkovsky and broadcaster-producer Johnathan Young as facilitators and mentors at the third edition of the Full Moon Creative Lab, a program open to European screenwriters specializing in thriller, horror and fantasy TV series.
Launched by the Romanian Film Promotion and Transilvania Intl. Film Festival, the Full Moon Creative Lab consists of creative residencies taking place in Romania’s Transylvania this October and in February and June 2024.
Ratzkovsky produced “The Band’s Visit,” a Cannes 2007 Un Certain Regard winner, and TV series “Sirens.” Young was the former VP of original programming and commissioning editor for Central and Eastern Europe at HBO Max.
Further experts take in Romania’s Geo Doba, a screenwriter and vice president of the alumni network for the Berlin-based Serial Eyes TV writing program; screenwriter and script doctor Gabriela Iacob, a former head of...
Launched by the Romanian Film Promotion and Transilvania Intl. Film Festival, the Full Moon Creative Lab consists of creative residencies taking place in Romania’s Transylvania this October and in February and June 2024.
Ratzkovsky produced “The Band’s Visit,” a Cannes 2007 Un Certain Regard winner, and TV series “Sirens.” Young was the former VP of original programming and commissioning editor for Central and Eastern Europe at HBO Max.
Further experts take in Romania’s Geo Doba, a screenwriter and vice president of the alumni network for the Berlin-based Serial Eyes TV writing program; screenwriter and script doctor Gabriela Iacob, a former head of...
- 7/25/2023
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Amid turbulent times for global streaming services who continue to course correct after years of pursuing subscriber growth at all costs, TV writers and producers in Eastern Europe are pondering the next step for a region still searching for its first international breakout hit.
“The biggest challenge is the great Netflix correction — the recalibration, the reassessment of dollars,” Ioanina Pavel, who served as creative producer on the HBO Max original series “Spy/Master,” said Friday at the Transilvania Film Festival. “It’s not a bad thing, but it is a challenge. There’s been a glut. The Golden Age of TV is now coming to a close. It’s not a bad thing; it just means a reallocation of money.”
“Spy/Master,” a six-part drama series set during the Cold War that dropped its final episode last week, is one of the last productions from Central and Eastern Europe for Max, after...
“The biggest challenge is the great Netflix correction — the recalibration, the reassessment of dollars,” Ioanina Pavel, who served as creative producer on the HBO Max original series “Spy/Master,” said Friday at the Transilvania Film Festival. “It’s not a bad thing, but it is a challenge. There’s been a glut. The Golden Age of TV is now coming to a close. It’s not a bad thing; it just means a reallocation of money.”
“Spy/Master,” a six-part drama series set during the Cold War that dropped its final episode last week, is one of the last productions from Central and Eastern Europe for Max, after...
- 6/17/2023
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Max Original international series Spy/Master debuts Friday, May 19 with the first two episodes, which had their world premiere at Berlin Film Festival’s Berlinale Series in February. Created by Adina Sădeanu and Kirsten Peters, the six-part espionage drama series starring Alec Secăreanu continues with one new episode debuting weekly leading up to the season finale on June 16.
Logline: Spy/Master is set during the height of the Cold War and covers a week in the life of fictional character Victor Godeanu, played by Secăreanu, the right-hand man and closest advisor to Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. However, Godeanu is also a secret agent for the Kgb and must escape Romania and Ceaușescu before his cover is blown. With only one shot at staying alive, he uses a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to the United States. Helped by an undercover Stasi agent and former flame played by Svenja Jung (“Deutschland...
Logline: Spy/Master is set during the height of the Cold War and covers a week in the life of fictional character Victor Godeanu, played by Secăreanu, the right-hand man and closest advisor to Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu. However, Godeanu is also a secret agent for the Kgb and must escape Romania and Ceaușescu before his cover is blown. With only one shot at staying alive, he uses a diplomatic trip to Germany as a springboard to the United States. Helped by an undercover Stasi agent and former flame played by Svenja Jung (“Deutschland...
- 4/19/2023
- by Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid - TV
Christian Wikander, the scripted specialist who left HBO Max as part of cuts to the streamer in Europe this summer, has a new role.
He’s been named Global Head of Scripted at Banijay and will take up the post on May 1 2023, and Lars Blomgren is leaving at the same time to head up Media Res’ newly-opened international TV arm.
Wikander has been tasked with overseeing Banijay’s scripted slate globally, driving collaboration between the super-indie’s 50+ drama labels and identifying third-party acquisitions.
He was HBO Max Nordic’s Commissioning Editor and VP, Original Programming between 2020 and 2022, when his roles was made redundant, as Deadline revealed.
Other execs who left in the restructure included HBO Max Emea VP Original Programming and Production Cee Johnathan Young and Head of Unscripted Original Production Annelies Sitvast. In total 29 staff left the business.
At Warner Bros Discovery’s streaming service, he was responsible for...
He’s been named Global Head of Scripted at Banijay and will take up the post on May 1 2023, and Lars Blomgren is leaving at the same time to head up Media Res’ newly-opened international TV arm.
Wikander has been tasked with overseeing Banijay’s scripted slate globally, driving collaboration between the super-indie’s 50+ drama labels and identifying third-party acquisitions.
He was HBO Max Nordic’s Commissioning Editor and VP, Original Programming between 2020 and 2022, when his roles was made redundant, as Deadline revealed.
Other execs who left in the restructure included HBO Max Emea VP Original Programming and Production Cee Johnathan Young and Head of Unscripted Original Production Annelies Sitvast. In total 29 staff left the business.
At Warner Bros Discovery’s streaming service, he was responsible for...
- 12/14/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
The streamer is laying off nearly 30 members of European original programming teams.
Warner Bros Discovery is laying off 29 people in Europe over the next 15 months as part of its move to phase out HBO Max original programming for the region.
Top executives affected, the company confirmed, include Johnathan Young, HBO Max Emea’s vice president of original programming and production for Central and Eastern Europe; Christian Wikander, vice president and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordics; and Annelies Sitvast, head of unscripted original production.
The remaining layoffs are expected to come from those executives’ teams.
Antony Root, HBO...
Warner Bros Discovery is laying off 29 people in Europe over the next 15 months as part of its move to phase out HBO Max original programming for the region.
Top executives affected, the company confirmed, include Johnathan Young, HBO Max Emea’s vice president of original programming and production for Central and Eastern Europe; Christian Wikander, vice president and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordics; and Annelies Sitvast, head of unscripted original production.
The remaining layoffs are expected to come from those executives’ teams.
Antony Root, HBO...
- 8/25/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
The streamer is laying off nearly 30 members of European original programming teams.
Warner Bros Discovery is laying off 29 people in Europe over the next 15 months as part of its move to phase out HBO Max original programming for the region.
Top executives affected, the company confirmed, include Johnathan Young, HBO Max Emea’s vice president of original programming and production for Central and Eastern Europe; Christian Wikander, vice president and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordics; and Annelies Sitvast, head of unscripted original production.
The remaining layoffs are expected to come from those executives’ teams.
Antony Root, HBO...
Warner Bros Discovery is laying off 29 people in Europe over the next 15 months as part of its move to phase out HBO Max original programming for the region.
Top executives affected, the company confirmed, include Johnathan Young, HBO Max Emea’s vice president of original programming and production for Central and Eastern Europe; Christian Wikander, vice president and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordics; and Annelies Sitvast, head of unscripted original production.
The remaining layoffs are expected to come from those executives’ teams.
Antony Root, HBO...
- 8/25/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
The streamer is laying off nearly 30 members of European original programming teams.
Warner Bros Discovery is laying off 29 people in Europe over the next 15 months as part of its move to phase out HBO Max original programming for the region, according to reports.
Top executives affected are thought to include Johnathan Young, HBO Max Emea’s vice president of original programming and production for Central and Eastern Europe; Christian Wikander, vice president and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordics; and Annelies Sitvast, head of unscripted original production.
The remaining layoffs are expected to come from those executives’ teams.
Warner Bros Discovery is laying off 29 people in Europe over the next 15 months as part of its move to phase out HBO Max original programming for the region, according to reports.
Top executives affected are thought to include Johnathan Young, HBO Max Emea’s vice president of original programming and production for Central and Eastern Europe; Christian Wikander, vice president and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordics; and Annelies Sitvast, head of unscripted original production.
The remaining layoffs are expected to come from those executives’ teams.
- 8/25/2022
- by John Hazelton
- ScreenDaily
Click here to read the full article.
Warner Bros. Discovery has taken the axe to its European staff, chopping 29 jobs in Europe, among them top programming positions, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed Thursday.
Among the executives on the way out are Johnathan Young, vp, original programming and production at HBO Max Emea (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Christian Wikander, vp and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordic region; and Annelies Sitvast, who heads up the studios’ unscripted original programming slate. Mia Edde, who joined Wbd last year to run content acquisitions for Turkey, has already left.
The rest of the 29 employees, all of whom will be leaving Wbd over the next 15 months, come from these executives’ teams.
The cuts were expected following the merger of Discovery and Warner Bros. and the announcement by studio boss David Zaslav that the company was looking to find 3 billion in savings across its global business.
Warner Bros. Discovery has taken the axe to its European staff, chopping 29 jobs in Europe, among them top programming positions, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed Thursday.
Among the executives on the way out are Johnathan Young, vp, original programming and production at HBO Max Emea (Europe, Middle East and Africa); Christian Wikander, vp and commissioning editor of original programming for the Nordic region; and Annelies Sitvast, who heads up the studios’ unscripted original programming slate. Mia Edde, who joined Wbd last year to run content acquisitions for Turkey, has already left.
The rest of the 29 employees, all of whom will be leaving Wbd over the next 15 months, come from these executives’ teams.
The cuts were expected following the merger of Discovery and Warner Bros. and the announcement by studio boss David Zaslav that the company was looking to find 3 billion in savings across its global business.
- 8/25/2022
- by Scott Roxborough
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Warner Bros. Discovery is letting go of 29 staff in Europe, including key programming execs, as it moves to phase out HBO Max European originals and shift towards a new local commissioning model, Deadline can reveal.
Among the top level execs leaving the business are HBO Max Emea VP Original Programming and Production Cee Johnathan Young; VP and Commissioning Editor of Original Programming, Nordics Christian Wikander; and Head of Unscripted Original Production Annelies Sitvast. Mia Edde, who joined last year as Executive Director, Content Acquisitions in Turkey has already left.
In total, 29 will depart over the next 15 months, with the other departures coming from the teams of the exiting executives.
Deadline understands Wbd will continue to invest in local commissions and acquisitions in Europe, but that original programming responsibilities will now be handled by the company’s local linear and streaming teams, and no commissions will be made purely for streaming.
Among the top level execs leaving the business are HBO Max Emea VP Original Programming and Production Cee Johnathan Young; VP and Commissioning Editor of Original Programming, Nordics Christian Wikander; and Head of Unscripted Original Production Annelies Sitvast. Mia Edde, who joined last year as Executive Director, Content Acquisitions in Turkey has already left.
In total, 29 will depart over the next 15 months, with the other departures coming from the teams of the exiting executives.
Deadline understands Wbd will continue to invest in local commissions and acquisitions in Europe, but that original programming responsibilities will now be handled by the company’s local linear and streaming teams, and no commissions will be made purely for streaming.
- 8/25/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Job cuts are expected at HBO Max Europe following a major strategic review that will see development of local originals halted in the Nordics and Central Europe.
The move comes as the Warner Bros. Discovery merger gathers pace and the outfit seeks £3B worth of savings within two years, with HBO Max set to be combined with Discovery+.
Deadline understands jobs at HBO Max Europe are at risk following the review, which will also see nascent development activities in the Netherlands and Turkey halted after less than a year. The details regarding potential redundancies are still being ironed out.
Shows in production or post-production in the Nordics, Central Europe and the Netherlands are being reviewed. Hits to have already emerged from the region include the likes of Denmark’s Kamikaze (pictured) and Sweden’s Lust.
Of the territories in which HBO Max has a footprint, only Spain and France are not impacted by the review.
The move comes as the Warner Bros. Discovery merger gathers pace and the outfit seeks £3B worth of savings within two years, with HBO Max set to be combined with Discovery+.
Deadline understands jobs at HBO Max Europe are at risk following the review, which will also see nascent development activities in the Netherlands and Turkey halted after less than a year. The details regarding potential redundancies are still being ironed out.
Shows in production or post-production in the Nordics, Central Europe and the Netherlands are being reviewed. Hits to have already emerged from the region include the likes of Denmark’s Kamikaze (pictured) and Sweden’s Lust.
Of the territories in which HBO Max has a footprint, only Spain and France are not impacted by the review.
- 7/4/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Warner Bros. Discovery’s post-merger growing pains and an eye-watering 3 billion cost-savings target are hitting its programming strategy in Europe, Variety can reveal.
As the media conglomerate looks to recalibrate its streaming priorities, it will no longer produce originals for HBO Max in the Nordics, Central Europe, the Netherlands and Turkey, and will also remove some content from its platform in order to free up licensing deals elsewhere.
In a statement shared with Variety, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery said:
“As we continue to work on combining HBO Max and discovery+ into one global streaming service showcasing the breadth of content across Warner Bros. Discovery, we are reviewing our current content proposition on the existing services. As part of this process, we have decided to remove a limited amount of original programming from HBO Max, as well as ceasing our original programming efforts for HBO Max in the Nordics and Central Europe.
As the media conglomerate looks to recalibrate its streaming priorities, it will no longer produce originals for HBO Max in the Nordics, Central Europe, the Netherlands and Turkey, and will also remove some content from its platform in order to free up licensing deals elsewhere.
In a statement shared with Variety, a spokesperson for Warner Bros. Discovery said:
“As we continue to work on combining HBO Max and discovery+ into one global streaming service showcasing the breadth of content across Warner Bros. Discovery, we are reviewing our current content proposition on the existing services. As part of this process, we have decided to remove a limited amount of original programming from HBO Max, as well as ceasing our original programming efforts for HBO Max in the Nordics and Central Europe.
- 7/4/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
In one of its first major overtures to the European drama community since expanding across the continent, HBO Max commissioners used a rare Series Mania presentation to lay out their strategies and wish lists for the platform.
The team was speaking as part of a panel on Wednesday that drew a queue of at least 500 people who were snaked around the Lille Grand Palais in hopes of getting in. HBO Max is, for many a drama producer in town, the ideal partner in Europe given its existing track record as HBO Europe.
Antony Root, executive VP and head of original production for WarnerMedia Emea, presented the streamer’s four pillars for local originals: Local first; broad appeal; distinctive storytelling; and a diverse slate.
The task at hand, he said, is to drive subscriber acquisitions and “get people in who might not otherwise subscribe to the HBO channel, by having a broader slate.
The team was speaking as part of a panel on Wednesday that drew a queue of at least 500 people who were snaked around the Lille Grand Palais in hopes of getting in. HBO Max is, for many a drama producer in town, the ideal partner in Europe given its existing track record as HBO Europe.
Antony Root, executive VP and head of original production for WarnerMedia Emea, presented the streamer’s four pillars for local originals: Local first; broad appeal; distinctive storytelling; and a diverse slate.
The task at hand, he said, is to drive subscriber acquisitions and “get people in who might not otherwise subscribe to the HBO channel, by having a broader slate.
- 3/23/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
HBO Max Unveils ‘The Thaw’ Trailer
Exclusive: HBO Max has unveiled a trailer for Polish thriller The Thaw from writer/director duo Marta Szymanek and Xawery Żuławski. The Thaw will launch in all HBO Max territories on April 1 and the trailer comes a week after the streamer launched in Poland. The show starts with the body of a young woman being found in the icy waters of the Oder River. Newly-widowed Detective Katarzyna Zawieja (Katarzyna Wajda) leads the investigation to track down the killer and when it becomes evident that the victim gave birth shortly before her death, Zawieja, a young officer who never gives up easily, goes on a search for the missing newborn. Executive producers are Izabela Łopuch, Johnathan Young, and Antony Root and producers are Bogumił Lipski and Andrzej Beszta.
ITV Goes ‘Searching For Michael Jackson’s Zoo’
ITV is to go Searching for Michael Jackson’s...
Exclusive: HBO Max has unveiled a trailer for Polish thriller The Thaw from writer/director duo Marta Szymanek and Xawery Żuławski. The Thaw will launch in all HBO Max territories on April 1 and the trailer comes a week after the streamer launched in Poland. The show starts with the body of a young woman being found in the icy waters of the Oder River. Newly-widowed Detective Katarzyna Zawieja (Katarzyna Wajda) leads the investigation to track down the killer and when it becomes evident that the victim gave birth shortly before her death, Zawieja, a young officer who never gives up easily, goes on a search for the missing newborn. Executive producers are Izabela Łopuch, Johnathan Young, and Antony Root and producers are Bogumił Lipski and Andrzej Beszta.
ITV Goes ‘Searching For Michael Jackson’s Zoo’
ITV is to go Searching for Michael Jackson’s...
- 3/18/2022
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Heavily localized content complementing a wealth of new and library offerings out of the U.S. is very much the modus operandi for HBO Max in Europe.
The WarnerMedia-backed streamer, which will soon be combined with Discovery Plus, rolled out recently to 13 countries in Central and Eastern Europe (Cee), as well as Portugal and the Netherlands, with Turkey, Greece, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to follow later this year. There are no plans to launch HBO Max in Russia or Ukraine.
Variety can exclusively reveal that one of HBO Max’s big bets is musical talent format “One True Singer,” which promises to launch the next big singer in Romania.
In the show, 14 young artists are selected from hundreds of applicants. Having impressed a jury made up of Alex Cotoi, Alina Eremia, Șerban Cazan and Bruja, they make it inside the “One True Singer” house and compete for a €100,000 prize.
The WarnerMedia-backed streamer, which will soon be combined with Discovery Plus, rolled out recently to 13 countries in Central and Eastern Europe (Cee), as well as Portugal and the Netherlands, with Turkey, Greece, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to follow later this year. There are no plans to launch HBO Max in Russia or Ukraine.
Variety can exclusively reveal that one of HBO Max’s big bets is musical talent format “One True Singer,” which promises to launch the next big singer in Romania.
In the show, 14 young artists are selected from hundreds of applicants. Having impressed a jury made up of Alex Cotoi, Alina Eremia, Șerban Cazan and Bruja, they make it inside the “One True Singer” house and compete for a €100,000 prize.
- 3/17/2022
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
HBO Max has greenlit a six-part Eastern European comedy directed by Berlinale and Czech Lion winning director Jan Hřebejk as it gears up to launch in the region.
The Winner tells the story of Viktor Hudák, a fictional Prime Minister of a small European country ending his career in politics and returning to everyday life. When his successor radically overturns all the policies that he spent a lifetime building, he quickly realizes there is very little power in being an ex-prime minister.
Acclaimed Slovak actor Ady Hajdu will play the lead in the six-parter, which is being written by Zuzana Dzurindová and Peter Nagy. Prague production company Etamp Film is producing.
HBO Max exec Johnathan Young called The Winner a “joyous poke at pomposity, patriarchy and politics” and pointed out its uniqueness in featuring both Slovak and Czech characters.
Young is exec producing The Winner alongside Steve Matthews and Tereza Polachova is producing.
The Winner tells the story of Viktor Hudák, a fictional Prime Minister of a small European country ending his career in politics and returning to everyday life. When his successor radically overturns all the policies that he spent a lifetime building, he quickly realizes there is very little power in being an ex-prime minister.
Acclaimed Slovak actor Ady Hajdu will play the lead in the six-parter, which is being written by Zuzana Dzurindová and Peter Nagy. Prague production company Etamp Film is producing.
HBO Max exec Johnathan Young called The Winner a “joyous poke at pomposity, patriarchy and politics” and pointed out its uniqueness in featuring both Slovak and Czech characters.
Young is exec producing The Winner alongside Steve Matthews and Tereza Polachova is producing.
- 10/18/2021
- by Max Goldbart
- Deadline Film + TV
Sales
Red Arrow International has sold documentary “Controlling Britney Spears” to a raft of territories. The 75-minute documentary contains new allegations from insiders with intimate knowledge of the pop icon’s daily life under her controversial conservatorship.
The documentary has been sold to Sky (U.K.), Nine (Australia), Crave (Canada), Three (New Zealand), Talpa TV (the Netherlands), Vgtv (Norway), TV2 (Denmark), TV4, MTV and Cmore (Sweden and Finland), Discovery (Italy and Philippines), Originals Factory (French and German-speaking Europe), HOT8 (Israel), yes-Dbs (Israel), TV Nova’s streamer Voyo (Czech Republic and Slovakia), Pro Plus (Slovenia), Globo for its GloboPlay streaming service (Brazil), and Tvn Grupa Discovery (Poland) including for its streaming platform Player.
“Controlling Britney Spears” is a follow-up to “Framing Britney Spears” and was produced in partnership by The New York Times and Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company. It premiered last month on FX and Hulu in the U.
Red Arrow International has sold documentary “Controlling Britney Spears” to a raft of territories. The 75-minute documentary contains new allegations from insiders with intimate knowledge of the pop icon’s daily life under her controversial conservatorship.
The documentary has been sold to Sky (U.K.), Nine (Australia), Crave (Canada), Three (New Zealand), Talpa TV (the Netherlands), Vgtv (Norway), TV2 (Denmark), TV4, MTV and Cmore (Sweden and Finland), Discovery (Italy and Philippines), Originals Factory (French and German-speaking Europe), HOT8 (Israel), yes-Dbs (Israel), TV Nova’s streamer Voyo (Czech Republic and Slovakia), Pro Plus (Slovenia), Globo for its GloboPlay streaming service (Brazil), and Tvn Grupa Discovery (Poland) including for its streaming platform Player.
“Controlling Britney Spears” is a follow-up to “Framing Britney Spears” and was produced in partnership by The New York Times and Left/Right, a Red Arrow Studios company. It premiered last month on FX and Hulu in the U.
- 10/18/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
As it celebrated its 20th anniversary this year, the Transilvania Intl. Film Festival looked to keep pace with the rapidly evolving – and colliding – worlds of film and television with the launch of a new sidebar and industry strand dedicated to high-end TV series.
For the first time TIFF unspooled a sidebar featuring eight of the buzziest European TV dramas of recent years. The festival also launched the Drama Room, a three-day event for industry professionals in Central and Eastern Europe interested in producing scripted drama, in what TIFF founder Tudor Giurgiu sees as the first step in a growing commitment to support the region’s evolving TV business.
“We are paying more and more attention to this, like many other festivals,” said Giurgiu. “The content is really surprising and good. We are encouraging both producers and writers to learn and understand the mechanics of doing TV series and miniseries.”
A collaboration with the Midpoint Institute,...
For the first time TIFF unspooled a sidebar featuring eight of the buzziest European TV dramas of recent years. The festival also launched the Drama Room, a three-day event for industry professionals in Central and Eastern Europe interested in producing scripted drama, in what TIFF founder Tudor Giurgiu sees as the first step in a growing commitment to support the region’s evolving TV business.
“We are paying more and more attention to this, like many other festivals,” said Giurgiu. “The content is really surprising and good. We are encouraging both producers and writers to learn and understand the mechanics of doing TV series and miniseries.”
A collaboration with the Midpoint Institute,...
- 8/1/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Emerald Fennell’s Promising Young Woman, which is up for five Oscars this year, will skip cinemas in the UK and debut directly on Sky Cinema. It will be released by the broadcaster on April 16, 10 days before the Oscars. The deal was made by Focus Features and Universal with Sky, all of which are owned by Comcast. The pic premiered at Sundance in 2020 and was released stateside by Focus on December 25, grossing $5.8M to date in the pandemic-hit theatrical market.
HBO Europe has given the green-light to The Informant, an 8 x 40” Hungarian drama written by Bálint Szentgyörgyi, who also directs alongside Áron Mátyássy and Bence Miklauzic. Filming is now underway on the series, which follows 20-year-old Geri (Gergely Váradi) who is starting university in 1980’s Hungary. Unbeknownst to his friends, Geri lives a second life as a government informant. Cast includes Váradi with Márton Patkós, Júlia Szász, Abigél Szőke and Szabolcs Thuróczy.
HBO Europe has given the green-light to The Informant, an 8 x 40” Hungarian drama written by Bálint Szentgyörgyi, who also directs alongside Áron Mátyássy and Bence Miklauzic. Filming is now underway on the series, which follows 20-year-old Geri (Gergely Váradi) who is starting university in 1980’s Hungary. Unbeknownst to his friends, Geri lives a second life as a government informant. Cast includes Váradi with Márton Patkós, Júlia Szász, Abigél Szőke and Szabolcs Thuróczy.
- 3/25/2021
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
In this week’s International TV Newswire Variety catches you up on Canal Plus Group’s appointment of Anna Marsh as CEO of Studiocanal, Dazn’s champion’s league coup in Germany, HBO’s new Polish original “The Thaw,” new London factual production company Big Little Fish and Starzplay’s Middle Eastern partnership with Image Nation Abu Dhabi.
Anna Marsh Named Studiocanal CEO
The glass ceiling has suddenly risen a notch in Europe. This week, France’s Canal Plus Group announced that Anna Marsh will take over from Didier Lupfer as the CEO of Studiocanal, which Cpg owns 100%..
That’s no ordinary job. A production-distribution-sales combo, Studiocanal runs theatrical direct distribution operations for its films in the U.K., France, Germany and Australia/New Zealand, making it is Europe’s biggest non-studio theatrical distributor. Under Marsh, its film international sales team for other territories has become one of only four...
Anna Marsh Named Studiocanal CEO
The glass ceiling has suddenly risen a notch in Europe. This week, France’s Canal Plus Group announced that Anna Marsh will take over from Didier Lupfer as the CEO of Studiocanal, which Cpg owns 100%..
That’s no ordinary job. A production-distribution-sales combo, Studiocanal runs theatrical direct distribution operations for its films in the U.K., France, Germany and Australia/New Zealand, making it is Europe’s biggest non-studio theatrical distributor. Under Marsh, its film international sales team for other territories has become one of only four...
- 12/13/2019
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
HBO Europe is doubling down on Polish drama with crime series The Thaw from the writer behind The Pack.
The Thaw is a six-part series written by Marta Szymanek and directed by Xawery Żuławski (Bird Talk).
Set in Szczecin, Poland, the series begins after the body of a young woman is discovered under the melting ice. It asks ‘Who was she? Why did she die? Who did she leave behind? Did people who are now mourning know who she really was? These questions and the search for answers will provide the main female character with a powerful, although initially unconscious incentive to confront her own circumstances: of a single mother playing the role of a perfect police officer, and above all, a woman in crisis.
The Thaw is produced by Bogumił Lipski, and executive produced by Izabela Łopuch, Johnathan Young and Antony Root for HBO Europe. Andrzej Besztak is the executive producer for Magnolia Films.
The Thaw is a six-part series written by Marta Szymanek and directed by Xawery Żuławski (Bird Talk).
Set in Szczecin, Poland, the series begins after the body of a young woman is discovered under the melting ice. It asks ‘Who was she? Why did she die? Who did she leave behind? Did people who are now mourning know who she really was? These questions and the search for answers will provide the main female character with a powerful, although initially unconscious incentive to confront her own circumstances: of a single mother playing the role of a perfect police officer, and above all, a woman in crisis.
The Thaw is produced by Bogumił Lipski, and executive produced by Izabela Łopuch, Johnathan Young and Antony Root for HBO Europe. Andrzej Besztak is the executive producer for Magnolia Films.
- 12/12/2019
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO Europe has greenlit original series “Tuff Money” (“Bani Negri”), a six-part crime caper from Cristian Mungiu’s Mobra Films, the company behind Mungiu’s Palme d’Or winner “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” and HBO Europe’s “Hackerville.”
“Tuff Money” has been written and will be directed by Daniel Sandu, the writer and director of the film “One Step Behind the Seraphim” and a writer on “Hackerville.”
The Romanian series follows two lovable losers, who joke about being able to commit the perfect crime. The joke backfires when their words are misconstrued, and they find themselves forced into actually having to commit the robbery. They are totally unprepared, both for the crime and its bizarre aftermath.
“’Tuff Money’ is a funny and smart caper that is absolutely Romanian at heart, with a sensibility and charm giving it an appeal beyond local audiences,” Antony Root, exec VP, original programming and production,...
“Tuff Money” has been written and will be directed by Daniel Sandu, the writer and director of the film “One Step Behind the Seraphim” and a writer on “Hackerville.”
The Romanian series follows two lovable losers, who joke about being able to commit the perfect crime. The joke backfires when their words are misconstrued, and they find themselves forced into actually having to commit the robbery. They are totally unprepared, both for the crime and its bizarre aftermath.
“’Tuff Money’ is a funny and smart caper that is absolutely Romanian at heart, with a sensibility and charm giving it an appeal beyond local audiences,” Antony Root, exec VP, original programming and production,...
- 7/23/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
HBO Europe and German broadcaster TNT Serie have released the first trailer for their six-part cyber drama Hackerville, which will also be available in the U.S.
The two broadcasters are launching the show, produced by Deutschland 83 producer Ufa Fiction and Mobra Films in November with HBO Europe airing the show in Central Europe, Scandinavia and Spain on Sunday 4 November and TNT Serie premiering the series in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on Thursday 8 November. It will also be available to U.S. HBO subscribers across HBO Go, HBO Now and HBO On Demand, although a premiere date has not been set.
Hackerville follows a network of hackers and the investigators tasked with tracking them down. It is both broadcasters’ first moves into co-productions.
It was created by Ralph Martin and Joerg Winger from Ufa Fiction and will be produced by Cristian Mungiu and Tudor Reu and exec produced by Winger and Johnathan Young.
The two broadcasters are launching the show, produced by Deutschland 83 producer Ufa Fiction and Mobra Films in November with HBO Europe airing the show in Central Europe, Scandinavia and Spain on Sunday 4 November and TNT Serie premiering the series in Germany, Austria and Switzerland on Thursday 8 November. It will also be available to U.S. HBO subscribers across HBO Go, HBO Now and HBO On Demand, although a premiere date has not been set.
Hackerville follows a network of hackers and the investigators tasked with tracking them down. It is both broadcasters’ first moves into co-productions.
It was created by Ralph Martin and Joerg Winger from Ufa Fiction and will be produced by Cristian Mungiu and Tudor Reu and exec produced by Winger and Johnathan Young.
- 9/20/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Cable company HBO Europe has started to shoot cyber-crime thriller series “Hackerville” in Transilvania, a region of Romania, as its first international co-production, building on a string of locally shot productions, including Romania-set detective series “Umbre” (pictured).
“It will put Romania on the map of the international TV drama scene,” says co-creator and executive producer Joerg Winger (“Deutschland 83”), adding he was won over by the location “as a dynamic and colorful place with a vastly unexplored history and present.”
The project was “created in a truly multi-cultural process, with great Romanian talent attached,” Winger adds, with music a key component, as it was in “Deutschland 83,” the Cold War-set spy series for AMC Networks’ SundanceTV and Rtl Television.
The original six-part “Hackerville,” about a network of hackers and the investigators tasked with tracking them down, co-produced with TNT Serie, was created by Ralph Martin and Winger for Ufa Fiction,...
“It will put Romania on the map of the international TV drama scene,” says co-creator and executive producer Joerg Winger (“Deutschland 83”), adding he was won over by the location “as a dynamic and colorful place with a vastly unexplored history and present.”
The project was “created in a truly multi-cultural process, with great Romanian talent attached,” Winger adds, with music a key component, as it was in “Deutschland 83,” the Cold War-set spy series for AMC Networks’ SundanceTV and Rtl Television.
The original six-part “Hackerville,” about a network of hackers and the investigators tasked with tracking them down, co-produced with TNT Serie, was created by Ralph Martin and Winger for Ufa Fiction,...
- 6/2/2018
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
Six-part thriller follows the hunt for a network of hackers.
HBO Europe has revealed its first international co-production, Hackerville, which it is making with German company TNT Serie.
The six-part thriller is a Germany-Romania co-production and is about a network of hackers and the investigators tracking them down.
Created by Ralph Martin and Joerg Winger from Ufa Fiction, the series will be produced by Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days and Beyond The Hills) and Tudor Reu through Mobra Films.
The story will open with the hacking of a major German bank and will follow cyber crime expert Lisa Metz as she works with investigators in her hometown of Timisoara in an attempt to catch the perpetrators. Igor Cobileanski (Umbre) and Anca Miruna Lazarescu (That Trip We Took With Dad) will direct, with Winger and Johnathan Young amongst the executive producers.
HBO Europe will premiere Hackerville across its territories in Central Europe, Scandinavia and Spain, with...
HBO Europe has revealed its first international co-production, Hackerville, which it is making with German company TNT Serie.
The six-part thriller is a Germany-Romania co-production and is about a network of hackers and the investigators tracking them down.
Created by Ralph Martin and Joerg Winger from Ufa Fiction, the series will be produced by Cristian Mungiu (4 Months, 3 Weeks And 2 Days and Beyond The Hills) and Tudor Reu through Mobra Films.
The story will open with the hacking of a major German bank and will follow cyber crime expert Lisa Metz as she works with investigators in her hometown of Timisoara in an attempt to catch the perpetrators. Igor Cobileanski (Umbre) and Anca Miruna Lazarescu (That Trip We Took With Dad) will direct, with Winger and Johnathan Young amongst the executive producers.
HBO Europe will premiere Hackerville across its territories in Central Europe, Scandinavia and Spain, with...
- 2/16/2018
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Broadcaster greenlights Croatian series.
HBO Europe has greenlit its first original series from the ‘Adria’ region, a six-part drama to be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Danis Tanović (No Man’s Land).
Broadcasting giant HBO launched an initiative in 2016 to produce one high-end drama series from Adria (which covers Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia and Montenegro) per year, Success is the first project set to be made under that banner.
The project participated in HBO’s First Draft series writing competition at last year’s Sarajevo Film Festival, where it was one of two selected for further development.
Created and written by Marjan Alčevski, the Croatian series intertwines the stories of four strangers who are bound together irrevocably by a violent event.
Success will be Tanovic’s television drama debut. His credits also include Death In Sarajevo and An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker.
Producers on the project are Ana Balentovic (HBO Adria) and Johnathan Young...
HBO Europe has greenlit its first original series from the ‘Adria’ region, a six-part drama to be directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Danis Tanović (No Man’s Land).
Broadcasting giant HBO launched an initiative in 2016 to produce one high-end drama series from Adria (which covers Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia and Montenegro) per year, Success is the first project set to be made under that banner.
The project participated in HBO’s First Draft series writing competition at last year’s Sarajevo Film Festival, where it was one of two selected for further development.
Created and written by Marjan Alčevski, the Croatian series intertwines the stories of four strangers who are bound together irrevocably by a violent event.
Success will be Tanovic’s television drama debut. His credits also include Death In Sarajevo and An Episode In The Life Of An Iron Picker.
Producers on the project are Ana Balentovic (HBO Adria) and Johnathan Young...
- 2/12/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
Company makes hire ahead of Sarajevo Film Festival.
HBO Europe is re-upping its original production efforts in Central Europe by expanding its HBO Adria division.
The company has hired Ana Balentovic as a development executive. She will have a remit of identifying and developing local talent and projects from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro.
She will report to Johnathan Young (VP original programming, HBO Central Europe) and Steve Matthews (VP and executive producer, drama development, HBO Europe) as the company looks to identify original series from the region that resonate with local audiences and fit the HBO brand.
At last year’s Sarajevo Film Festival, the company announced its plans to produce one high-end TV drama series per year from what it calls the ‘Adria’ region (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia and Montenegro), commencing from 2018.
It also launched the First Draft competition, calling for submissions for TV projects from the region. After...
HBO Europe is re-upping its original production efforts in Central Europe by expanding its HBO Adria division.
The company has hired Ana Balentovic as a development executive. She will have a remit of identifying and developing local talent and projects from Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro.
She will report to Johnathan Young (VP original programming, HBO Central Europe) and Steve Matthews (VP and executive producer, drama development, HBO Europe) as the company looks to identify original series from the region that resonate with local audiences and fit the HBO brand.
At last year’s Sarajevo Film Festival, the company announced its plans to produce one high-end TV drama series per year from what it calls the ‘Adria’ region (Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Macedonia and Montenegro), commencing from 2018.
It also launched the First Draft competition, calling for submissions for TV projects from the region. After...
- 8/9/2017
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Oliver Kent has been announced as the new executive producer of Casualty and Holby City.
BBC Drama Production announced that Kent will be taking over from Johnathan Young, following reports that the BBC was searching for a replacement earlier this month.
Kent has worked for BBC Drama for 17 years, and became Casualty's series producer in 2007. He is also currently the senior producer for Holby City.
His new role will see him reporting to Clare Hudson, Head of BBC Wales Productions, and Kate Harwood, Head of BBC Drama Production England.
Kent said of his appointment: "I am truly delighted to be taking up the position of Executive Producer on Casualty and Holby City.
"Over many years I have grown to love both programmes equally and am really excited at the prospect of working with the brilliant teams in Elstree and Roath Lock. I am inheriting two shows in great shape...
BBC Drama Production announced that Kent will be taking over from Johnathan Young, following reports that the BBC was searching for a replacement earlier this month.
Kent has worked for BBC Drama for 17 years, and became Casualty's series producer in 2007. He is also currently the senior producer for Holby City.
His new role will see him reporting to Clare Hudson, Head of BBC Wales Productions, and Kate Harwood, Head of BBC Drama Production England.
Kent said of his appointment: "I am truly delighted to be taking up the position of Executive Producer on Casualty and Holby City.
"Over many years I have grown to love both programmes equally and am really excited at the prospect of working with the brilliant teams in Elstree and Roath Lock. I am inheriting two shows in great shape...
- 2/28/2013
- Digital Spy
Casualty will explore the military past of Sam Nicholls in a one-off BBC Red Button episode next month, it has been announced. Casualty: Under Fire will be set in Afghanistan, uncovering the traumatic events which led up to Sam's arrival at Holby. Show bosses have promised that the special mini-episode will help to explain "Sam's brusque bedside manner and brave but impulsive decision-making". Casualty's executive producer Johnathan Young commented: "We're always looking for new ways to add value for our loyal fans, and this special episode gives us a chance to explore the past and behaviour of one of our most colourful characters. "Sam has made a huge impact on the show since her debut last year and is proving hugely popular with viewers, but it's clear she has a troubled past. This Red Button episode will give (more)...
- 3/28/2012
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
Talkback Thames's head of drama Johnathan Young has landed a new job at the BBC, taking over from Casualty and Holby City's executive producer Belinda Campbell, it has been announced. Young - who was the final boss of ITV police drama The Bill - will succeed Campbell in the role after more than five years at Talkback, Broadcast reports. Campbell has chosen to leave the BBC in order to take up a new post as executive producer of Tony Jordan's independent production company Red Planet. BBC drama boss John Yorke today paid tribute to Campbell's work following her four-year stint in charge (more)...
- 2/9/2011
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
The cast and crew of The Bill filmed the show's last ever scenes yesterday, bringing the ITV police drama to a close after 27 years. All 17 of the programme's main cast members were present for the final day of filming at Merton Studios in South West London, The Sun reports. In a statement, The Bill's executive producer Johnathan Young said: "It's been a highly emotional day for all cast and crew." The long-running (more)...
- 6/15/2010
- by By Daniel Kilkelly
- Digital Spy
ITV's flagship police drama The Bill is to make its move to 9pm on Thursday, July 23, it has been confirmed. The long-running show, which first broadcast in 1983, will begin airing in a post-watershed timeslot for the first time since its inception. As part of the revamp, producers have opted to axe the iconic theme for a new sound, while the title sequence will now feature a lone police car on a journey through the streets of London. The new-look episodes will also contain a specially composed musical score throughout. Speaking of the reimaging of the show, executive producer Johnathan Young said: "We haven't sought to totally reinvent The Bill, but we have wanted to create a more immersive experience (more)...
- 7/8/2009
- by By Kris Green
- Digital Spy
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