MIPTV: Beta Film boards Helsinki Syndrome, Sales Exec talks trends

Fisher King’s financial thriller is part of Beta Film's diverse European slate which counts several Beta Nordic Studios shows and Skam remakes.

The 8x1h thriller produced for Finnish pubcaster Yle, marks the first Fisher King project since the Helsinki-based production outfit was incorporated into Beta Nordic Studios in 2019.

The company’s co-founder, writer Mikko Oikkonen (Bordertown) has created the premium show, depicted as a modern Robin Hood-like Nordic noir, reflecting on a forthcoming financial crisis caused by the pandemic, with flashbacks to the Finnish banking crisis of the 1990s. Bordertown’s Juuso Syrjä serves as director.

Top Finnish actor Peter Franzén (Vikings, Heart of a Lion) plays Elias Karo who takes four journalists as hostage at their newspaper’s headquarters in Helsinki, in a desperate attempt to get them to expose two bank officials and a district court judge who have wiped out the reputation and possessions of Elias’ family, which prompted his father’s suicide. The series is due to start filming in June.

Fisher King’s CEO Matti Halonen said “Beta has been really interested in Helsinki Syndrome from the early stage and they have given a strong international point of view to the project.”

Justus Riesenkampff, director at Beta Nordic Studios described Helsinki Syndrome as “a strong contemporary thriller, which will be attractive for buyers worldwide.”

Besides Helsinki Syndrome, Beta Film’s MIPTV slate includes a large array of dramas, from the MipDrama selected Spanish mini-series Supernormal (Moviestar+) and German limited series The Winemaker, to the event German period drama Hotel Europa (4x1h) about the fate of a family run hotel between the two world wars, set to air on ARD in the fall 2021.

The German production and distribution group founded by Jan Mojo is also pitching to buyers the anticipated Spanish series La Fortuna (6x1h) directed by Alejandro Amenabar for Movistar+/AMC, the YA series Wild Republic (8x1h) a Lord of The Flies-inspired show which just aired on Telekom, and the German thriller crime Faster than Fear (6x1h) ordered by ARD.

Commenting on market trends, Anais de Neergaard, VP International Sales & Acquisitions, Benelux, Scandinavia and Israel told nordicfilmandtvnews.com: “We have seen an appetite for various kinds of series and it is hard to pin down one specific genre or format which is trending right now. We are seeing that more YA shows and miniseries are being produced, but these can be all kinds of genre."

De Neergaard also underlined that “traditional buyers are shifting their buying strategies and starting to buy for more various audiences, both for linear and catch-up TV. “But in the end,” she adds, “traditional or non-traditional, buyers are looking for great engaging content, which can come in any form.”

NORDIC BOOM
Regarding Nordic dramas, Beta Film’s sales executive is thrilled to cite the success of the Norwegian event series Atlantic Crossing which just premiered in the US on PBS Masterpiece to rave reviews and strong ratings, beating commercial competitors NBC and FOX. The prestigious series produced by Beta Nordic Studios’ majority-owned Cinenord was also sold to territories such as France, Germany, Italy, and Belgium where it will soon premiere.

Beta Nordic Studios’ other affiliated production hub, Sweden’s Dramacorp, has also attracted international interest on two different shows: the YA supernatural thriller Cryptid (Viaplay), set to premiere notably on the German OTT Joyn and Salto in France, and the Jakob Oftebro-starring spy series Agent Hamilton which premiered late March in the US on MHz Choice.

Meanwhile Beta Film continues to thrive with various remakes of the Norwegian youth phenomenon Skam. De Neergaard said a 7th season just aired in France, a 6th season was launched in Belgium and Germany and 4th season in Spain.

Commenting on the impact of Covid-19 on Beta Film’s overall activities, de Neergaard said her company swiftly adapted to the virtual space by switching immediately online at MIPTV 2020, a move which boosted the number of market meetings and allowed the leading German group to gain new customers, while the more frequent virtual meetings brought them closer to their long-term clients, noted de Neergaard.

Concerning Beta Film’s own production hubs, de Neergaard says some of them were “partially hit hard” by postponed shootings and extra production costs due to new locations etc. On a positive note, she said: “We are now seeing that scripted co-productions are slowly taking off, and we are keen to get them started. All in all, I have to say that most European productions have not had so many delays, shooting has carried on, which couldn’t have happened without the help of governmental subsidies,” she said.

Digital MIPTV runs April 12-16.