TV4’s Evil, DR’s Carmen Curlers, The Orchestra, NRK’s What Happened to Solveig, Cammo, Yle’s The Short Fuse are all running for top kudos at the French TV Festival.
For the second consecutive year, five out of ten premium shows running in the main European competition strand of the Festival de la Fiction de la Rochelle (September 12-17) are from the Nordics.
The inaugural short format section is also showcasing NRK’s dramedy Cammo about an influencer developing a friendship with a young girl with Down syndrome.
“We’ve had a record number of submissions for the European competition strand-80 projects, up 30% from 2022, and we are extremely pleased to showcase such an eclectic line-up from the Nordics,” Stéphane Strano, President of La Rochelle told us.
“It’s been three years now that the series from the North have such a big presence at our festival, which makes up for the lack of eye-catching shows from southern Europe. You are simply among the very best” he states. “Quality-wise, Nordic series are as good as American shows, and story-wise, they are varied, bold and innovative.”
Carole Villevet, head of the European competition programme concurs with her colleague.
“What struck us regarding Nordic series this year is the variety of genres and themes, and successful venture into comedy or dramedy, which unfortunately is becoming rare,” she said. “It is precisely for their humour, creativity and the way themes are addressed that we loved for example What Happened to Solveig? and Carmen Curlers,” continues Villevet.
“Quite a few entries tackle violent and idle youth, an overriding theme this year, and within this strand, we picked Evil and Short Fuse over less comprehensive other European shows.”
“We selected The Orchestra for its unique universe, then within the new International short form series strand (less than 20’), Cammo was the programmers’ top choice for its comedy and humour,” adds Villevet.
Among the selected Nordic series, Evil (Ondskan) is the only one yet to premiere at home. The Jan Guillou-adapted Swedish thriller produced by SF Studios is due to launch on TV4 Play in November. REinvent handles sales.
The triple Robert-award winning series The Orchestra (Orkestret) sold by Studiocanal, premiered in July 2022 on DR.
The 2022 Nordisk Film & TV Fond candidate and feelgood Danish show Carmen Curlers, sold by DR Sales launched in January on DR.
The Short Fuse (Räjähdysherkkä), a Finnish show about exclusion, sold by Yle Sales, premiered on the Finnish pubcaster Yle in February.
Norway's true crime comedy What Happened to Solveig (Hva skedde med Solveig) aired for the first time August 18 on NRK.
In total, more than 40 series will compete in La Rochelle, including 20 French productions, as the festival remains at its core a prime launchpad for local scripted series, ahead of their domestic fall premiere.
“Our DNA is French scripted content, with international potential, notes Strano. hence the setting up in 2018 of the industry days ‘Rencontres de la Création Francophone’ (Meetings for French-language scripted content creators), unspooling this year September 12-13. “We want to share French content with the world and attract foreign partners,” adds Strano.
More than 2,800 delegates are expected , up 30% from 2022.
International power-players set to attend the French TV industry gathering include Global Screen, Red Arrow Int’l, ZDFE, Banijay Rights, Beta Film, Amazon Prime, Netflix and Disney+.
Looking ahead, Strano says La Rochelle will continue to focus on sustainability and training of top creators through the setting up of a new screenwriting academy for local writing talent in 2024.
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