TV DRAMA SCREENINGS FESTIVAL
The latest edition of the TV Drama Screenings Festival spotlights some of the hottest new and returning scripted properties available today. Hailing from across the globe, these selections span the breadth of the landscape, from crime and suspense to romance, dark comedy and more.
Airing on ITV, Joan, which leads off All3Media International’s TV Drama Screenings Festival highlights, tells the true story of the U.K.’s most notorious jewel thief, Joan Hannington. “Starring Game of Thrones’ Sophie Turner, this new drama is brought to the screen by a stellar creative team, including The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe director Richard Laxton and Mrs. Wilson writer Anna Symon,” says Jennifer Askin, senior VP for North America. “Having presold in six continents and with a host of premium partners attached, including U.S. co-producer The CW, CBC and BritBox, Joan is a sparkling, exhilarating and emotional drama that we’re excited to continue to take to international buyers.” Askin also highlights the three-part Lost Boys & Fairies, “which explores the universal themes of family, love and parenting through the perspective of gay adoption,” Askin says, adding: “With an impressive round of international sales recently announced, including BritBox’s acquisition in the U.S., we are thrilled to see this remarkable series traveling to such premium partners around the world.”
Leading Distribution Partners (LDP) is targeting the healthy appetite for movies with its MIPCOM lineup. The lineup includes My Norwegian Holiday. “Set in the enchanting town of Bergen, Norway, this heartwarming holiday film follows Lukas and JJ as they navigate family tensions and personal challenges,” says Gavin Tyler Reardon, president of global distribution. Sealed with a List, meanwhile, is a “charming, feel-good story,” Reardon says. “LDP is excited to bring a diverse lineup of content to MIPCOM this year, showcasing a wide range of genres that cater to international audiences.”
Best known for its U.K. drama slate, All3Media International is also coming to MIPCOM with Australian offerings like the six-part Critical Incident. “We’re thrilled to collaborate with leading partners in the AsiaPac region, particularly in Australia, where Matchbox Pictures, a storytelling powerhouse, has brought this project to life,” says Tony Ziran Tang, VP of sales for China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. “Critical Incident is a psychological crime thriller that dives deep into universal themes like policing, justice, crime and morality. With a cast led by Akshay Khanna and Zoë Boe, powerful performances bring true authenticity to the story, elevating the series to a whole new level.” Tang will also be highlighting to his AsiaPac clients the Company Pictures detective drama Ellis, which “possesses key elements that strongly appeal across the AsiaPac region and beyond,” he says.
With Spain being celebrated as the Country of Honor at MIPCOM, the territory’s strong capabilities across multiple genres will be on display, including in compelling scripted series. Atresmedia Televisión’s content-sales department arrives in Cannes with Eva & Nicole, which Jose Antonio Salso, head of acquisitions and international sales, bills as a “visually striking dramedy that brings the vibrant nightlife of 1980s Marbella to life with glamour, extravagance and intrigue.”
Turkey was feted as the Country of Honor at MIPCOM almost a decade ago and continues to see its exports conquer new territories. Among the wealth of Turkish content distributors heading to Cannes, atv Distribution is unveiling The Nightfall, “a mesmerizing tale of impossible love, set against the breathtaking views of Pamukkale and Istanbul’s Asaf Bey mansion,” says Müge Akar, head of sales.
Calinos Entertainment, meanwhile, will be at the market “celebrating our 25th year of leading the international sales of Turkish dramas,” says Asli Serim, head of sales. The company’s lineup at MIPCOM is led by the brand-new Hidden Garden, starring Ebru Şahin and Murat Yıldırım, alongside returning hits like Farah, adapted from La chica que limpia.
Kanal D International lands in Cannes with Secret of Pearls, which “topped the ratings last season,” says Elif Tatoğlu, distribution strategy and sales director, and The Family Burden. “These titles stand out to international buyers due to their universal storylines, which delve deeply into family relationships, loyalty and the search for justice—themes that resonate across cultures,” Tatoğlu says.
Also showcased in the TV Drama Screenings Festival is All3Media International’s psychological thriller Dead and Buried from Three River Fiction and Vico Films and starring The Split’s Annabel Scholey. “Universal themes of grief and obsession, complex, fascinating, funny characters and a compelling, twist-filled script make Dead and Buried a fantastic addition to our standout slate of four-part psychological thrillers, including Captivated, The Night Caller and The Ex-Wife,” says Jonathan Hughes, VP for France, Germany, Benelux, Austria and Switzerland.
