The series inspired by true events, including “The Abduction of Yossele Schumacher” from Eran Riklis (“Lemon Tree,” “Reading Lolita in Tehran”), “Helsinki 1939” by A.J. Annila (“Codename: Annika,” “Peacemaker”), and “Nuclear Sunset Cruise” by Oscar-winning director Florian Gallenberger (“The Turncoat,” “Quiero Ser”), are among the exciting entries selected for the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival‘s TV Beats Co-Financing Market, which will take place on November 17 and 18 in Estonia’s capital.
The eight standout series, representing eight nations including Estonia, Germany, Spain, Israel, and the Czech Republic, were chosen from an impressive total of 56 submissions, reflecting a 40% increase from last year. The opportunity to win the esteemed Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award, valued at €50,000 (approximately $58,600), attracted many notable European creatives and production companies from 27 different countries, with Estonia, Finland, and Germany leading the pack.
“Compared to last year, we saw a significant rise in both the quantity and quality of applications,” stated Petri Kemppinen, co-head of the TV Beats Forum, which was established in 2018 as part of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’s Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event to enhance the visibility of drama series from the Baltics, Nordic countries, and Central Eastern Europe (CEE).
“In these tough times, where development funding is limited, the Council of Europe Series Co-Production Development Award holds great appeal for European independent producers who are searching for potential collaborators,” noted Roosa Toivonen, co-head of the TV Beats Forum. She elaborated that in the selection process, conducted by four industry experts, priority was given to the co-production potential of projects, particularly those involving non-traditional partners, as well as the projects’ packaging, budgeting, and financing plans.
Among the eight featured projects, four had previously been presented at various TV drama forums: “Dark Waters” (“Aigües de Foscor”), a Spanish mystery drama that premiered at the Sitges Festival’s FanPitch 2024 and at the Berlinale Series Market 2025. Two additional entries are Series Mania Co-Pro projects: “Wool,” connecting Serbia and Iceland, and “Nuclear Sunset Cruise” from Germany. Slovakia’s “Frontwards,” which secured the Seriencamp Conference Award at the 2023 TV Beats Co-Financing Market, also made the cut.
“Crime remains a popular genre, but there are also intriguing true stories imbued with nostalgia,” Kemppinen remarked. “The Cold War era is a prevalent focus, particularly in today’s increasingly polarized world,” Toivonen added, referencing the satire “Nuclear Sunset Cruise,” which features an East German cruise ship caught in the throes of the Cuban Missile Crisis. “This selection showcases a genuine passion for storytelling among the creative teams, and it’s evident these narratives are not generated by AI!” Toivonen enthused.
In addition to the co-production pitch event, TV Beats will host its second Screening Day, the Midpoint Series Launch training program tailored for emerging professionals from CEE, and a new initiative called Serial Bridges Baltics, supported by the Series Mania Institute and Institut Français. Stay tuned for more updates.
Here’s a comprehensive list of the TV Beats Co-Financing Market lineup:
“Business as Usual” (6×45’, Estonia)
Written by Hendrik Toompere Jr. and Mehis Pihla
Produced by Evelin Penttilä and Johanna Maria Tamm for Stellar Film (“Sauna Day,” “The Exalted”)
A “dark comedy inspired by the Danske Bank scandal set in a 1990s Estonia”, follows Artur, an ambitious youth from a Soviet-style housing complex, who, guided by the charismatic banker Oliver, enters the chaotic world of finance where debauchery and deceit are routine. Amidst the bravado, he finds himself laundering substantial sums for Russian oligarchs, leading him to a pivotal crossroads: protect himself or expose the very system that nurtured him.
“Chasing the Clouds” (6×40’, Croatia)
Written and produced by Karla Lulić and Jelena Mađerić
Produced by Dobar Film
This teen drama adapts award-winning novels by Ivana Šojat, “Chasing the Clouds” and “Dragons That Could Not Fly.” The series centers on six teens at a party whose lives change forever after the death of their friend Luka. Through a non-linear narrative, episodes unfold from various perspectives. “We aim to delve into themes of loneliness, adolescent bullying, and peer pressure,” Lulić stated, expressing hopes to connect with Scandinavian and Baltic partners in Tallinn.
“Dark Waters” (“Aigües de Foscor,” 8×50’, Spain)
Written by Amèlia Mora and Héctor Manteca
Produced by Juan Solà of Federation Spain and Tono Folguera of Lastor Media
The project, developed collaboratively by Federation Spain, Barcelona’s Lastor Media, and Icelandic co-developer New Media ARC, features notable screenwriter Amèlia Mora (“Undercover,” “La Unidad”) alongside Héctor Manteca. Directed by Victor Garcia (“The Communion Girl”), the story follows Arnau, a park ranger who stumbles upon a corpse bearing the same birthmark as himself and his daughter, unearthing a dark mystery filled with supernatural elements. “It’s a gripping tale of a father’s fear of losing his daughter, woven through mythology linking Catalonia and Iceland,” explained executive producer Maria Rocher.
“Frontwards” (“Postup,” 6×50’, Czech Republic)
Written by Lukáš Sigmund
Produced by Michal Kollár and Jana Kluková from KFS Production (“Ultimatum”) for Česká Televize
A crime procedural intertwined with a family drama addressing mental health. It follows a rational homicide detective who encounters mysterious connections between recurring murder victims and her own family, prompting an exploration of her own reality. “This series tackles hereditary trauma, psychological intrigue, and the ambiguous boundaries between reality and perception,” said Kluková. “At its core, ‘Frontwards’ grapples with the profound effects of Alzheimer’s disease, framing memory as a fragile thread interlinking identity and relationships.”
“Helsinki 1939” (6×45’, Finland)
Written and directed by AJ Annila
Produced by Eero Hietala and Sara Norberg for Take Two Studios (“Hildur”)
A historical drama directed by veteran filmmaker AJ Annila (“Codename: Annika,” “Peacemaker,” “Sauna”), it narrates how a group of international war correspondents strive to report the truth as the Finnish propaganda division feeds them falsehoods to undermine a formidable enemy. “During the Finnish Winter War, the opulent Hotel Kämp in Helsinki becomes a battleground of misinformation—a theme that’s significantly relevant today,” Hietala noted.
“Nuclear Sunset Cruise” (4×45’, Germany)
Written by Robert Krause and Florian Puchert
Produced by Martin Lehwald, Marcos Kantis, Philipp Goeser from Schiwago Film in partnership with ARD Degeto
Directed by Florian Gallenberger, Academy Award winner for the short “Quiero” and more recently recognized for “Perfect Match.” This comedic historical narrative follows an East German cruise ship inadvertently drawn into the Cuban Missile Crisis. As they confront the looming threat of nuclear war, the comedic tension unfolds with passengers battling their own survival. “The true story of the MS Völkerfreundschaft encapsulates our contemporary world, highlighting a unique perspective on Cold War history while commenting on current East-West tensions, rising political unrest, and environmental challenges,” Goeser emphasized.
“The Abduction of Yossele Schumacher” (6X60’, Israel)
Written by Eran Riklis and Moshe Zonder
Produced by Eran Riklis Productions and United King Films’ Moshe Edery for Keshet TV
Created by and co-written by renowned Israeli director Eran Riklis (“Reading Lolita in Tehran,” “Lemon Tree,” “Syrian Bride”) and esteemed screenwriter Moshe Zonder (“Tehran,” “Fauda”), who won the 2023 Series Mania award for best screenplay for “The German.” The plot centers on a 1960s incident in which an ultra-Orthodox grandfather abducts his seven-year-old Jewish grandson, inciting a fierce clash among three women over his faith and future. This confrontation also leads to high-stakes tensions involving the Israeli Mossad and the mysterious global Orthodox community. Riklis described it as “a global journey through Yossele’s trials across Europe and the U.S., merging an intimate, emotional drama with a sophisticated socio-political backdrop—a psychological thriller that delves into themes of pain, love, parenthood, loss, faith, fanaticism, and layers of secrets.”
“Wool” (6×50’, Serbia, Iceland, Germany)
Written by creator Milena Dzambasovic along with Mladen Maticevic, Birkir Blaer Ingolfsson, and Stephie Theodora
Produced by Milena Dzambasovic for Film Road Production, in collaboration with Jonas Margeir Ingolfsson and Milla Ósk from Act4’s in Iceland, and Danna Stern from In Transit Productions in Germany.
Set in the 1960s in Yugoslavia, this inspiring tale follows a pioneering woman who organizes rural housewives into a knitting cooperative, whose traditional crafts evolve into a significant global fashion trend, changing their lives and challenging societal norms.
