Global Screen has sold the top-rated mini-series "Dark Woods" to a strong line-up of international territories including Japan (NHK Enterprises), CIS (Mauris Film), Poland on Canal+, Czech Republic on Ceska Televize, Slovenia in RTV Slovenija, Latvia in Latvian Television, Lithuania on LRT, India and sub-continents on BookMyShow and French-speaking Switzerland on RTS. Significant deals for the UK, Australia, Scandinavia and Portugal are expected to close before MIPCOM, whilst sales to North America through Topic Media, France to Canal and Spain on Cosmo TV. The telepool compmany revealed the sales earlier this year. “With its mix of crime and drama, the excellent acting and a unique, gripping atmosphere, DARK WOODS is a perfect match for all clients looking for high-end European content," states Julia Weber, Head of Acquisitions & Sales at Global Screen. "The outstanding ratings in Germany – it was the most-watched programme in ARD’s catch-up TV in 2020 – along with rave reviews tipped the scales in more than one negotiation.”
From International Emmy Award-winning writer Stefan Kolditz and directed by Sven Bohse, "Dark Woods" stars Matthias Brandt, Karoline Schuch, August Wittgenstein, Nicholas Ofczarek and Hanno Koffler taking the lead roles. "Dark Woods" is produced by ConradFilm and Bavaria Fiction on behalf of NDR and ARD Degeto for Das Erste. Commissioning editors are Christian Granderath and Sabine Holtgreve and Carolin Haasis alongside executive producers of the event, Marc Conrad, Maren Knieling and Jan S. Kaiser.
The German TV Award winner and Seoul International Drama Award nominee, DARK WOODS is inspired by real-life-events and starts out in the summer of 1989, when the sister of high-ranking Hamburg police officer Thomas Bethge (Matthias Brandt) disappears from her house in Lower Saxony, near where gruesome double murders have taken place. Bethge is faced with the most difficult task of his life: he wants to find his sister, but as a Hamburg police officer he is not allowed to investigate in Lower Saxony. He then seeks support from his colleagues Anne Bach and Frank Behringer. Bethge’s quest for justice continues long after his retirement for almost 30 years as he and his team eventually, through painstaking and meticulous research, finally get on the track of a suspected serial killer.
Other new title set for launch at MIPCOM from Global Screen include “The New Front”, premium Family entertainment series “3Hz” and Constantin Television’s tentpole productions “The Palace” and “The Conference”. During the upcoming MIPCOM market, Global Screen executives will be stationed at their booth in the Palais, Riviera 7 E45. “We are pleased to see this mini-series travel even further around the world," Bavaria Fiction’s Maren Knieling, Executive Producer, said. "Dark Woods" is event TV programming at its very best and a mini-series which we are extremely proud to have created as it gives victims of crime a voice. It is richly shot, suspenseful and totally engrossing as the storyline swings between different decades recounting one of Germany’s most gripping unsolved murder cases.”
We are thrilled to announce the next slate of deals for this highly original series. With its mix of crime and drama, the excellent acting and a unique, gripping atmosphere, DARK WOODS is a perfect match for all clients looking for high-end European content. The outstanding ratings in Germany – it was the most-watched programme in ARD’s catch-up TV in 2020 – along with rave reviews tipped the scales in more than one negotiation.”” Julia Weber Head of Acquisitions & Sales, Global Screen