Keshet International (KI) has secured the international distribution rights to a further raft of content for its MIPCOM 2024 slate, including Keshet 12’s romcom "Save the Date" (Bekarov Etzli); TV JOJ’s sophisticated thriller "Too Much Love"; Netflix’s crime drama "Rough Diamonds"; Apple TV’s "Echo 3"; and BBC One’s crime fighting docuseries "SAS: Catching the Criminals" with Billy Billingham.
Kelly Wright, KI’s MD of Distribution, said: “We’re thrilled to be supplementing our buzziest drama slate yet with two very different relationship dramas - the feel-good romcom ‘Save The Date’ and the European thriller ‘Too Much Love.’ They join crime drama ‘The 11th Body’ and mystery thriller ‘Valhalla Project,’ both MIP Drama Showcase-shortlisted titles, alongside two KI-produced thrillers, ‘Rough Diamonds’ and ‘Echo 3.’”
The most recent scripted series to be acquired by KI is "Save the Date" (Bekarov Etzli) (6x60’, format and tape), an uplifting romantic comedy created and written by Ori Gross and produced by Tedy Productions with Reisdor for Keshet 12. When successful wedding planner Dassy suddenly finds herself single, her grandmother casts an ancient love spell to summon up her one true love. But the spell goes spectacularly wrong and Dassy finds herself propositioned by not one, but four potential suitors from her past and present, each vying for her heart. With a high-stakes wedding to organize in just two weeks for her high school nemesis, she must navigate this romantic chaos and decide which man – if any – leads to her own happily ever after.
KI is also launching to market two of the 10 dramas selected for the 2024 MIP Drama Showcase: Snapper Films mystery thriller "Valhalla Project" and Artza Productions’ crime drama "The 11th Body" (formerly known as "Palo Alto").
"Valhalla Project" is a multilanguage drama featuring English, Finnish and Russian dialogue starring Sara Soulié ("Conflict", "Hammarskjöld", "The Man Who Died") alongside a stellar cast of internationally recognized actors that includes Alistair Brammer ("Les Misérables", "Medieval") and Iben Dorner ("Borgen", "Thin Ice"). Climate researcher Alina Railo (Soulié) travels to Finnish Lapland with an international expedition to seek access to a parallel universe with the hopes of finding a solution to the climate crisis - a parallel universe initially researched by her Russian scientist father, who disappeared in Lapland over 30 years ago. Created and written by Jari Olavi Rantala ("Deadwind", "The Unknown Soldier") and directed and produced by Juha Wuolijoki ("King of Los Angeles", "Christmas Story", "Vinski and the Invisibility Powder"), "Valhalla Project" is slated to premiere on Elisa Viihde from October 8.
In "The 11th Body" (7x60’, format and tape), police detective Iris Abramov (Magi Azarzar: "The Sirens", "False Flag") suspects foul play when an additional corpse appears in the lab of a medical school in the port of Haifa, plunging her into a deadly web of gang warfare, betrayal, and buried family secrets. This stylish crime drama debuted in Israel on Keshet 12 to unparalleled critical acclaim and strong, upscale ratings earlier this summer.
This MIPCOM, KI will also be representing two high-profile international dramas produced by KI entities: "Rough Diamonds" (co-produced by De Mensen and Keshet International for Netflix and VRT) and "Echo 3" (produced by Keshet Studios for Apple TV+).
"Rough Diamonds" is a gripping eight-part crime drama set in Antwerp’s iconic diamond district that masterfully intertwines themes of family, tradition, and modernity, alongside the drive to protect your legacy at all costs. The eight-part drama peaked at #5 in Netflix’s Top 10 TV Shows worldwide and #3 in Netflix's Non-English Language Shows (April 2023).
Meanwhile, "Echo 3" is a big-canvas cinematic thriller set in South America - created and showrun by two-time Academy Award-winner Mark Boal – that centers on kidnapped scientist Amber (Jessica Ann Collins) and the personal mission launched by her military-trained brother (Luke Evans) and husband (Michiel Huisman) to bring her home.
KI has also acquired Piknik Pictures 8x60’ adaptation of "Too Much Love" ("L’homme qui aimait trop"), a sophisticated and sensual relationship thriller with a twist, having licensed Duo Productions’ Canadian format to the Slovakian prodco last year. As a man lies unconscious in a hospital bed following a near-fatal car accident, his two spouses, their kids, and his mistress meet for the first time, shocking all of them with a new reality: their life with this man was a lie. How did his perfectly compartmentalized parallel lives spin so crazily out of control? And was it really an accident that brought all of them together by his bedside? Produced for free-to-air broadcaster TV JOJ, "Too Much Love" will premiere in Slovakia this September, with international sales to be announced soon.
KI’s Scripted slate is rounded out by "Conflict" (6x60’, format and tape), one of the buzziest dramas previewed at the 2024 London TV Screenings. Described by K7 as “heart-pounding,” Backmann & Hoderhoff and XYZ Films’ "Conflict" is an English-dominant multi-language military and political thriller set inside a surprise attack on a neutral country by an unidentified enemy trying to provoke a wider conflict.
Kelly Wright continued: “This MIPCOM marks a significant first for us - our factual slate will incorporate two shows we greenlit for production and distribution. We are proud to be launching ‘Catch Me If You Can’ and ‘Hitler’s Treasure Hunters’ alongside BBC One’s ‘SAS: Catching the Criminals’ with ex-SAS legend Billy Billingham.”
The global content producer and distributor has acquired Double Act’s "SAS: Catching the Criminals" (10x60’, format and tape), an action-packed series that breaks new ground in the world of crime enforcement docuseries. Ex-SAS leader Billy Billingham works alongside national and local council enforcement agencies to deploy covert intelligence, surveillance, and disruption tactics against Britain's offenders. Billy's extensive SAS experience brings a unique perspective to each operation. This access-all-areas docuseries highlights the impact of street-level crimes like money laundering, vehicular theft, people smuggling, and drug-related offences, while showcasing how local enforcement agencies and communities are collaborating to make their streets safer. "SAS: Catching the Criminals" is expected to premiere on BBC One this autumn.
KI’s factual slate is also headlined by two brand new docuseries greenlit by KI as part of its Greenlight: Factual & Formats commissioning initiative: Woodcut Media’s "Catch Me If You Can" and Perpetual Entertainment’s "Hitler’s Treasure Hunters". "Catch Me If You Can" (10x60') is a gripping true crime docuseries that delves into the chilling world of murderers who evade capture while taunting their victims’ families and law enforcers until they are finally brought to justice. While "Hitler’s Treasure Hunters" (6x60’) tells the stories of the many treasures and religious relics sought out by the Nazi SS, including the Holy Grail and Thor’s hammer, to win Germany the war and prove Aryan supremacy. This docuseries has been ordered to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the death of Hitler and the end of World War II in 2025.
Other new factual series on KI’s MIPCOM slate include pre-sales for SandStone Global’s premium ancient history documentary series "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World" (6x60’ format and tape) presented by award-winning historian and presenter Professor Bettany Hughes OBE; season nine of Woodcut Media’s true crime docuseries "World’s Most Evil Killers" (20x60’); and Crackit Productions’ eighth season of "Trucking Hell" (20x60’) which follows the daily expeditions of a family-owned highway rescue company in Britain.
KI’s Sales team will also be talking to clients about five factual shows that have come through KI’s Greenlight: Factual & Formats initiative – Woodcut Media’s "Hotel Horrors" and "Captive Calls,” Yeti Productions’ "Secret Royal Homes,” Flicker Productions’ "Million Dollar Alien Hunters", Hello Mary’s "Subterranean Secrets" – alongside Ritual Arts’ "Earthbound" which are currently in active development.
Kelly Wright mentioned: “Following Keshet Studios’ recent commission from Hallmark+ for a US adaptation of ‘Dear Neighbors,’ we’re rebooting one of my favorite feel good relationship formats this MIPCOM.”
Keshet Broadcasting’s International Emmy®-nominated dating format "Dear Neighbors" sees parents, disheartened by their child's preoccupation with their career in the big city, recruit their small-town neighbors to find local love matches for their son or daughter. Highlighting generational and rural-vs-urban differences, "Dear Neighbors" bridges generational and rural-vs-urban gaps to bring together families and neighbors in a fun, feel-good dating format. This heartwarming format is being adapted in the US by Keshet Studios for Hallmark+ as "Small Town Setup" with Ashley Williams as host (see here).