‘Helsinki Crimes’ Finnish Commissioner MTV Ramps Up Overseas Co-Productions, Plots TV Version of Jo Spain Novel ‘The Last to Disappear’ (EXCLUSIVE)
Finland’s leading commercial broadcaster MTV, commissioner of TV hits “Conflict” (sold by Keshet Intl.) and “Helsinki Crimes” (distributed by Oble Ent.), is betting on fewer but bigger dramas and ramping up its international co-productions within the Nordics and beyond
Its revamped strategy should not be affected by its upcoming change of ownership – from Telia to Schibsted Media – according to CEO Johannes Lepp?nen: “MTV has a strong position in the Finnish market and Schibsted Media is looking forward to supporting MTV’s leading position also within drama into the future,” he told Variety.
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The Finnish broadcaster’s revamped drama order and outward push was initiated a year and a half ago, but will be gearing up to a new level in 2025. “We have around 10 co-production projects in our pipeline and hope to greenlight some of them before the summer, then the next stop is New Year,” said Janne Vakio, MTV commissions and content development manager.
The TV executive says the flexible-windowing model under the post-Peak content new world order, has been a game changer for MTV.
“We used to finance lower-budget shows at 100% and ask for exclusive rights for Finland. Now we’re open to all windowing configurations and betting on domestic shows with a bigger quality level and international potential. For instance, Netflix bought second window rights to our inaugural hit crime series ‘Helsinki Crimes,’ and similarly we closed a second window deal with Yle on our thriller “A Good Family.”
We’ve realised that by investing in more ambitious projects, our viewership would climb, although we had split the rights with other platforms,” said the drama executive whose plan is to invest in approximately six high-end dramas a year, next to pre-buys and acquisitions.
Crime, Romance
In terms of genres, crime – in all its shapes, psychological thrillers – are on top of Vakio’s list, but “we’d love to see more romance to let people fill their dreams in today’s stressful times,” he says. To comply with the Finnish broadcaster’s commercial remit, all projects should attract the widest possible audience across MTV’s digital and linear platforms.
Toplining MTV’s slate of projects in development is the crime thriller “The Last to Disappear,” based on a book by Irish author and screenwriter Jo Spain (“Harry Wild”).
“It’s based on a strong IP, from an English-language author who loves Lapland, where she has set the plot. And of course, there’s a dead body!” says Vakio who has signed a LOC with the TV rights holders, Finland’s top indie banner Yellow Film & TV.
Three other six-parter crimes were flagged to potential partners at late January’s G?teborg TV Drama Vision:
“Not a Time to Die,” co-produced by Finland’s Just Republic and Sweden’s Anagram, is co-penned by Jemina Jokisalo (“Money Shot,” “Guts”) and Stephen Uhlander (“Furia,” “The Girl from Oslo”) ,based on Kari Hautam?ki’s best-selling books. The story turns on gang violence, spreading from Sweden to Finland, seen through the eyes of a paramedic.
“The Waking” is a Canadian-Finnish project between Pixcom and Dionysos Films. The story, penned by Charles Dionne, tells of the reappearance of a teenage boy which disrupts a Finnish immigrant family’s peace in Quebec. We share much in common with Canada – including our top national sport-ice-hockey! It’s not about ice-hockey but there will be ice-hockey in the show,” promises Vakio, who feels the story about a Finnish family struggling to adapt in Quebec should easily engage MTV viewers.
“Transporter,” produced by Finland’s Whatever Group and Norway’s Rein Film, tells of a heart transplant co-ordinator who discovers that the recipient of a stolen heart is her estranged sister Oona, forcing her to race against time to save Oona.
REinvent’s Quartet
Four greenlit projects have been picked up for international distribution by Copenhagen-based REinvent.
The crime thriller “Reykjavik 112,” among Variety’s Mipcom 2024 must-see shows, is based on the best-selling books by Yrsa Sigureardóttir. ”This is our first co-production with Iceland’s top streaming platform Síminn, and the type of project we’re keen to produce with other Nordic partners,” said Vakio about the New Media Arc-ndF production, to be delivered this summer.
“Deception” (“Kerma”), lined up for a Q4 2025 delivery, tells of a young man who seeks revenge by infiltrating a group of the young Finnish elite. Fire Monkey is producing.
Meanwhile, psychological thrillers “The Girl Who Disappeared” (ReelMedia) and “L/over” (Gutsy Animations) are lined up for 2026, as well as the Fremantle-repped “The Revenge“ (Moskito Television).
Several high-end Swedish projects commissioned by MTV’s sister Swedish commercial broadcaster TV4 (also acquired by Schibsted Media) are scheduled for 2025-2026.
After “Cry Wolf,” sold by Fifth Season and based on Hans Rosenfeldt’s first solo novel, which is currently playing to record numbers on MTV, the political thriller “The Doctrine,” distributed by Newen Connect, will premiere in March, and the sci-fi “We Come in Peace” (Newen Connect), co-produced by “The X-Files”’ Frank Spotnitz, will bow later this year.
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