Banijay Finland Expands Film & TV Slate

Queen Heist and The Good Widow have been added to Banijay Finland’s expanding scripted slate.

“We are ambitiously building a scripted portfolio defined by boldly creative projects, and these two original stories highlight how distinctive Finland can be,” said Max Malka, creative director of scripted at Banijay Finland. “With Queen Heist, Cristal [Snow] has delivered a joyful romp that was bolstered creatively at Banijay Bootcamp, then commissioned by Yle. Meanwhile, Minna [Virkajärvi] is shaping The Good Widow into a surprisingly funny comedy about choosing life, and romance, on your own terms. Both titles have the confidence and energy to cut through, with the potential to engage audiences in Finland and beyond.”

Queen Heist is a fast-paced comedy written and created by Cristal Snow, directed by his sibling Viivi Huuska, and produced by Max Malka. The series follows brothers Aapo and Eetu, who, after losing their jobs at a small-town sausage factory, accidentally stumble into a life of drag-fueled criminal escapades.

The rom-com feature film The Good Widow is an unconventional take on late-life love and desire. Written and directed by Josefina Rautiainen, The Good Widow will be produced by Minna Virkajärvi. Blending sharp humor and inter-generational chemistry, the film follows Mirja, a 72-year-old widow who defies family and community expectations by forming an unexpected relationship with a much younger man she meets online.