Showcase: GoQuest Media

1 day ago Kristin Brzoznowski
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The relationship between GoQuest Media and Telekom Srbija started in 2020 with the acquisition of Civil Servant, which has gone on to become one of its most licensed espionage dramas. “We were expanding our catalog to include dramas from the CEE region that were local successes and had stories that could travel internationally,” says Jimmy George, VP of sales and acquisitions. “Civil Servant captivated audiences because of its exceptional production quality, memorable characters and the intense suspense it builds across the seasons.” GoQuest has now placed multiple seasons of the series on leading platforms such as Disney+ Hotstar, Globoplay, Telemundo, FlixLatino, VOYO and others.

Looking to replicate that success, the company has added two new Telekom Srbija dramas to its slate: Absolute 100 and South Wind: On the Edge.

The 6×50-minute Absolute 100 has an “intense and compelling” storyline, says George. In the series, a gifted young shooter named Sonya uses her father’s gun to kill a local criminal—who is the son of a powerful politician linked to the underworld—to protect her troubled older brother. Sonya is pursued by investigators and faces the grim prospect of more killings to safeguard her family.

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“Absolute 100 harkens back to the popular thrillers featuring a young girl ‘assassin’ like Hanna and Léon: The Professional,” says George. “What starts for aspiring Olympian Sonya as an act of protecting her family soon turns into an elaborate cat-and-mouse chase with the police and seasoned criminals. Audiences will love award-winning actress Anita Ognjanović’s cool, withdrawn and fierce portrayal of Sonya.”

The 12×50-minute South Wind: On the Edge explores the power dynamics and conflict between Petar Maraš, a drug lord from Belgrade, and the influential state curator of the Serbian criminal world, known as Red. “The series is rife with corruption, conflicting interests and interactions with global powers, including Russia, America and Europe,” says George.

George calls it “one of the strongest film-series brands to come from the Balkans” and says that Serbian fans tout the South Wind series as better than the 2018 film of the same name. It features an ensemble cast, with actors from Serbia, Russia and Hollywood, including William Baldwin and Eric Roberts.

“With its thrilling action sequences and a crime narrative rich in realism and emotional depth, South Wind is poised to captivate fans of both crime and action dramas worldwide,” George adds.

The quality of the series was key in GoQuest wanting to come on board for international distribution, George says. “Telekom Srbija offers some of the region’s finest and most bold productions, excelling in both storytelling and visual delivery. Their actors have international experience, the plots are intricate, and the production is on par with series from the U.K. and U.S.”

Both titles were acquired by GoQuest in keeping with its acquisition focus this year to build a premium library. “Both stories are unconventional in their choice of protagonists and deliver fast-paced storytelling that will keep viewers on the edge from the get-go,” George says.

It’s been a busy few months for GoQuest, as shooting is also underway on advanced episodes of its first co-production Kuma (The Other Wife) in Turkey. GoQuest is in the midst of closing presales for the drama. “We’re excited to be presenting the series to our clients and look forward to closing more conversations at MIPCOM,” George says.