TV Drama In-Demand: Period Drama

This latest In-Demand report spotlights lush period dramas, highlighting ZDF Enterprises’ Ottilie von Faber-Castell, Russia Television and Radio/Sovtelexport’s Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes and MISTCO’s Resurrection Ertugrul.

Ottilie von Faber-Castell

Commissioned By: ARD Degeto Film
Produced By: Wiedemann & Berg Television in co-production with Wilma Film for ARD Degeto in co-operation with ZDF Enterprises
Cast: Kristin Suckow, Martin Wuttke, Johannes Zirner, Hannes Wegener, Eleonore Weisgerber, Maren Eggert, Jasmin Schwiers, Lena Klenke, among others
Writer: Claudia Garde
Rights Available: All rights worldwide from ZDF Enterprises.
Description: A brilliant young woman navigates the pitfalls of 19th-century business, family and forbidden love in this 2×90-minute production. Sixteen-year-old Ottilie von Faber inherits her grandfather’s global manufacturing business. In an exclusively male world, Ottilie must use all her talent and learning to prove herself. As she steers the business to greater success, Ottilie marries and starts a family. Never conventional, Ottilie still yearns for her former love, the dashing Philipp von Brand. But will she divorce the Count Castell?
Pitch Perfect: A glamourous and sophisticated biopic portraying the becoming of an ingenious woman who, while building a business empire, loved passionately and learned to liberate herself.
Slot Winner: A prime-time evening winner on ARD and more recently picked up in Italy by Rai and numerous CEE channels. Nominee for best TV movie at the 2020 Seoul International Drama Awards.
Sales Contacts: Mirela Nastase, Director, ZDFE.drama; Sebastian Krekeler, Director, ZDFE.drama; Yuliya Fischer, Director, ZDFE.drama; Susanne Frank, Director, ZDFE.drama.

Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes

Commissioned By: Russia 1
Produced By: Russkoye
Cast: C. Khamatova, S. Makovetsky, E. Shevchenko, Y. Peresild, E. Morozov, R. Madyanov
Director: E. Anashkin
Writers: A. Anosova, L. Leonenko, V. Pavlov
Rights Available: All rights available worldwide from Russia Television and Radio/Sovtelexport.
Description: Zuleikha, a quiet and obedient Muslim wife, is living with her abusive husband and despotic mother-in-law in a remote Tatar village in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution. When her husband is murdered by soldiers for hiding grain, she is arrested and sent to Siberia. A dreadful trip to a place of exile, thousands of kilometers and a fierce winter kill many. In this severe wilderness, she begins to build a new life for herself and discovers an inner strength given by great love and endearment. This drama consists of 8 53- to 55-minute episodes.
Pitch Perfect: Zuleikha Opens Her Eyes is based on a novel by Guzel Yakhina that became a global bestseller and was translated into 34 languages. The success of the book showed the great value and appeal of the story all over the world. The drama became the best prime-time series aired in Russia from the beginning of 2020. It resonates even more nowadays when people come to understand how drastically life can change, how hard it is sometimes to find the inner power to cope with the challenges imposed from the outside. This story gives the viewer power and belief that you can overcome everything and become even stronger.
Slot Winner: The series scored a 7.9 percent rating and 21.6 percent share during its broadcast in Russia and became the most popular TV series among Russian viewers since January 2019.
Sales Contacts: Maria Dorokhina, Head, International Sales (worldwide, except CIS & Baltic states); Ekaterina Grigorieva, Head, Sales (CIS & Baltic states); Elizaveta Shcherbakova,
Manager, International Sales (worldwide, except CIS & Baltic states).

Resurrection Ertugrul

Commissioned By: TRT
Produced By: Tekden Film
Cast: Engin Altan Duzyatan, Esra Bilgic, Serdar Gokhan, Hulya Darcan, Cengiz Coskun, Kaan Tasaner, Hande Subasi, Hande Soral, Oyku Celik
Writer: Mehmet Bozdag
Rights Available: Worldwide rights from MISTCO.
Description: In this great story from the 13th century, our hero Ertugrul, who is the father of the Ottoman Empire’s founder, is struggling to find a home for his tribe and the woman he is in love with. It conveys to the audience the land struggle with the Kayı tribes and Mongols and the struggle of the establishment of a state, accompanied by a historical feast. Five seasons, for a total of 448 45-minute episodes, available.
Pitch Perfect: “A very powerful production that sheds light on history, it achieved the greatest success in Wednesday prime time during the five seasons it was released,” says Aysegul Tuzun, managing director at MISTCO. “It features unique information about the steps taken in the founding of the Ottoman Empire, wars and relations with other Empires. Resurrection Ertugrulstill grabs attention from international buyers with its great success and unique storytelling.”
Slot Winner: Access and interaction rates in social media accounts are very high. The actors have become very popular all over the world with their costumes and venue selections and the series led Wednesday nights during its five seasons.
Sales Contacts: Aysegul Tuzun, Managing Director; Maria Espino, Sales Executive, LatAm & Spain. sales@mistco.tv