FremantleMedia to Bring Marija Jurić Zagorka Novels to TV

DUBROVNIK/LONDON: FremantleMedia is working with Jadran Film Zagreb to bring the novels of Croatian writer Marija Jurić Zagorka to global TV audiences.

Jadran Film, which has produced more than 200 regional and international movies in its 70 year history, will combine its cinematic expertise with FremantleMedia’s production and distribution capabilities to develop scripts based on the novels and look for international investment in order to bring the works to Croatian, as well as international, audiences.

The partnership kicks off with a joint production of The Witch of Grich (Grička vještica), of which more than 10 million copies have been sold so far in Eastern Europe. FremantleMedia and Jadran Film are already looking at how they might develop subsequent titles such as Kneginja iz Petrinjske ulice, Gordana and Jadranka.

Vinko Grubisic, the CEO of Jadran Film, said: “Jadran Film has long held the ambition to bring Marija Jurić Zagorka’s work to audiences outside Central Europe. By working with the production and distribution expertise of FremantleMedia, there is now a real opportunity to bring audiences around world the brilliant storytelling of one of Croatia’s most-loved authors.”

Ana Habajec, the managing director of FremantleMedia Croatia, added: “We are thrilled to be partnering with Jadran Film in order to bring the work of Marija Jurić Zagorka to international audiences, and that the combination of our skills and passion will see Zagorka recognized, not just as a Croatian heroine, but as a world brand!”