German Screenings Wraps Up with Host of Sales

LEIPZIG: Buyers from 20 countries picked up a slew of content at this year’s German Screenings, which wrapped up its 40th edition today.

Global Screen closed a deal for a package of more than ten TV movies to STV Slovakia, with Just Bridge (DVD Benelux) signing the rights to the event miniseries Rivals Forever: The Sneaker Battle. The third season of the series The Weissensee Saga went to MhZ Networks in the U.S., while Histoire in France bought a collection of documentary highlights.

“Our event two-parter A Dangerous Fortune and Hidden Identity were greeted with great interest from [Italy and France],” said Alexandra Heidrich, the head of TV sales at Global Screen. “The demand for high-value fictional programming from Germany is unbroken.”

Studio Hamburg Distribution & Marketing sold three more seasons of the kids’ series The Peppercorns to NPO Zapp in the Netherlands. Myths of the Congo was sold to RAI in Italy as well as to RTV Slovenia and RCS/RDS Romania/Hungary. The Elbe: Europe’s Wild River was bought by Ushuaia in France for free-to-air. From the Studio Hamburg fiction portfolio, parts three and four of Til Schweiger’s Nick Tschiller action spectacular went to Mediaset in Italy, TV Polska in Poland and to Belgium (all rights), as well as Slovenia and Slovakia. Additionally, two installments of the miniseries Rosa, The Wedding Planner were nabbed by M6 for France, TV Polska, Hungary’s MTVA and Mediaset in Italy.

"On their 40th birthday, the German Screenings continue to brighten up our end-of-the-year balance sheet," commented Christiane Wittich, the head of sales at Studio Hamburg Distribution & Marketing.

Deutsche Welle, meanwhile, brought 11 brand-new documentary series and new episodes of 20 series to the market. Bids were signed from Switzerland, France, Romania, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia.

Next year’s German Screenings with take place November 27 to 30 in Graz, Austria.