The ABC has confirmed the commissioning of a new eight-part crime/thriller drama series Bay of Fires which will be filmed next year in Tasmania.
Created by Andrew Knight (Seachange, Jack Irish, Rake, Hacksaw Ridge), Marta Dusseldorp (Janet King, Jack Irish, A Place to Call Home) and Max Dann (Siam Sunset, Dance Academy, Spotswood), Bay of Fires will be produced by Marta Dusseldorp’s production company Archipelago Productions and Fremantle.
The series will be written by Andrew Knight, Max Dann and Sarah Bassiuoni.
The award-winning creative team will bring to life a drama series that is bold and surprising, often shocking, laced with dark humour and always unique.
Set in the wilds of Tasmania, Marta will play lead character Stella Heikkinen whose fall from grace is as spectacular as it is life threatening.
Betrayed by her own company and in immediate danger – single mother of two Stella has no option but to move her young family to the last place on earth anyone would expect. This town isn’t the kind of place they put on postcards, this is a tiny community rife with simmering feuds, crime and sometimes, murder.
Filming will commence in Tasmania in mid-2022 and the series will air on ABC TV and ABC iview in 2023. Bay of Fires will be distributed by Fremantle International.
ABC Head of Drama, Entertainment and Indigenous Sally Riley said,
“Marta has long been a favourite of ABC audiences so we are delighted to have the opportunity to support her in taking the leap into producing. Bay of Fires is a drama with heart, dark humour and unique characters that will take audiences into a world full of intrigue, truffle pigs and oh yeah, murder of necessity.”
Marta Dusseldorp, Co-creator, Producer and starring as Stella Heikkinen said:
“The opportunity to collaborate and create an original Australian drama with the extraordinary Andrew Knight and Max Dann has been an amazing journey. Executive Producer Greg Sitch and Producer Yvonne Collins, along with Sally Riley, Louise Smith and the entire team at the ABC have been paramount to bringing Bay of Fires into being.
“My company Archipelago Productions partnering with Chris Oliver-Taylor at Fremantle is a natural fit and with Screen Tasmania, Screen Australia and Film Victoria’s belief and investment we are now preparing for production on the beautifully rugged West Coast of Tasmania in 2022.”
Chris Oliver-Taylor, CEO Asia Pacific Fremantle and Executive Producer, said:
“Fremantle are delighted to partner with the amazing Marta Dusseldorp to bring Bay of Fires to ABC viewers. Marta, Andrew Knight and Max Dann’s vision to tell such a compelling, yet grounded story will no doubt resonate with local audiences here and internationally. I am thrilled that Fremantle are part of this world class series.”
Screen Australia’s Head of Content Sally Caplan said,
“Bay of Fires is a distinctive drama that is set to reshape the Tassie-noir genre with its dark humour and complex characters, zinging with sharp tongues.
“Along with a talented creative team, we’re also thrilled to support Marta Dusseldorp as she moves into producing, as well as starring in the series. This show will be one to look out for in 2023.”
Production credit: Bay of Fires is an Archipelago Productions and Fremantle production for the ABC. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with the ABC and Screen Tasmania. Financed with support from Film Victoria.
