While the Men Are Away, an Australian dramedy set in the era of World War II, has been honoured with a spot among 15 selected shows to be featured at the Berlinale Series Market.
This event, part of the European Film Market (EFM) initiative, is designed specifically for television drama professionals.
Created by Arcadia, a Sydney-based television production firm, the series centres on Francesca (Frankie), who finds herself at the helm of an apple orchard when her spouse, Harry Whitmore, joins the World War II effort. Frankie assembles a team consisting of members from the Australian Women’s Land Army and Robert, labelled a ‘certified coward’, to manage the farm’s daily functions.
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Berlinale Series Market is scheduled from 19 to 21 February at the Gropius Bau in Berlin. The conference will delve into the intricacies of serial content production, discussing industry trends, challenges, and future outlooks.
The Berlinale Series Market Selects programme, which features the 15 chosen series, will take place at CinemaxX.
This market is a collaborative venture, involving the EFM, the Berlinale Co-Production Market, and Berlinale Talents. According to EFM Director Dennis Ruh,
“High-quality serial content has become a key component of the market.”
“Companies with series in their catalogue reap significant financial rewards. The Berlinale Series Market has evolved into a hub for trading top-tier serial content.”
“We’re excited to showcase a diverse and promising array of new series from various continents, encompassing numerous genres and possessing substantial sales potential,”
The Berlinale Series Market Selects also features a variety of international series. These include Familia de Divan from Argentina, which portrays a couple of therapists navigating their professional lives amidst a personal separation. The Czech show We’re on it Comrades combines paranormal elements with historical context, set during the 1980s in communist Czechoslovakia.
German productions Disko 76 and Kafka are also part of the selection. Disko 76 revolves around Doro’s quest for freedom through the establishment of a disco, while Kafka explores the life of Franz Kafka through the perspectives of the significant women in his life, along with his father and friend Max Brod.
Other participating series hail from Brazil, Denmark, France, Latvia, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and the UK.
The announcement of While the Men Are Away‘s selection follows the recent success of Trent Dalton‘s Boy Swallows Universe, which entered the IMDb global Top 20.
The Berlinale Series Market will also feature panels on various topics, including budgeting challenges, funding models, and the importance of social responsibility in reaching a broad audience.
SOURCE: Business News Australia
