Berlinale – FremantleMedia International (FMI) and SundanceTV announced a partnership that will see the network broadcast the major new eight-part drama, Deutschland 83 on its U.S. channel. The UFA Fiction series will become the first ever German-language drama to be aired on a major U.S. network.
Deutschland 83
Created by Anna Winger and Joerg Winger, Deutschland 83 is executive produced by UFA Fiction’s Joerg Winger and Nico Hofmann and directed by Edward Berger and Samira Radsi. The series is a UFA Fiction production for RTL Television in Germany, in partnership with SundanceTV in the U.S. and distributed by FremantleMedia International worldwide.
The series is set to have its exclusive World Premiere during the inaugural Berlinale Special Series at the 65th Berlinale International Film Festival.
Lisa Honig, SEVP, Television & Digital Distribution, North America, FremantleMedia International said, “We are thrilled to be working with SundanceTV on this high-tension, intense and yet wonderfully relatable drama. The Deutschland 83 story, popular soundtrack and unique filmic style all blend perfectly to create an outstanding piece of drama. Anna and Joerg did a tremendous job – I have never seen anything quite like this.”
Sarah Barnett, SundanceTV President stated, “Deutschland 83 is a fresh and heart pounding thriller set against the remarkable political backdrop of 1980s East and West Germany. It’s evocative and emotional and we are delighted to be collaborating on a show of such daring and originality. FremantleMedia International is a terrific partner and we are excited to bring this series to U.S. viewers.”
Deutschland 83 is a suspenseful coming-of-age story set against the real culture wars and political events of Germany in the 1980s. The drama follows Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) as the 24 year-old East Germany native is pulled from the world as he knows it and sent to the West as an undercover spy for the Stasi foreign service. Hiding in plain sight in the West German army, he must gather the secrets of NATO military strategy. Everything is new, nothing is quite what it seems and everyone he encounters is harboring secrets, both political and personal.
Frank Hoffmann, Managing Director, RTL Television, said, “For RTL Television it is incredibly satisfying to launch a series like Deutschland 83 which, at this early stage has already received a lot of national and international attention. The involvement of FremantleMedia International and SundanceTV strengthens our resolve to continue developing programmes that can attract such interest and attention.”
Nico Hofmann, Producer and Chairman of the Board of UFA Fiction said, “Never has a German-language television series received so much attention before broadcast. SundanceTV’s reputation for exceptional series is yet further confirmation of Deutschland 83‘s high quality. This is a milestone for German television production.”
Anna Winger and Joerg Winger, co-creators of Deutschland 83 said, “Deutschland 83 was born of a transatlantic relationship. Conceived at our German-American kitchen table in Berlin, written by an American with an international team, made in Germany with a diverse and remarkably talented cast and crew. We are thrilled to be the first German series on TV in the United States and honored to follow in the footsteps of the other great series on SundanceTV.”
