As the world’s film community descends on Berlin for the next ten days, Keshet International announced the selection of its new spy thriller, False Flag, as one of five German, European and U.S. dramas to be shown at Berlinale 2015 as part of its Drama Series Days from 9 – 10 February. It will screen twice during the Festival, at 2.35pm on 10 February as part of the European Film Market and at 10pm on 10 February as part of the wider Festival. The series selected for the strand also include the highly anticipated Breaking Bad spin-off Better Call Saul, the new offering from Kezzler, Zelman, Kezzler (Damages, The Sopranos) Bloodline, and Follow the Money from the Danish creators of Borgen. They have been chosen as dramas which “explore societal and social realities, and in doing so discover the private in the political.” As well as the screenings, the film festival will this year begin supporting the trading of drama series as part of its European Film and Berlinale Co-production markets.
False Flag, produced by Tender Productions, was created by Maria Feldman and Amit Cohen, with Ishai Golan, Ania Bukstein, Magi Azarzar, Angel Bonanni, Orna Salinger, Miki Leon and Igal Naor. It will launch on Keshet Broadcasting in Israel this year. False Flag is also in development in the U.S. through a co-development deal between Keshet and Fox International Channels (FIC).
In False Flag, five Israeli citizens find themselves plunged into a gripping international espionage affair overnight. These ordinary people, going about their daily business, wake up one morning to discover that they are implicated in a ruthless kidnapping operation following the disappearance of the Iranian Defense Minister while on a secret visit to Moscow. News bulletins repeatedly flash their names and passport photos on screen, linking them to video footage from the kidnapping. Their attempts at denial, followed laughter, indifference and anger are all in vain. The coverage turns their lives upside down and sweeps them up a storm of publicity and speculation. They are Israel’s new heroes of the day, the subjects of the nation’s curiosity mockery and admiration – all at the same time.
Once the initial turmoil dies down, the reality of what’s happened hits them hard – the members of the group realise that they are on their own, defending themselves against bigger and stronger forces that will not hesitate to manipulate them for personal gain. Straight away it becomes clear to the five that they are in real danger. One by one they are arrested, aggressively interrogated, and accused of espionage and treason. Not one of them has an alibi. When they are released — a ploy as part of the investigation — they learn that an anonymous rival has them in his crosshairs.
