Keshet International (KI) has picked up A Private View’s Flemish drama Storm Lara for its growing catalogue of foreign-language content with international appeal.    

The global content producer and distributor will officially launch the 4×30’ thriller at this February’s Berlin Series Market 2022, where Storm Lara will screen as part of their Series Market Selects: the European Film Market’s selection of outstanding content with strong market potential. KI’s False Flag (Kfulim) Season 3, which will premiere in Israel on Keshet 12 in Spring 2022, has also been selected and so will be showcased to buyers within the same line-up. 

Anke Stoll, KI’s VP of Acquisitions and Co-productions, says, “We are thrilled to be adding A Private View’s Storm Larato our hand-picked slate of foreign-language dramas. This is a tense and captivating thriller about lust, jealousy, guilt, and shame – that dangerous cocktail of emotions that arise from adultery and lies. Truly international in feel, Storm Lara is a high-stakes drama that plays out in real-time on DJ Lara’s late-night radio show, building tension and suspense that is sure to captivate buyers at Berlinale Series Market and viewers around the world.” 

Dries Phylpo, producer and Managing Director at A Private View, comments, “We’re really proud to present Storm Lara at the Berlinale Series Market as part of Keshet International’s foreign language catalogue. Storm Larais a universal story about all aspects of love – the good and the bad ones – and really stands out in its artistic and visual approach; in two hours it works its way under your skin, leaving you intrigued until the last minute.” 

Officially the first scripted project to be commissioned by Belgian streamer Streamz, Storm Lara takes place in real-time during a two-hour radio call-in show. When late-night radio DJ Lara receives a call from suicidal Suzy, she feels in control. But as events unfold, a gruelling game of cat and mouse reveals that Suzy’s been holding all the cards all along. Confronted, Lara realizes that it’s time to stop living a lie.  

Produced by A Private View, Storm Lara stars Ella Leyers (Professor T, Hidden Assets) as DJ Lara, Wouter Hendrickx (Amigo’s, Blackout) as her producer and lover Rafik, and Anemone Valcke (Generation B, Thieves of the Wood) as Suzy (AKA Liv). Created and written by Daan Gielis (La Holandesa), this intimate and sensory drama was filmed during lockdown by director Kadir Ferati Balci (Amigo’s, Cold Courage). Storm Larapremiered across Belgium on Streamz from 23 August 2021 and quickly became the most-watched show on the streaming platform, indexing strongly with younger audiences (77% of total viewers were 18-44 years old). 

Storm Lara joins KI’s burgeoning boutique slate of international dramas with global appeal, including Cartouche and Deds Films’ 10-part comedy-drama The Kidnapping of Phil Frisco (Glad IJs); Spiro Films’ Canneseries-winning thriller When Heroes Fly;  Glassriver’s six-part comedic escapade around Iceland Journey; Monster Scripted and X-Filme Creative Pool’s eight-part thriller Furia; and Monster Scripted’s heart-warming six-part comedy-drama Pørni, the second and third seasons of which will premiere on Viaplay this year. KI is expected to announce further international scripted acquisitions as part of its next virtual preview event for buyers this March.