Red Arrow Studios International has sold new thriller Dignity (8 x 52’) to HBO Nordic, in a deal which sees the broadcaster take pay-TV and SVOD rights for a large sway of Europe, from Central and Eastern Europe to Iberia and the Nordics. The series will launch in markets including Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.
Commissioned by Joyn in Germany and MEGA in Chile, Dignity is produced by Chilean film and TV production house Invercine & Wood and German producer Story House Pictures for Joyn (Germany) and Mega (Chile), in co-production with the Chilean television fund CNTV and MEGA.
The series centres on a mysterious Germanic cult called ‘Colonia Dignidad’, established by a former Nazi soldier in Chile, and the quest by a young federal prosecutor to bring him to justice. Based on real events, the series was shot on location at the cult’s former enclave in southern Chile.
Tim Gerhartz, SVP, Global Sales at Red Arrow Studios International, said: “Dignity was Joyn’s first ever original commission and has proved a big success in Germany with viewers and critics. The fact that is it is based on true events gives an added depth and authenticity to this beautifully made series. We are delighted that HBO Nordic has come on board to make this exceptional series available to viewers across Europe.”
Red Arrow Studios International holds global distribution rights to Dignity. This deal with HBO Nordic was brokered by Shakira Hoffmann, Senior Sales Manager, CEE, CIS and Greece.
Established by former Nazi soldier Paul Schaefer in a quiet Chilean town, the mysterious Germanic cult ‘Colonia Dignidad’ forged a decades-long history of torture, child abuse and murder within the walls of its vast compound, protected by General Pinochet’s dictatorship. Now, with a new government in power, Chile is finally ready to end Colonia’s violent legacy. Young federal prosecutor Leo Ramírez is tasked with bringing the sect’s elusive leader Paul Schaefer to justice. But Leo has his own secret history with Colonia. 20 years ago, his younger brother Pedro died there under mysterious circumstances, and it was Schaefer himself who paid for Leo’s education in Germany to keep him quiet. Now Leo is determined to tear the walls of Colonia down once and for all – but when a young man claiming to be Pedro suddenly turns up alive, Leo must finally confront the demons that tore his family apart all those years ago.
Dignity is created by Invercine & Wood’s María Elena Wood and Patricio Pereira (‘Ramona’, ‘Mary & Mike’) and the head writer is Story House Pictures’ Andreas Gutzeit (Sprite Sisters, Open Desert). Julio Jorquera (‘Ramona’, ‘Mary & Mike’) and Nancy Rivas (Berlin, I Love You) directed the series, which stars Götz Otto (Iron Sky, Tomorrow Never Dies), Devid Striesow (The Counterfeiters), Marcel Rodriguez (7 Days Berlin), Nils Rovira-Muñoz (Goliath96, ‘SOKO 5113’), Jennifer Ulrich (The Wave, We Are The Night), Antonia Zegers (El Club, Los perros) and Martina Klier (La Vacanza, ‘Nati ieri’).