Political thriller wins Series Mania Buyers Choice gong

A European co-pro about the 2015 US-Iran high-stakes nuclear diplomatic talks has taken the inaugural Buyers Upfront at this year’s Series Mania.

Six-part The Deal was selected for the Buyers Choice Award, from among 10 projects shortlisted, by a jury of international buyers, presided over by Sky’s group director of acquisitions for UK, Ireland & Europe Katie Keenan.

The Swiss, French, Luxembourgian and Belgian thriller follows the Swiss diplomat Alexandra Weiss, leading a mission of last-ditch nuclear talks between the US and Iran, with Europe, Russia and China involved. Aiming to de-escalate tensions between the delegates and pick through their secret agendas which threaten the fragile diplomacy.

When her former lover Payam, a threatened Iranian engineer, turns up, Alexandra begins to cross the line of right and wrong to protect him – but to what end?

The series hails from Switzerland’s Bande à Part Films, Parisian outfit Les Films Pelléas, France’s Gaumont, Luxembourgian producer Bidibul Productions, and Belgium’s Versus Production.

Keenan’s jury comprised Ghislain Barrois, director of cinema, fiction, sales, rights’ acquisition and distribution, Mediaset; Marina Chiaravelle, head of TV rights acquisition, Rai Cinema, Rubén Fernández Loa, head of series acquisitions, Movistar Plus+, Julia Fidel, head of international fiction – acquisitions, ZDF and Virginie Padilla, commissioning editor, Arte.

The shortlisted projects were curated by the Series Mania Festival’s artistic team based on artistic merit and broad audience appeal.

The Buyers Upfront saw more than 100 international acquisitions execs with companies including Apple TV+, Max, NBCUniversal, Canal+, Channel 4, Paramount+ and France Télévisions, among others.

Keenan said: “The jury and I were very impressed with the variety of genres and the quality of productions for the titles that were presented this afternoon.

“We chose The Deal as the winner as it is a very timely drama given the state of world affairs which adds to its market appeal.

“Alongside the dynamics of diplomacy and the tension it brings to the drama, there were also human and personal stories that we are certain will unfold.”