The Alliance, which brings together European broadcasters France Télévisions, Italy’s RAI and Germany’s ZDF in a commissioning partnership, announced the development of a new series “The Kollective” at Rome’s MIA Market on Wednesday.
France Télévisions, RAI and ZDF decided to join forces back in 2018 to develop and co-produce high-end TV dramas aimed at a broad audience. To date, they have produced nine series, ranging from thrillers to science-fiction, including historical drama “Leonardo,” pictured above.
“The idea was to bring together three public broadcasters who are really on a mission to show our audience programs that resonate. Programs that otherwise none of us could afford,” explained Simone Emmelius, senior VP international fiction-coproduction and acquisition at ZDF. Also mentioning that these days, the Alliance is focusing more and more on younger viewers.
“We have a common heritage and common understanding of stories that should be told, even though we come from different countries and speak different languages.”
Francesco Nardella, deputy director drama at RAI, referred to the Alliance as a “family.”
“We are very frank with each other. Over the years, we have learnt to fine-tune our [respective] needs. We are not really market-oriented, but we work for our real owners: the audience.”
“The Kollective” is a six-episode investigative series created by Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli, also behind hugely popular “Gomorrah” and “ZeroZeroZero.” Femke Wolting is on board as an executive producer.
The series, it was revealed, deals with timely issues, such as the spread of fake news, the attacks on European democracy and the freedom of the press.
It will be shot next year.
There are different ways to approach the Alliance, said Manuel Alduy, director of cinema and international development at France Télévisions.
“Each of us can be the leader of the project and then coordinate with the rest. That’s how it has been working so far. It’s not a mess – it’s very organized.”
But recently, the team has started to discuss projects at a very early stage too.
“We are trying to speak with one shared voice. The sooner we know that a project can be an Alliance project, the better. It’s a co-development situation,” he said, mentioning “The Kollective” as an example.
“It’s a project that’s truly, organically international.”
based on a true story, it’s a “modern spy story where spies are ordinary people.” Or rather, a group of passionate amateur journalists who enter the world of corruption, espionage and even murder. As they battle to uncover the mystery of a shadowy new Cold War, slowly realizing that all roads lead back to Putin’s resurgent Russia, they must call on their technological skills, bravery and youthful self-belief to stop a dark conspiracy.
A new call for projects was also announced, with the Alliance looking for “organically international” European drama co-productions that inspire “desire, provoke emotion and arouse reflection,” mainly set in Italy, France and Germany.
“Series with a positive tone, generous in its approach, with a contemporary appeal. Series that target families, adults or young adults, with a focus on some appealing genres such as adventure, action, family, romance,” it was stated.
“We want more. What we are not asking for, however, is for you to send us an average series you would offer us as a domestic project,” pointed out Emmelius. Noting that while the Alliance is “very open-minded” when it comes to the language of the show, it’s easier to produce in English.
Applications will be accepted until mid-January.
“The Kollective” will join such Alliance series as “Mirage” with Marie-Josée Croze, which garnered 3 million viewers per episode in France and 4 million in Germany, and historical drama “Leonardo,” created by Frank Spotnitz and Steve Thompson, which starred Aidan Turner, Matilda De Angelis and Freddie Highmore, and recounted Leonardo da Vinci’s turbulent life.
“Germinal,” based on the novel by Émile Zola and awarded at Seriesmania, “Around the World in 80 Days,” “Survivors,” “Concordia” and “The Swarm” also ramp up its growing slate.
“The Reunion,” featuring Ioan Gruffudd, will premiere in October on France 2. “The Gymnasts,” about three young athletes “raised by coaches rather than by their parents” and suddenly faced with a murder investigation, will debut in Italy on Oct. 26 on Paramount + and on Rai 2 in 2023.
For now, there are no plans for the Alliance – described with a tagline “together we go further” – to grow.
“The club of three is really cozy,” laughed Emmelius. “Never say never, but you have to be careful. If you have too many parties, it’s difficult to be that precise.”
“The benefit of us working so closely, right from the beginning, is that you integrate different perspectives. Which, in my opinion, makes the projects more interesting. To be very outspoken, we want to reach as many people as possible. We want to entertain. But we want to entertain with projects that are relevant. We are not interested in popcorn.”
