INTAGLIO FILMS AND NDF INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION’S “THE SWARM” ADDS TRIO OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS: NENT GROUP, RAI FICTION, FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS

Berlin, 26 February 2020

Originally commissioned by German public broadcaster ZDF, a trio of international media companies – Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group), Rai Fiction and France Télévisions – has now signed on to co-produce and co-finance Intaglio Films and ndF International Production’s environmental thriller The Swarm. Production on the 8 x 45’ series is set to begin later this year.

The Swarm (Der Schwarm) is an adaption of acclaimed author Frank Schätzing’s best-selling novel that has been translated into 25 languages. Intaglio head and multi-Emmy® Award-winning creative director Frank Doelger (“Game of Thrones”) serves as EP alongside ndF’s managing director Eric Welbers and Frank Schätzing. Intaglio Films, based in Berlin, is a production joint venture between Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises.

Frank Doelger and Eric Welbers: “We are delighted to welcome such highly regarded companies as NENT Group, France Télévisions, and Rai to our growing list of partners as we bring to the screen Frank Schätzing’s extraordinary novel and its exploration of the the destruction and poisoning of the world’s oceans - a cautionary tale which is becoming ever more urgent.”

The global environmental thriller is set in the present day, where anomalies and unnatural behavior in marine animals are causing upheaval all over the world. The Swarm follows a global group of scientists who come together to tackle one of the biggest challenges mankind has ever faced. They make the chilling discovery that deep at the bottom of the sea resides a collective intelligence which has suffered the ravages of civilization on its habitat - and decided to fight back.

INTAGLIO FILMS LINES UP TWO AMBITIOUS NEW DRAMA SERIES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET

Berlin, 08 October 2018

Frank Doelger’s growing slate includes Doing Good (created by Peter Berry) and Concordia (written by Mike Walden)

ZDF on board for development, both series to be presented at Content London 2019

Intaglio Films, the scripted drama joint venture between Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises, is developing two new English-language primetime drama series: high-stakes international drama Doing Good and near-future surveillance thriller Concordia, for German public broadcaster ZDF. Intaglio Films’ multi Emmy® award-winning Creative Director Frank Doelger (executive producer on HBO’s “Rome”, “John Adams”, “Game of Thrones”) will executive produce both series, with Friedemann Goez (“Atlantic Crossing”, “Hudson & Rex”) producing.

Both Doing Good and Concordia will be presented during the IN CONVERSATION: Frank Doelger, Intaglio Films session at the prestigious Content London showcase this December. The projects join the Intaglio slate alongside epic upcoming series The Swarm, an 8-part drama adapted from Frank Schätzing’s bestselling environmental thriller which is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated European drama series to date. The Swarm will be co-produced by ndF International productions.

Intaglio Films’ Creative Director Frank Doelger says, “To be adding two projects of this scale, alongside our hugely ambitious series The Swarm, after launching Intaglio only last year is incredibly exciting. Our goal as a company is to produce unmissable television for global audiences by tapping into urgent and compelling subject matter and these shows do exactly that. The mixture of wit, ethical dilemmas and heart-racing twists in Doing Good and the nuanced exploration of life in a voluntary surveillance state with Concordia are all elements that will ensure both shows resonate internationally.”

Doing Good is created by Peter Berry (“Gangs of London”, “Prime Suspect”) and set in the world of fictional human rights organization Cyrus, exploring the moral compromises decent people have to make in order to do good in an evil world. Set between Berlin and New York, the series juxtaposes the frustrating reality of working in the third sector and the internal politics of an ostensibly ethical multinational – with a thrilling element of espionage as government agents infiltrate Cyrus as a cover for their operations in hostile territories. Sometimes in order to do good, you have to be bad.

Written by Mike Walden (“The Frankenstein Chronicles”, U Want Me 2 Kill Him), Concordia is a community that has embraced total surveillance. Millions of cameras link to an AI system that monitors every aspect of citizens’ lives and suspected crimes are prevented before they happen. It is a city without guns and the murder rate is zero – until a body is discovered on Concordia’s outskirts. What, at first glance, appears to be an open and shut crime of passion quickly burrows much deeper and grows much darker as a nefarious plot is uncovered.

INTAGLIO FILMS AND NDF INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION UNLEASH ENVIRONMENTAL THRILLER “THE SWARM” FOR ZDF

Berlin, 30 August 2018

Intaglio Films, the new scripted drama venture between Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises, and ndF International Production are jointly developing a new series based on Frank Schaetzing’s bestselling environmental thriller novel that has been translated into 25 languages, The Swarm (Der Schwarm). Production on the 8x45’ minute series will begin in 2019.

Marking Intaglio Films’ debut production, the series will be produced for German public broadcaster ZDF. Intaglio head and multi Emmy® award-winning creative director Frank Doelger (executive producer on HBO’s “Game of Thrones”) is set to executive produce The Swarm, together with ndF’s managing director Eric Welbers in partnership with the rights holding company Swarm Production KG, run by Till Groenemeyer and owned by Athos, and Frank Schaetzing and his publishing house Kiepenheuer & Witsch. Schaetzing will also serve as executive producer.

The Swarm, to be shot in English, will be one of the most ambitious television series ever to come from Europe and ZDF’s first big step towards launching major television events. Future seasons are under consideration by Frank Schaetzing and the producers.

For years, mankind has been looking up at the stars in search of another intelligent race - but what if, all this time, we’ve been looking in the wrong direction? The Swarm is a global environmental thriller set in a present day where anomalies and unnatural behavior in marine animals are causing upheaval all over the world. Millions of strange worms suddenly appear on the bottom of the North Sea, drilling their way through frozen methane, threatening to destabilize the entire continental shelf. Swarms of mussels stop large vessels from maneuvering. Toxic jellyfish, lobsters and whales start attacking human beings along the coasts of the world.

The Swarm follows a global group of scientists and military who come together to tackle one of the biggest challenges mankind has ever faced. They make the chilling discovery that we are not the only intelligent species on this planet – and that deep down at the bottom of the sea resides a collective intelligence which has suffered the ravages of civilisation on its habitat and decided to fight back. Best-selling author Frank Schaetzing said: “The question about a possible film adaptation of The Swarm was the one I was most frequently asked about. Every time my answer was: deadlock. Who would have thought that the ideal team would come together after all, that visionary TV producers and pro-players including ‘Game of Thrones’ creative force Frank Doelger would come on board to steer this large-scale international TV series, which is the strongest narrative form one could adapt an adventure like The Swarm into. It’s full steam ahead from now on. I’m very excited and looking forward to this collaboration!” Frank Zervos, ZDF Senior Vice President Films and Series said: “The time is now for The Swarm as an international high-end series, for more than just one reason. First of all, the themes of the novel are more relevant than ever in light of the environmental challenges the world is facing today. Also, the format of a TV series offers the narrative and technical tools one would need to make and finance a huge project like The Swarm. And lastly, now really is the ideal time to produce out of Germany on an international scale and adapt the biggest, most successful German novel of the past decade that focuses on a globally relevant and urgent subject matter. We are looking forward to getting started, together with Frank Doelger, on this first project from the newly founded Intaglio and believe that his company and ndf: International Production are the ideal partners. We are delighted that Frank Schaetzing has put his trust in us.”

Intaglio’s Executive Producer Frank Doelger: “After having spent eight seasons in the mythical world of ‘Game of Thrones’, it is great to return to the present with The Swarm and its searing exploration of the impending doom brought about by man’s callous disregard of the oceans, a doomsday scenario as dire as anything imagined by George R.R. Martin.”

Eric Welbers, Managing Director of ndF: “I am delighted to be part of the project and that after a long and difficult path, this outstanding story is finally being brought to the screen. At ndF we love stories that reach and captivate big audiences, The Swarm will definitely do so. I am looking forward to partnering with Frank Doelger.”

BETA FILM AND ZDF ENTERPRISES TEAM FOR INTERNATIONAL SCRIPTED JOINT VENTURE

Berlin, 19 February 2018

MULTI EMMY AWARD PRODUCER FRANK DOELGER TO LEAD INTAGLIO FILMS GMBH

Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises have joined forces to launch INTAGLIO FILMS GmbH, a new scripted venture which will develop, finance and produce drama for the international market.

INTAGLIO FILMS will be headquartered in Berlin and led by multi Emmy® Award winning Producer Frank Doelger (Executive Producer on HBO’s Game of Thrones, John Adams, and Rome). Doelger will spearhead the company’s development and production slate, acting as bureau chief and leveraging his expertise and long-running creative relationships with broadcasters.

Beta Film MD Moritz von Kruedener and Robert Franke, VP ZDFE.drama, will manage the venture’s business affairs.

The company will develop, finance and produce world-class English language scripted projects out of Germany, aimed at both the national and global market. Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises are supporting the company with their expertise in the field of international co-production and distribution.

Frank Doelger: “Of all the opportunities presented to me upon completion of Game of Thrones, the new joint venture proposed by Beta Film and ZDF Enterprises was by far the most interesting and creatively challenging. Backed by the formidable resources of Beta and ZDF Enterprises, and their shared vision for INTAGLIO, I am looking forward to continuing to work with the established creative community, as well as emerging talent, on both sides of the Atlantic.”