Darius Jabloński’s ‘Fortel’ Series is on Tallinn TV Beats

Polish film and television star Darius Jabloński’s spy thriller “Fortel” and Estonia’s “Stormbird” from multi-award-winning Kadri Kousaar (“Magnus”, “Mother”) are on the Tallinn TV Beats Co-Financing Market schedule, taking place November 16-17.

These are joined by Spain’s “When Devils Rule” by Rodrigo Susarte (“Patagonia”) and “The Inheritance” by Belgium’s “This is Not a Murder Mystery” producer Panenka.

10 series selected from 50 applications from Eurimages member countries will compete for the coveted €50,000 ($56,000) European Council Series Co-Production Development Prize.

“We have never welcomed so many big names and companies before,” said Petri Kemppinen, co-chairman of TV Beats together with Roosa Toivonen.

This year’s crop comes from Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, Spain and co-production partner Canada. As Toivonen emphasizes, the geographical expansion reflects TV Beats’ essence of “acting as a bridge between the Baltic countries, Central Eastern Europe and the Scandinavian countries.” Three regions (Czechia, Finland and Estonia) top the application list.

“Estonia is very dynamic in the TV series, and we received more applications from Lithuania and Latvia,” said Toivonen, talking about the haunting story of “Stormbird” about a young runaway woman set in Soviet-occupied Estonia in 1949. Also from Estonia is “Breaking the Ice,” a fast-paced YA drama produced by Jevgeni Supin, who was awarded the Honorary TV Beats Producer Award last year.

TV Beats co-chairs also pointed out that compared to previous years, the number of projects that are in the early development stage and will make their first presentations in Tallinn is higher. “Obviously, the hefty €50,000 development award from the European Council is a big draw in today’s contact times for independent producers who are struggling to raise development money at a time when commissioners and public funders are cut back. They need co-production partners to progress their projects,” Kemppinen said.

Thematically, in an age of insecurity and as the Baltic and Central and Eastern European nations feel the heat of Russian threats, espionage is the beating heart of three programs (“Tanner,” “Fortel,” “The Woman Who Roars”); The remaining list includes oppressive regimes, systems or leaders – even disguised as devils – alongside the ever-popular crime bets.

Alongside the TV Beats Co-Financing Market listing, more than 20 top-tier series seeking additional financing, distribution and sales will appear in the ‘TV Beats Premieres’ and ‘TV Beats Coming Soon’ programmes, to be announced at a later date.

TV Beats Forum is part of the Industry Tallinn & Baltic Event, the industry platform of the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, which will take place from 9-20 November.

The full list of the TV Beats Co-Funding Market series:

“Breaking the Ice” (“The sun melting the ice,” 6X45′, Estonia)
The young adult drama, from Estonian powerhouse Zolba Productions (“Von Fock,” “My Dear Mother,” “A Girl From Tallinn”), was co-written and co-created by veteran Leana Jalukse (“Mother,” “Von Fock”) and German screenwriting veteran Joachim Friedmann.

Beneath the polished surface of Estonia’s elite ice rinks, a Russian hockey prodigy led by his violent father and an Estonian figure skater raised by a manipulative coach fall in love across a national divide. “Breaking the Ice” isn’t just a fast-paced, feel-good love story set on skates, says producer Jevgeni Supin: “Our series looks beneath the polished surface of youth sports, where abuse from parents and coaches is often disguised as a quest for perfection. At its core, it’s the story of two teenagers who find the courage to break the cycle through love.”

“To say” (8X45′, Poland)

Legendary Polish film mogul and director Dariusz Jabłoński (“The Pleasure Principle,” “The Cop-A New Chapter”) serves as the creator and showrunner of this spy thriller, written by US screenwriter Marc Gray, who wrote episodes for Apple TV’s International Emmy-winning show “Tehran”.

Jabłoński’s own pedigree company, Apple Film Production, produces for commercial giant Polsat.
At the center of the action is the little-known Polish town of Rzeszów, near the Ukrainian border, which has turned into a spy nest and arms trading platform. According to the logline, the story follows a CIA officer who traps Russian saboteurs, targets secret Western weapons shipments, and is also secretly searching for his missing brother who may hold the key to the leak.

“Fortel” is about the history we are living through right now, in real time, two hours away from my home,” Jabłoński said. Diversity. “Rzeszów is a city that wakes up one morning to find itself at the center of war, with no instruction manual and no way out. I want to make a thriller that feels what war feels like: chaotic, morally unresolved, and full of unexpected moments of humanity, with a cast drawn from many countries involved. It’s a Poland-centered story that the whole world needs to see right now,” he claims.

“Happy birthday!” (“Happy New Year!” 10X21′, Lithuania)

It was created and directed by rising talent Montis Norvaisis for the Big Drama team together with producer Lineta Lasiauskaitė. The drama follows a young woman who falls victim to drinking at a lavish New Year’s Eve party held at a remote mansion. When the guests refuse to face the crime, her best friend seeks justice herself. Norvaisis will draw on her own experiences to paint a raw and authentic portrait of New Year’s Eve teen parties.

“Kalmann” (6X45′, Iceland, Finland, Estonia)
The TV adaptation of the “Kalmann” book series by Icelandic-Swiss crime writer Joachim B. Schmidt is directed by María Heba Þorkelsdóttir and Kristófer Dignus.

Produced by Kontent’s Guðný Guðjónsdóttir and Sara Djeddou Baldursdóttir; these teams include Iceland’s main broadcaster Síminn and joint professional partners Snapper Films from Finland and Cuba Films from Estonia. The show stars eccentric sheriff Kalmann, who uses his unique instincts to solve murders.

“‘Kalmann’ is set in the internationally established Scandinavian crime space, but brings warmth, humour, melancholy and humanity to the genre, along with a compelling murder investigation,” says Baldursdóttir, who plans to use TV Beats to test the show’s concept, tone and international potential. Production is planned to begin in the fall of 2027.

“Intimacy with Prescription” (“Intimacy with Prescription, 8X60′, Czech Republic)
“Can good sex save every marriage?” about the tragicomedy set in 1970s Czechoslovakia. says and is inspired by the true story of Stanislav Kratochvíl, one of the pioneers of couples’ sex therapy. Directed by renowned theater and film director Jiří Havelka (“The Owners”), the show is set in a psychiatric clinic where couples are invited to say out loud what society, marriage, and shame have taught them to hide.

“For us, ‘Intimacy’ is not just about sex, but also about the courage to talk honestly about desire, fear, shame, power and the need to be seen by the person closest to you,” says producer Karolina Zalabáková, who looks forward to presenting this story in Tallinn with “universal and highly exportable emotional themes” and “strongly rooted in Czech and Czechoslovak history.” The script, written by head writer Kristina Májová together with Matěj Randár and Jan Smutný, is based on an original idea by Kateřina Kořínková.

“storm bird” (“Stormilind,” 5X42′, Estonia)

A historical thriller from acclaimed filmmaker Kadri Kõusaar, known for the Cannes Un Certain Regard film “Magnus” and the Estonian Oscar selection “Mother.” It takes place in Soviet-occupied Estonia in 1949. Lee (18), known as ‘Stormbird’, becomes a fugitive after killing soldiers who attacked his family and joins the Forest Brothers group led by “Geronimo” to rescue his imprisoned brother Uku. Hunted by the Red Army, his childhood friend Reinhardt becomes his enemy as he fights to survive. Producer Aet Laigu says “Stormbird” is “first and foremost a story about people trying to survive and forced to make impossible choices under occupation.” It is also a unique interpretation of “a rare piece of European history”, depicted through the eyes of a young woman and dealing with contemporary themes such as freedom, resistance and identity.

“Tanner” (6X50′, Ireland, Canada)
It is produced by Fíbín Films’ Bernie Hoban and Darach Ó Tuairisg, co-produced by Fraser Ash and Kevin Krikst for Canadian powerhouse Rhombus Media, and is attached to HBO’s Emmy-nominated “The Sympathizer.”

Created and written by Keith Hodder with Damian McCann and Sarah Gordon, the story follows a former Irish intelligence officer who returns home to investigate a missing teenager and uncovers a technology-enabled conspiracy that extends from elite schools to the highest levels of government. Hoban says “Tanner” “stands out thanks to the unique world of Irish intelligence services rarely seen before, operating in a country whose prosperity is increasingly intertwined with some of the world’s most powerful multinationals, creating fascinating tensions between democracy, sovereignty and corporate influence.” From a uniquely Irish perspective, “Tanner” takes on themes that resonate around the world, anchoring them in the journey of an unforgettable hero – a deeply flawed investigator whose greatest talent may also be his undoing. he adds.

“Heritage” (“De Erfenis,” 6X45′, Belgium)
From Panenka, the rapidly expanding powerhouse behind New8’s hit series “This is Not a Murder Mystery” and Series Mania 2025 Special Mention winner “Putain.” Commissioned by leading Flemish broadcaster VTM.
It was created and written by Alexandra Jans together with Jan Van Dyck for producers Kato Maes, Kristoffel Mertens and Karlijn Van de Cruys. Psychological thriller set against the world of animal welfare and hunting. When Hanne, a member of a struggling animal rescue team, unexpectedly becomes the executor of the estate of a wealthy hunting family, a bitter battle over the inheritance breaks out. Van de Cruys says the show will benefit from its breathtaking location (Hoge Kempen in Limburg, Belgium’s largest national park) and personal commentary from Jans, who draws the story from his own personal experience.

“Roaring Woman” (4X45′, Finland)

Actor and filmmaker Pamela Tola (“Ladies of Steel”, “Bad Apples”) from blockbuster habits. Drama in which recently widowed Leena (65) discovers that Helsinki Zoo is actually a gathering area for international spies. She believes the place is linked to a top-secret nuclear weapon that her late husband was hiding.

Producer Mete Sasioğlu of Sons of Lumière, who will specifically seek co-producers from France, Eastern Europe and the Northerners in Tallinn, offers a new perspective on the “Roaring Woman” espionage genre; “It’s exciting, funny and full of heart,” he says.

“When Demons Rule” (“Los demones mandan,” 6X35′, Spain)
A darkly humorous political thriller with supernatural elements, from the team behind Movistar Plus’s highly anticipated “Patagonia”. Along with Atlantica Films’ Nano Arrieta creator and producer Claudia Ruíz, she shares the writing room with Popy Blasco, Ibai Ariztegi and Bárbara Zemelman. In a world torn apart by power, fear and political extremes, a group of women uncover a demonic force operating at the highest levels of society and realize that the chaos around them may be part of a much darker design.