Beyond the East-West Co-Production Myth: Why Great European Series Partnerships Don’t Happen by Accident

in partnership with the Karlovy Vary Film Festival

What if CEE is not a collection of small, separate markets - but a network of interconnected production ecosystems? And what new stories become possible when creators and producers tap into them?Building on the conversation at Karlovy Vary IFF, this discussion explores how East-West collaboration can move beyond cost advantages and production incentives to unlock something more valuable: creative partnerships, new talent and storytelling perspectives, financing opportunities and access to new audiences. Using real-life cases from the Baltics, Poland, Croatia, Czechia and other CEE countries, we will ask how the right local partner can open doors across borders, how producers and creators can find their way into ecosystems they don't yet know - and what Western partners need to bring to the table in return.Because the most interesting co-productions may not simply be about ‘where you can make a series’, but ‘who you can develop it with’ - and how bringing different creative perspectives together can unlock more ambitious storytelling.

About projects to be discussed:

“Signals”, a rare case of organic co-production, an Icelandic-Polish thriller from Sagafilm and MAG Entertainment, serves as a prime example of organic cross-border collaboration. Commissioned by Simen in Iceland, Sky Showtime across the Nordics, Canal+ Poland, and with a shared window in the Netherlands, the series leverages deep cultural ties - highlighting that Poles are Iceland’s largest immigrant group - to tell a story about cyber-terrorism through dual leads. Currently in postproduction for Q4 2026 delivery, the project presented by Kjartan Thor Thordarson (Managing Partner I Sagafilm) features exclusive clips at Seriesly Berlin, illustrating how modern co-productions blend diverse funding sources with authentic regional identities.

“Let It Snow”, presented by Jevgeni Supin, is a Finnish drama series in development co-produced by Take Two Studios (FI), Zolba Productions (EE), and Zeitsprung Pictures (DE), tells a deeply human story about a man’s journey to take responsibility and grow into fatherhood. The project highlights the strength of Northern European collaboration, blending creative visions from Finland, Estonia, and Germany with robust international support. Its financing structure combines public broadcasting partners—including Estonian Public Broadcasting, Finnish MTV3, and Swedish TV4—with pan-Baltic VOD platform Go3 and German distribution via Beta Film, supplemented by tax incentives from Lithuania and Belgium. Currently in late development, the series offers a timely case study for our discussion on how diverse funding models and cross-border partnerships can sustain authentic, character-driven storytelling in today’s market.

“Red Water” is the next drama series in development to emerge from the successful partnership between Beta and ZDF/Arte and produced by Antitalent on the Croatian side. Beta Film handles international sales. A six-hour series, is based on Jurica Pavičić’s bestselling novel of the same name, Canneseries-winning writer Ljubica Luković (“Awake”) is responsible for the scripts, and the Academy Award-nominated Danijel Pek (“The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”) is producing. Shooting is scheduled for 2027.