08/12/2023 - We lift the veil on the three television series that achieved the highest positions at the inaugural NEM Awards

The winning series, Spy/Master

After 12 series competed as finalists in the first-ever NEM Awards, which honour exceptional TV drama series from countries with limited production capacity in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, the top three projects were revealed on 6 December. The ultimate victor, Spy/Master [+see also:
trailer
interview: Adina Sădeanu, Kirsten Peters
series profile], was announced on the evening of 7 December at the NEM awards ceremony (see the news). In this article, we offer an in-depth look at these top three projects.

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Spy/Master – Warner Bros Discovery (Romania/Germany)
Set against a backdrop of political intrigue and espionage, Spy/Master follows Victor Godeanu, a high-ranking officer in Romania’s secret service and a trusted advisor to President Nicolae Ceaușescu. During a hunting trip, where he seemingly imparts survival advice to a bear, Godeanu grapples with his own destiny. With his undercover operations for the Soviet Union at risk of exposure in 1978, he takes a daring leap. Amid negotiations for the release of Romanian-Germans in Bonn, he seizes an opportunity and offers himself as a defector to the US embassy. Produced by HBO Europe in collaboration with Warner TV Serie, Proton Cinema and Mobra Films, the series features Alec Secareanu, Parker Sawyers, Svenja Jung and Nico Mirallegro in the lead roles. It is directed by Christopher Smith, and written by Adina Sadeanu and Kirsten Peters.

The King

The King – RTL Hungary (Hungary)
The King is a compelling series that delves into the captivating yet tragic life of Jimmy Zámbó, a prominent figure in Hungarian popular music in the post-communist era. The show intertwines real-life occurrences with fictional elements. Produced by Péter Herman and István Bodzsár, and broadcast on RTL Hungary, the show's direction by Dániel Richárd Kovács, Virág Zomborácz and István Kovács, along with the writing prowess of Virág Zomborácz, Péter Akar and Márton Bárány, crafts a particularly immersive narrative. Renátó Olasz leads a cast including Viktória Staub, Ervin Nagy, Judit Schell, András Ötvös, Milán Schruff, Nóra Rainer-Micsinyei and Vera Sipos. At the heart of the story lies Jimmy's devotion to his family and his career, despite him being perpetually endangered by his self-destructive lifestyle. As the series unfolds, numerous uncertainties surrounding Jimmy's death leave a haunting echo, as we are unsure if it was an accident, suicide – or perhaps murder.

Moth Hunting

Moth Hunting - TVP (Poland)
Set in Warsaw in 1905, the Polish TV series Moth Hunting revolves around a young woman embroiled in the fight for independence. After her release from prison, she finds herself in the grasp of Franciszka Szlimakowska's high-end brothel, adopting the alias “Yvette”. Determined to earn enough as a prostitute to reunite with her beloved in Siberia, Yvette strives for control over her destiny. However, unforeseen challenges emerge in the shape of a political conspiracy orchestrated by General Margrafsky, the head of Okhrana, the Russian Empire's secret police. Further complicating matters is the involvement of corrupt policeman Wiktor Grun, leading to a tempest of intrigue that jeopardises the fate of Warsaw's brothels.

Directed by Michał Rogalski, and featuring a talented cast including Sonia Mietelica, Monika Krzywkowska, Daria Polunina and Przemysław Stippa, the series delves into the complexities of self-determination amidst a turbulent political landscape. Moth Hunting is produced by Krystyna Świeca for TVP and Michał Kwieciński, of Akson Studio. It was co-written by Katarzyna Tybinka and Anna Gabryś.