29/09/2023 - The miniseries directed by Pavel Soukup takes a deep dive into murder investigations in 1980s Czechoslovakia

The team behind The Markovič Method: Hojer winning the Award for Best TV Series from Central and Eastern Europe (© Voyo)

The Czech-based Serial Killer festival, which spotlights European serial production, has this year crowned the local production The Markovič Method: Hojer as Best TV Series from Central and Eastern Europe. Pavel Soukup, who was behind the Emmy-winning #martyisdead (see the news), directed this Czech true-crime series, which offers a reconstruction of investigations carried out by elite policemen of the era, introducing audiences to the topic of the psychological profiling of serial killers. It also provides a glimpse into the Czechoslovakia of the 1980s.

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The Markovič Method: Hojer is a six-part series that pays tribute to the original investigative methods of Jiří Markovič, former head of the legendary Prague murder squad. Among his most notorious cases was the capture of Ladislav Hojer, the most terrifying killer of normalisation-era Czechoslovakia. The series keenly focuses on the investigation into Hojer and the unique relationship between him and Markovič. Jiří Markovič, in the last year of his life, actively collaborated with the creators, recalling their meetings at his favourite pub, where he was known as the “legendary detective”.

“Thanks to these sessions, screenwriter Jaroslav Hruška was able to draft a script that truly reflected the essence of Jiří Markovič,” noted Voyo's creative producer, Tomáš Hruška.

The miniseries is the latest addition to the true-crime slate of Voyo, the Czech and Slovak streaming service, which aims to expand its subscriber base in both markets (see the news). Michal Reitler, director of Development for TV Nova and Voyo, expressed his elation upon winning the award: “The crew approached the story of Czechoslovak investigative legend Jiří Markovič with the utmost respect for his person, his work and the facts." He further emphasised the series' ethically and artistically sound portrayal, which he believes will offer audiences a kind of knowledge typically reserved for the best real-event-based crime shows. Overcoming international giants like HBO and SkyShowtime with a Czech project is a delightful affirmation of the team’s commitment to quality, Reitler added.

Not to be overlooked, the Award for Best Webseries was clinched by Lowbudget, directed by Jan Musil. This quirky Czech webseries, with Vladimir Škultéty in the lead role, humorously explores whether an unsuccessful filmmaker can create his dream movie with the help of artificial intelligence.

Bringing together nearly 60 local and international speakers, including the likes of Antony Root, former executive director of European production at HBO, and Piodor Gustafsson, director of development for Sweden's largest commercial channel, TV4, this year's Serial Killer showcased about 40 series from 19 countries (see the news on the line-up).