Scheduled for 30-31 January, the 18th iteration of the Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision is themed around “Passion and Persistence”. TV Drama Vision 2024 aims to shed light on the repercussions of the economic downturn and strategies for recovery. The event will delve into pathways towards a sustainable future, with passion and persistence serving as fundamental principles. Boasting over 100 industry speakers and showcasing a curated selection of 50 series, the event stands as the foremost networking platform in the Nordic region.

Key highlights include creative guest Sarah Lancashire for the “Artificial Influence” section and sessions such as “What about AI?”, featuring industry experts such as Robert Franke, vice-president, Drama at ZDF Studios; Gerhard Maier, artistic director at SerienCamp; and producer Kateryna Vyshnevska. The discussions explore the evolving landscape of AI in the audiovisual sector, examining its latest advancements and diverse impacts. In the session "Steve Against the Machine - AI in Development", Banijay content executive Steve Matthews explores the role of AI tools like AI Canto in the development phase. A live experiment using a new TV series idea showcases the potential of these tools. The keynote by Tatjana Samopjan "Rediscovering Life – Storytelling in the Age of AI" raises questions about storytellers navigating a world saturated with audiovisual creation tools, emphasising the importance of being tech-savvy, piercing through the noise and getting compensated for their work.

The panel titled "Emerging Stronger – the Upside of a Crisis" explores the opportunities to be found within chaos and the positive trends in the current market during crises. Speakers – including Lars Blomgren, head of International at MediaRes; Marianne Furevold, head of Drama at NRK; and Johan Hedman, head of Drama at Warner Bros International Sweden – discuss the shift towards quality over quantity in an uplifting session focusing on finding positivity amid challenges.

The session "Inside the Web of European Financing" explores the increasing demand for Nordic-European collaborations amid changing business models. Emmanuel Eckert, deputy acquisition director, Mediawan; Andrea Scarso, partner and investment director at IPR.VC; and Karin Annell, head of Commercial Business and International Affairs at Wildside, discuss challenges and opportunities in (co-)production, distribution and financing. In "Drama Production Mayhem – What Is the Next Chapter?", industry experts Ulf Synnerholm, head of TV Drama at B-Reel; Synnøve Hørsdal, producer at Maipo; Anna Croneman, head of Drama at SVT; and Helen Perquy, producer at jonnydepony, analyse the impact of the industry slowdown on production companies, exploring adaptive strategies for a sustainable turnaround. The session aims to navigate the evolving landscape of drama production.

TV Drama Vision presents industry experts discussing the current and future landscape of the audiovisual industry. The Nostradamus Closing Keynote by Johanna Koljonen provides a forward-looking summary of the conference. As always, the event features key Nordic and North European commissioners and streamers sharing insights and stories. Particular emphasis is placed on exploring new collaborations, including the New8 initiative (see the news) and the Scandi Alliance.

Here is the complete list of projects selected for the 2024 edition of TV Drama Vision:

Works in progress

Chameleon (Belgium)
Screenwriters: Malik Mohammed, Kristof Hoefkens
Director: Safi Graauw
Co-director: Michael Abay
Producers: Ivy Vanhaecke, Pieter Van Huyck (De Mensen)
Broadcasters: Streamz, Videoland

Cry Wolf (Sweden)
Screenwriter: Oskar Söderlund
Director: Jesper Ganslandt
Producers: Josefine Tengblad, Eiffel Mattsson (Nordic Drama Queens)
Broadcasters: TV4, ZDF

Faithless (Sweden)
Screenwriter: Sara Johnsen
Director: Tomas Alfredson
Producers: Christian Rank, Peter Bose, Jonas Allen (Miso Film)
Broadcasters: SVT, ARTE

Juliet (Belgium/Germany)
Screenwriters: Roel Mondelaers, Hilde Vandermeeren, Rik D’hiet, Wouter Van Haver, Tyché Beyens
Producers: Peter Bouckaert, Nathalie Van Schelvergem (Eyeworks Film), Tim Rostock (TV Drama and Warner Bros International Television Distribution Germany)
Broadcasters: VRT, ZDF, Videoland

MÁXIMA (Netherlands)
Screenwriters: Marnie Blok, Ilse Ott, Judith Goudsmit, Diede Zillinger, Sytske Kok
Directors: Saskia Diesing, Joosje Duk, Iván López Núñez
Producer: Rachel van Bommel (Millstreet Films)
Broadcaster: RTL Videoland

Moresnet (Belgium/Netherlands/Germany)
Showrunners: Frank Van Passel, Jef Hoogmartens, Jonas Van Geel
Screenwriter: Jef Hoogmartens
Director: Frank Van Passel
Producers: Helena Vlogaert, Bert Hamelinck (Lompvis & Caviar), Sander Van Meurs (Pupkin), Gabriele Simon, Martin Heisler (Flare Film)
Broadcasters: Streamz, ZDF Neo

Ronja the Robber’s Daughter (Sweden/Germany)
Screenwriter: Hans Rosenfeldt
Director: Lisa James Larsson
Producers: Bonnie Skoog Feeney, Mattias Arehn (Filmlance International)
Co-producers: Viaplay Group, Film i Väst, ARD Degeto
Broadcasters: Netflix, ARD Degeto

To Cook a Bear (working title) (Sweden)
Screenwriter: Jesper Harrie
Director: Trygve Allister Diesen
Producer: Mia Welin (Anagram Sweden)
Executive producers: Miira Paasilinna, Martin Persson (Anagram), Nanna Mailand-Mercado (The Walt Disney Company Nordic & Baltic)
Broadcaster: Disney+

Whiskey on the Rocks (Sweden)
Screenwriter: Henrik Jansson-Schweizer
Director: Björn Stein
Producer: Jan Marnell (Skyverse)
Executive producers: Patrick Nebout, Henrik Jansson-Schweizer, Magnus Bimberg, Anna Croneman, Sonja Hermele, Nanna Mailand-Mercado
Broadcasters: SVT, Disney+

Projects in development

The Amazons of Istanbul (Turkey)
Screenwriter/director: Nisan Dağ
Producer: Müge Özen (Solis Film)

Behind the Iron Curtain (Estonia)
Screenwriter: Leana Jalukse
Producers: Helen Lõhmus, René Ezra

Disgrace (Germany)
Screenwriters: Swantje Oppermann, Andreas Gutzeit
Producer: Andreas Gutzeit (Story House Pictures GmbH)

Kilwater (Poland)
Screenwriter: Małgorzata Piłacińska
Producers: Kaja Jałocha, Krystyna Kantor, Joanna Szymanska

Haze (Iceland)
Screenwriters: Sigurjon Kjartansson, David Mar Stefansson, Gagga Jonsdottir
Director: Oskar Thor Axelsson
Producer: Erlingur Jack (S800)
Broadcaster: RUV

Hildur (Finland/Iceland/Germany)
Screenwriters: Matti Laine, Margrét Örnólfsdóttir
Producers: Eero Hietala, Lasse Koskinen, Sara Norberg (Take Two Studios), Kjartan Thor Thordarson, Tjörvi Thorsson (Sagafilm), Andreas Gutzeit (Story House Pictures)
Broadcasters: Nelonen/Ruutu, Síminn

How to Kill Your Sister (Belgium)
Screenwriters: Evelien Broekaert, Pedro Elias
Director: Jonas Geirnaert
Producer: Hilde De Laere (FBO)
Broadcasters: Streamz, Play4, ZDF Neo

I Was a Cop in the 80s (Belgium)
Screenwriters: Philippe De Schepper, Bas Adriaensen
Director: Wim Geudens
Producers: Helen Perquy, Philippe De Schepper (jonnydepony)
Broadcasters: Streamz, Amazon Digital UK Limited

This Is Not a Murder Mystery (Belgium)
Screenwriters: Christophe Dirickx, Paul Baeten
Directors: Hans Herbots, Matthias Lebeer
Producer: Panenka
Executive producers: Kato Maes, Kristoffel Mertens, Hans Herbots
Broadcaster: VRT

Requiem for Selina (Norway)
Screenwriter: Emmeline Berglund
Directors: Ole Sebastian Kåss, Rikke Gregersen
Producer: Ingunn Rensel (ANTI)
Broadcaster: NRK

The Swedish Muse (Sweden)
Screenwriters: Jessika Jankert, Lovisa Löwhagen
Director: Hanna Elin
Producers: Frida Hallberg (Cinenic Film), Fox in the Snow Films

TIVOLI (working title) (Denmark)
Screenwriter: Anna Neye
Producers: Trin Hjortkjær Thomsen, Camilla Hammerich (Nordisk Film Production)
Broadcaster: TV 2 Danmark