With the new Producers' Rendezvous initiative, the Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein (FFHSH) and Filmby Aarhus are bringing together German and Danish producers who want to collaborate on regional series. The first two projects that will be developed under the "New Nordic Noir" label have been granted development support for their series projects.

Hamburg-based production outfit Wüste Film will cooperate with SAM Productions in Copenhagen, while German company Letterbox will co-develop a series with Deluca Film in Aarhus. The aim of the New Nordic Noir programme is to develop regional series for West Denmark that have significant German involvement.

“It is a strong signal for the North European film landscape that we already have two German-Danish production teams that are working on ideas for regional series,” states Maria Köpf, managing director, FFHSH. “Together with Filmby Aarhus, we have the opportunity now to give advice and support to two international series from the very beginning. It is great that there are renowned writers involved, and we are looking forward to a creative German-Danish exchange that will foster the cooperation between our regions.” 

Both series projects are receiving development funding from Filmby Aarhus. The next steps include participation in series workshops such as the New Nordic Noir/West Coast Series Lab, which takes place in Hvide Sande, Denmark, in September, as well as the Series Lab that the FFHSH and the Creative Europe Desk are organising during the Filmfest Hamburg.

Altogether, 12 production companies participated in the Producers' Rendezvous. In 2018, the Rendezvous will continue with a focus on the Schleswig-Holstein region.