Arun Tamm, an Estonian director, is finalizing his upcoming TV series Von Fock, which will debut at the TV Beats Forum (November 18-20, 2024) during the Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event. With a budget of nearly 4 million euros, this coproduction between Estonia, Latvia, and Italy stands as one of the most expensive series in the region.
Von Fock is adapted from a series of novels by Ain Kütt and offers enough material for two seasons. The series blends light crime with historical elements, following the story of Paul von Fock, a Baltic German noble who inherits Sagadi Manor. Initially struggling with his social role, Paul’s intelligence in estate management and his strong sense of justice lead him to become an assessor at the local court. What starts as minor disputes soon evolves into intricate murder mysteries involving fake identities and stolen fortunes.
The script was written by Leana Jalukse and Lilian von Keudell. The main cast includes Estonian actor Priit Pius, Italian actress Aurora Ruffino, and Estonian actor Sten Karpov.
Describing the project, producer Jevgeni Supin emphasized its potential as a “collection of period crime mysteries” set in the early 19th century. The focus on Baltic German nobles in Estonia is expected to attract significant interest from German audiences, making the series a strong candidate for international coproduction. Supin stated, “This project aims to elevate Baltic series production and showcase the region’s capability to produce high-quality series with authentic, universally appealing stories.”
Von Fock is produced by Estonia’s Zolba Productions, led by Jevgeni Supin and Helen Lõhmus, in collaboration with Gunda Bergmane from Latvia’s Berghein Production, Markus Frings from Italy’s movie.mento, and Wilfried Gufler from Italy’s Albolina. The executive production team includes Toomas Luhats, Carlos Hertel, Silke Wilfinger, Üllar Saaremäe, and Esko Rips.
The series received financial backing from the Estonian Film Institute, the Creative Europe Programme (CREA), LIAA (Investment and Development Agency of Latvia), and the IDM Film Commission, in cooperation with Estonian Public Broadcasting, Latvian Television, and Lithuanian Radio and Television. Supin added that Von Fock became the first series from the region to receive support from the Creative Media TV and Online Content support programme, as well as the Council of Europe’s Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions.
Filming took place throughout the summer of 2024 in Estonia, Latvia, and Italy. After its premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, the series will be available in spring 2025 on Estonia’s VOD platform, Jupiter.
The series will be showcased at the TV Beats Forum during the inaugural TV Beats Screening Day, which will feature five dramas for sales agents, distributors, and industry professionals.
Production Information:
Director: Arun Tamm
Scriptwriters: Leana Jalukse, Lilian von Keudell
Producers: Zolba Productions (Estonia), Berghein Production (Latvia), Nafta Films (Latvia), movie.mento (Italy), Albolina (Italy)
Main Cast: Priit Pius, Aurora Ruffino, Sten Karpov
Cinematography: Mart Ratassepp
Production Designer: Mārtiņš Straupe
Costume Designers: Sieglinde Michaeler, Walter Granuzzo, Jūlija Volkinšteine
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