Beta Film closes major multi-territory deal with CANAL+ across Europe
Key highlights are the steamy UK drama The Couple Next Door, the political thriller series Other People’s Money, and coming from Italy, the emotional coming-of-age series Prisma, as well as the crime drama Cold Summer, and the detective saga Makari - Sicilian Mysteries. CANAL+ also secured the explosive Madrid-set crime series El Inmortal - Gangs of Madrid and Last to Brake, the biographical drama one of the most talented motorcycle racers, Jarno Saarinen.
World premiered at Berlinale, Other People’s Money (8x1h) by creator and showrunner Jan Schomburg (I’m Your Man, Above Us Only Sky) is inspired by true events and the research by Oliver Schröm (Die Cum-Ex-Files, Die Akte Scholz) and Christian Salewski, Niels Fastrup, and Thomas G. Svaneborg. Other People’s Money, described by Der Spiegel as a “perfectly formed, eight-part masterpiece” is produced by X Filme Creative Pool and True Content Entertainment in co-production with EPO- Film, ZDF and DR in co-production with New8 (with NRK, SVT, RUV, YLE, NPO, and VRT).
The Sam Heughan-starrer The Couple Next Door (6x1h), produced by Eagle Eye in association with Beta Film, was one of Channel 4’s biggest drama streaming launches and had a triumphant linear debut. Loosely adapted from the Dutch series “The Neighbors” by Millstreet Films, The Couple Next Door is written by David Allison (Marcella, Bedlam), directed by the awarded Dries Vos (Suspect, Professor T).
The Italian Mafia series Cold Summer (8x1h), starring Alessio Boni (The Tourist, Leopardi. Il poeta dell'infinito), is adapted from the bestselling novel by former anti-Mafia prosecutor Gianrico Carofiglio and was a record-breaking sensation in Italian primetime on RAI. Earlier this year, Beta Film sold the mafia series produced by Clemart to the US and Canada, as well as to Australia.
The coming-of-age series Prisma (16x1h), produced by Cross Productions, revolves around the complex relationship between identity, aspirations, physical appearance, and sexual orientation of a group of teenagers. IndieWire described the series as "a teen story spectrum that floats through lives without judgment or trepidation". The series received major numerous recognitions, including “Best Actor in a Series” (Mattia Carrano) at the Premio Kinéo 2024, among others.
Likewise, Last to Brake (4x1h), produced by Funfar in co-production with Fireframe and YLE, and directed by Simon Kaijser, received notable international recognition, including a nomination in the Fiction category at Prix Europa 2024, as well as nominations at the Venice TV Award 2024, including for Best Cinematography.
El Inmortal - Gangs of Madrid (20x1h), produced by Movistar Plus+ and Telemundo Int. Studios in collaboration with DLO Producciones, equally shines with numerous honors. Directed by David Ulloa and Rafa Montesinos, the series has garnered major international recognition since its premiere at Canneseries 2022, including nominations at the Iris Awards 2025, PRODU Awards 2024, C21 International Drama Awards 2023, as well as wins for Best Action Series at the PRODU Awards 2023 and Best Actor in a Drama Series (Alejandro García) at the Almería International Film Festival 2023, among others.
The RAI 1 prime-time winner Makari - Sicilian Mysteries (15x2h) is produced by Palomar in collaboration with RAI Fiction. Praised as “the other ‘Montalbano’” (Corriere della Sera), this Italian hit series unites mystery, comedy, and melodrama and is based on the bestselling books by Gaetano Savatteri.