Theo Papadoulakis
P.I.G.S.
When four misfit Mediterranean MEPs discover a dangerous plot in the underbelly of the European Union, they must act quickly to defend their culinary heritage from corporate exploitation.
SYNOPSIS
While the rest of Brussels runs on strict schedules and efficiency metrics, P.I.G.S. stirs together four ingredients from Europe's Mediterranean kitchen into a feast of political intrigue, with the future of European nutrition hanging in the balance. The series focuses on four unlikely independent MEPs from Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain—countries derogatorily labelled “PIGS” during the 2014 financial crisis: twenty-eight-year-old Ana, a transgender food influencer; fifty-five-year-old Isabel, a disillusioned career politician; thirty-four-year-old Luca, a disgraced former football star bent on destroying the system from within; and forty-five-year-old Miltos, a failed TV salesman who doesn’t care about political tags and wants to stay true to his promises for once. Nobody thinks they can accomplish anything, which is how they end up supervising the umpteenth Farm to Fork addendum bill, a puddle of minor agricultural and farming regulations nobody cares about. Then, Miltos stumbles upon a loophole for GMOs that threatens to compromise the nutritional policy of the best-fed continent in the world. Who’s behind it? Miltos convinces the others to help him figure it out, and soon discovers that true political activity in Brussels occurs far from the polished chambers of parliament—in saunas far from the reach of CCTV; during endless drinking escapades, when confidences flow freely; and in the hidden corners of family-run restaurants, where immigrant chefs exchange more significant insights than Europol. As they navigate the treacherous landscape of EU politics, Miltos and the others confront lobbyists, Mercosur farmers, internal sabotage from their national rivals back home, and their own personal demons. In a world where compromise is currency, they must decide how much they are willing to invest for the greater good.
CREATOR
Theo Papadoulakis
PRODUCER
Ioanna Davi
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Indigo View Productions
COUNTRY
Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium
FORMAT
52' x 8
GENRE
Drama, Political, Black Comedy, Crime, Environmental
Theo Papadoulakis
Theo Papadoulakis was born in South Africa in 1974 and currently lives on Crete in Greece. He holds a BA in radio and television production from Salford University and obtained his master’s degree in film directing from the Northern Film School in the United Kingdom. His early short films, SAMOURE, PILALA, and LARGO have received twenty-seven international awards and distinctions, and have been distributed by networks worldwide, including Canal+ and Eurochannel. became widely known for his work directing the highly successful series THE ISLAND (2009), a twenty-six-episode period drama based on the international best-selling novel written by Victoria Hislop. THE ISLAND has the highest ratings in the history of private Greek television and has been sold and distributed by international networks in ten countries. Papadoulakis’s most recent series is the thirteen-episode teenage mystery-adventure COMMANDOS AND DRAGONS, which took Greek audiences by storm with its unique storytelling and impressive aesthetic. His other credits include the drama series THE A WORD (I LEXI POU DE LES; 2016), based on the original by Keshet International, which touched millions of viewers and was praised by critics for its performances and aesthetic quality. He has also directed several documentaries and promotional and tourism videos, which have received more than forty international awards and distinctions. Papadoulakis is currently in the final stages of development of his debut feature, CHRIST RECRUCIFIED, which is based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis and is an international co-production of Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and Luxembourg funded by Creative Europe–MEDIA Co-Development Support, the Greek Film Centre, SEKIN (Cyprus), the Ministero della Cultura (Italy), and the Luxembourg Film Fund. He believes filmmaking is a somewhat uncontrolled process and that creativity flourishes when one is open to the unexpected. He is co-founder and artistic director of Indigo View Productions.
CREATOR’S STATEMENT
When we first conceived P.I.G.S., we wanted to tell a story about how Southern Europe's supposed weaknesses—our emphasis on family, food, and personal relationships—might be our greatest strengths. The European Parliament, with its endless corridors and byzantine procedures, seemed the perfect setting to explore this clash of cultures. Still, we didn't want to make another cynical political drama about corruption and power. Instead, P.I.G.S. celebrates Mediterranean culture's warmth, humour, and resilience while acknowledging its real pressures. The film’s characters aren't crusaders or anti-heroes, but flawed, funny, and deeply human people trying to protect what’s important to them. The show's unique tone emerges from this perspective: serious issues are handled with a light touch, real dangers are faced with humour, and political intrigue is seasoned with family drama and cultural comedy. The series structure reflects this duality. While each episode follows the brewing crisis in Brussels, they also take us deep into a different character’s home country and personal life. This allows us to demonstrate how EU policies affect real communities and families, while exploring the cost of individual political resistance. Klaus's death reminds us that the stakes are serious, but our focus remains on how ordinary people find extraordinary courage through connection and community. We show how real power often operates outside official channels by setting much of our action in unexpected locations. Yet, these spaces also represent what our characters are fighting to preserve: places where people meet, talk, and break bread together. The series suggests that saving Europe's soul might require looking beyond its institutions to its dinner tables and community gatherings.
Ioanna Davi
Ioanna Davi studied economics and management at the University of St. Andrews. She is the CEO and a co-founder of Indigo View Productions, and a producer of successful television dramas, as well as award-winning short films and documentaries, among them the hugely successful and internationally sold twenty-six-episode period drama THE ISLAND (TO NISI), the collaborative documentary project INNER DRIVE, which was filmed in five countries, and the thirteen-episode teenage mystery-adventure COMMANDOS AND DRAGONS. She has also overseen the development and creation of more than 300 commercials and tourism and awareness-raising campaigns that have received accolades internationally. Her current projects in development include the feature film CHRIST RECRUCIFIED, directed by Theo Papadoulakis and based on the seminal novel of the same name by Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis; the political satire/drama series P.I.G.S.; and ASTA THE HURRICANE, Indigo View’s first animated series for children.
PRODUCER’S STATEMENT
P.I.G.S. arrives at a crucial moment in European history, when a focus on standardisation and efficiency threatens to override local traditions and cultural diversity. While the series takes a light, often humorous approach, it addresses serious concerns about corporate influence, cultural preservation, and the future of European democracy. The show's unique blend of political intrigue, cultural comedy, and personal drama offers multiple entry points for viewers across Europe and beyond. Its exploration of how local communities resist corporate standardisation resonates well beyond its specific setting, while celebrating Mediterranean culture provides warmth and authenticity. The project is structured as a natural co-production between Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, with significant portions to be filmed in each country, as well as in Brussels. This approach serves the story and allows us to showcase each region's distinct beauty and character while building on existing or budding production partnerships across Southern Europe. Focusing on food regulation as a central conflict makes complex political issues tangible and relatable. Everyone eats, cares about what they eat, and understands the importance of preserving culinary heritage. Through this lens, we explore more significant questions about European identity, democracy, and the balance between progress and tradition.
Production company profile
Indigo View was founded in 2005. The company’s portfolio ranges from highly rated television to award-winning short films with notable social impact, and tourism, advertising, and awareness-raising campaigns that have garnered more than 100 awards worldwide. Indigo View has produced high-end content for all major Greek audio-visual outlets and European institutions, while offering line-production services to international houses filming in Greece. We strongly believe in the benefits of co-production, with the prospect of developing a slate of projects for an international audience in the years to come.
Where are we at?
ESTIMATED PRODUCTION BUDGET FOR THE FIRST SEASON
4.800.000 €
FINANCING IN PLACE
€527.500
Production timeline
We plan to finalise the co-production set-up by late spring 2025, apply for Creative Europe–MEDIA European Co-Development support and TV and Online Content in late 2025 or 2026. Filming is preliminarily scheduled for the spring of 2026.