Co-Producing Drama from Small-Language Territories: Against All Odds
In today’s high-stakes European drama landscape, the demand for fresh, diverse storytelling has never been higher—but financing it has never been tougher. As public funding dries up and private investors play it safe, how can creators from smaller territories get original series off the ground? This session lays bare the realities of funding in an era of tightening budgets and shrinking risk appetites, while spotlighting the creative, cross-border tactics that power today’s most compelling dramas. Independent producers explain how they stack regional funds and tax incentives, engineer cross-border co-productions, land key pre-sales deals, and time global partnerships to maximise leverage; from the distribution perspective, the panel explores how and why series from small territories cut through, and how windowing strategies can amplify their appeal. Together, panellists examine the trade-offs between local flavour and international reach, and the creative, legal, and financial compromises that ultimately secure a green light.
SPEAKERS
JEVGENI ŠUPIN
Producer, Zolba Productions | EE
MODERATED BY
ROOSA TOIVONEN
Chief Creative Officer, PÖFF/Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival/TV Beats | FI
TIME
Tuesday, August 19th, 2025
11:30 – 12:30 (CET)
LOCATION
Festival Garden
KATIA SOL
Co-Founder, Oble | FR
HORDUR RUNARSSON
Executive Producer/Writer, ACT 4 | IS
Jevgeni Šupin
Jevgeni Šupin embarked on his journey in the entertainment industry in 1998. For over a decade, he led the production of formats such as DANCING WITH THE STARS and WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE. Since 2013, Supin’s work has spanned a wide spectrum, from broadcast content to television series, feature films, and stage plays. In recent years, he has ventured into the international arena and is currently developing a slate of projects in co-production with Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, and Ukraine.
Hörður Rúnarsson
Hordur Runarsson is a seasoned executive producer with extensive experience in the international television industry. A firm believer in collaboration and co-productions, he has played a key role in developing and financing high-profile projects that have received multiple awards and been distributed worldwide.
As a creator, Runarsson’s debut series, REYKJAVÍK FUSIONS, produced by ACT4 for ARTE and Síminn, had its world premiere at Canneseries, its Asian premiere at the Busan Content Market, and its German premiere at Seriencamp, marking a significant milestone in his career. He is a partner in the production company ACT4, which is currently in production with DEATH OF A HORST, the first-ever NEW8 project from Iceland produced by his company, ACT4, which he co-founded together with Ólafur Darri Ólafsson, Birkir Blær Ingólfsson, and Jónas Margeir Ingólfsson. Projects in the starting blocks include BIG BROTHER, WOOL, NORRÖNA MURDERS, and VOLCANO. With a keen eye for compelling storytelling and a strong network in the industry, Runarsson continues to shape the landscape of Icelandic television, bridging the gap between Nordic creativity and global audiences.
Katia Sol
In 2020, Katia Sol co-founded Oble, an independent drama-focused production and sales company based in Paris. She has extensive experience in the scripted entertainment industry, with a focus on sales, acquisitions, script development, and financing international co-productions. Before setting up Oble, Sol worked in international sales of all genre programems at Mediawan, and all rights feature film sales for StudioCanal. Since 2021, she has co-produced HELSINKI CRIMES with ITV Studios Finland for CMore (Nordics). She is Executive Producer of WINTER PALACE, a series for RTS (Switzerland) and Netflix in Europe. Sol is a member of the European Producers Club.
Roosa Toivonen
Roosa Toivonen is Chief Creative Officer at Good Hand Film & TV and serves as Co-Head for Tallinn’s TV Beats industry event. Previously, she was Head of Creative at Aurora Studios, and was involved in optioning, developing, and producing across the company’s slate. Her recent credits include Selma Vilhunen’s FOUR LITTLE ADULTS, Charlie McDowell’s THE SUMMER BOOK, Sophie Hyde’s JIMPA, Vladimir de Fontenay’s SUKKWAN ISLAND, the latter two of which had their premieres at the Sundance Film Festival in 2025, and the series CODENAME ANNIKA, MIX TAPE, THE BOY THAT NEVER WAS, REYKJAVÍK FUSION, and REYKJAVÍK 112. Toivonen is currently a producer on Carlos Saldanha’s 100 DAYS and on FAITHFULL, Zaida Bergroth's Marianne Faithfull biopic. On the series side, she is working on HIDDEN ASSETS 4, VILLA HILDA and LARRY THORNE.