Red Arrow Studios International has inked a deal with Portuguese pubcaster RTP on the Icelandic family drama series “Descendants,“ from “Quake“ helmer Tinna Hrafnsdóttir.
The show is vying for the €20,000 ($21,600) Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize for best Nordic screenplay at the Göteborg Film Festival‘s forthcoming TV Drama Vision confab. Seven.One Studios‘ global distribution arm holds rights outside Iceland (Síminn) and Benelux (Lumiere).
Picked up at script stage by Red Arrow Studios International, the character-driven drama is the showrunning debut of seasoned actor Hrafnsdóttir (“The Minister,” “The Valhalla Murders”), whose first feature “Quake” earned a nod at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2022 and was acquired by Juno Films for North America and the U.K.
“‘Descendants’ offers a captivating exploration of intricate family dynamics amidst Iceland’s stunning visual backdrop,” said Rodrigo Herrera Ibarguengoytia, VP scripted, acquisitions and co-productions at Red Arrow Studios International. “Combining relentless power struggles and the sway of greed with the pursuit of acceptance, the series exposes universal truths bound to resonate worldwide.
We’re thrilled the show has been nominated for the Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize, which is testament to the talented and dedicated creative team behind the series,” he said.
Loosely inspired by a personal experience, the drama is set against the backdrop of Iceland’s banking crisis and the booming tourism industry.
Three siblings get at each other’s throats for the legacy of a stunning summerhouse and the parents’ whale watching business. Besides Hrafnsdóttir, the all-Icelandic cast includes Hanna María Karlsdóttir (“Black Sands”), Pálmi Gestsson (“Trapped”), Vignir Rafn Valþórsson (“Blackport”) and Þuríður Blær Jóhannesdóttir (“The Minister”).
“Descendants” was produced by Iceland’s Polarama, Freyja Filmworks and Projects, in co-production with Belgium’s Lunanime. First shown on Iceland’s streamer Síminn on Nov. 2, the show was viewed by 82.98% of the streamer‘s subscribers.
Hrafnsdóttir is also attending the Discovery program of Göteborg’s Nordic Film Market with her sophomore feature in development “Breeze is Doing OK” (working title), produced by Freyja Filmworks.
The Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision runs Jan. 30-31 and Nordic Film Market Jan. 31-Feb. 2.