During the Industry Days event of the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF), various show proposals were presented on Tuesday, including “Erotic Lives of the Superheroes,” a unique blend of cancer tragicomedy; portrayals of strong female characters who exhibit lethal abilities; and other intriguing concepts.
The initial Pop-Up Series Workshop, jointly arranged by Central European Media Enterprises and ourselves, showcased five unique European television series concepts and adaptations from books.
Or:
Our first Pop-Up Series Lab, in collaboration with media and entertainment company Central European Media Enterprises, presented five original European TV projects inspired by novels.
Or:
The kickoff event for our Pop-Up Series Hub, a joint venture with broadcaster and entertainment powerhouse Central European Media Enterprises, highlighted five innovative European series proposals based on books.
In the passage below, THR (The Hollywood Reporter) has gathered a summary of the projects that attracted attention at Karlovy Vary and key points from their creators’ presentations to industry professionals.
This version aims to maintain the original meaning while using simpler language and providing a more natural flow.
The Criminal Escapades of the Superheroes
Based on: “The Erotic Lives of the Supermen” by Marco Mancassola
Countries: France
Scriptwriters: Eric Dupont, Ruddy-Williams Kabuiku, Nadya Todorova
Producer: Eric Dupont
Language: English
Genre: Crime thriller, superhero (with an emphasis on the crime and thriller elements)
Erotic Lives of the Superheroes, courtesy of KVIFF
As a gamer, “When the superheroes I once looked up to start meeting their grim end in ways eerily similar to my nightmares, I found myself reluctantly teaming up with my long-lost twin sister – a hard-boiled detective. With both of us harboring a past we’d rather forget, we find ourselves drawn into a deadly game where the killer seems to be hiding in the very places we thought were safe.
Dupont elaborated on the main points, stating, ‘This is about the disappointments we face when those we admire let us down, and we understand that there’s no knight in shining armor to rescue us.’
In a recent conversation, Todorova pointed out two significant aspects that set their show apart. Firstly, she explained that they’re peeling back the polished veneer of heroism and revealing the fragile, self-destructive individuals hidden beneath the masks, who are likely present in every superhero series, but usually remain concealed. Secondly, she highlighted that the powers portrayed in their show serve more as wounds exacerbating trauma rather than the typical gifts found in conventional superhero genres, which often provide resolution to problems.
Reflecting on our creative process, I’d say, “We’re reimagining the superhero realm for homegrown tales, as superheroes historically hail from Europe. Yet, it’s no simple feat to rival the Americans in this genre. So, leveraging our unique abilities, we strive for a more authentic, realistic approach. For instance, one of our characters possesses the power to transform shapes, but this gift eventually becomes a burden, as she can no longer recognize her own face.
Therapies
Originally penned by Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Country: Lithuania
Directed by: Birute Kapustinskaite, Marija Katvaradzė
Screenplay written by: Birutė Kapustinskaitė, Ruxandra Ghitescu, Fabrizio Muscia
Produced by: Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė
Language spoken: Lithuanian
Genre: a mix of tragedy and comedy, showcasing everyday life
Therapies
A play adaptation by Birutė Kapustinskaitė
Originating from Lithuania
Directed jointly by Birute Kapustinskaite and Marija Katvaradzė
Screenplay co-written by Birutė Kapustinskaitė, Ruxandra Ghitescu, Fabrizio Muscia
Produced by Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė
Language: Lithuanian
Style: a blend of tragedy and comedy, depicting everyday life
Therapies, courtesy of KVIFF
A Bitterly Witty Professor Encountered Solitude During Chemotherapy in an Isolated Hospital, Only to Find Herself Surrounded by a Lively Gaggle of Cancer Patients, Including Her Former Academic Rival. The Challenge? Not Just the Disease, but Navigating the Unpredictable Interactions and Camaraderie Amongst These Women. As They Adapt to Their New Environment, Filled with Group Chats, Healing Sessions, and Unexpected Bonding Moments, They Create a Strange yet Comforting Microcosm of Life. This Slice-of-Life Comedy Explores the Themes of Illness, Autonomy, and Acceptance.
Kapustinskaitė shared, “I would accompany my mom to every one of her chemotherapy appointments at the hospital because she stayed there for three nights each time. During those stays, I noticed that some of the women were always there with us. Watching their journeys together, I found them incredibly intriguing and unique. So moved by this experience, I told my mom that I intended to write a play about it. Sadly, my mom didn’t survive, but her story lived on through the play.
Ghitescu found herself drawn to “the raw emotional truth underlying the tale,” she mentioned. “This isn’t a narrative about sickness; instead, it transforms into a tale that showcases the resilience and persistence of life.
Muscia suggested that “the show uniquely distinguishes itself from other cancer-themed shows by not sensationalizing the disease, but rather portraying it as an integral aspect of life.” Essentially, when one receives such a diagnosis, they must continue to handle their usual problems, and cancer becomes just another challenge to overcome.
The Burials of Irma (Based on Alfatride by Vassilis Vassilikos)
Country: Greece, Luxembourg, Switzerland
Director: Elina Psykou
Screenwriter: Elina Psykou and Lemba de Miranda
Producer: Fenia Cossovitsa
Languages used: English, Greek, German, Italian
Genre: Neo-noir, Thriller
The Three Burials of Irma, courtesy of KVIFF
1973: In the midst of Greece’s military regime, Irma, a woman, is brutally killed by her wealthy husband on their secluded island. The coroner, asked to conceal the crime by the husband, struggles internally but remains silent. His wife, Maria, attempts to expose the truth, only to mysteriously lose her voice. As Irma’s corpse becomes a battleground, Bianca, an Italian girl wandering lost, grows close to the coroner’s young assistant. In a misguided attempt at justice, they abduct the tycoon’s son. In a bold act of rebellion, Maria publicly condemns Irma’s murder and her husband’s involvement, leading her to take her own life. The junta brutally crushes an uprising in Athens Polytechnic by sending a tank through its gates. Bianca, betrayed by the assistant, emerges from the turmoil, finally finding true freedom.
Pitch highlights: The team showed a teaser that included the tagline: “Patriarchy kills.”
Psychou clarified that a woman’s lifeless body often serves as a battleground for power struggles, only to be buried – both literally and symbolically – multiple times. She further explained that our narrative focuses on the perspectives of two women as they strive to uncover the truth behind Irma’s death, as well as other murders perpetrated by the junta. Their quest also involves challenging patriarchy, pursuing justice, and exposing the dark truth hidden beneath.
De Miranda found several compelling factors: “First, there’s the unique setting – Greece, often regarded as the birthplace of civilization and democracy, was under military rule during that period. Additionally, the narrative centers around women who, despite having no significant voice in society at the time, were bound by a silent agreement and strived for justice.
The Night of the Beguines”
Originally titled: “La Nuit des Béguines” by Aline Kiner
Countries Involved: France, Belgium, Italy
Director: David Roux
Screenplay: David Roux and Yaël Kayam
Producers: Candice Zaccagnino, Olivier Aknin
Cinematography: Aurélien Marra, Augustin Barbaroux
Music: Quentin Sirjacq
Language: French
Genre: Historical Thriller
The Night of the Beguines, courtesy of KVIFF
The Last Inkling: Whispers of Rebellion in 14th-century Paris”
Synopsis: This tale unfolds in medieval Paris, where a band of self-reliant women, known as the Beguines, find themselves in peril. Their influential spiritual guide, Marguerite Porete, has been apprehended for blasphemy. Amidst the chaos is Ysabel, the elected leader, who conceals a shadowy past and a potentially lethal secret: she is the sole possessor of the final surviving version of Marguerite’s outlawed manuscript, believed to wield potent mystical forces. As the Inquisition looms and panic escalates, Ysabel must weigh her options: should she annihilate the book to safeguard the sanctuary, or preserve it, uphold its essence, and confront an uncertain fate: The sanctuary. The women. And Herself. A riveting historical drama that explores forbidden wisdom, female defiance, and the cost of liberty in a repressive era.
Key points: Roux expressed his wish for Natalie Portman to star in the production, stating, “The narrative revolves around themes of freedom, early feminism, and female camaraderie.
Currently, women’s voices across various global locations continue to face challenges and lose ground on the personal freedoms they have previously attained. Kayam emphasized this issue, suggesting that it is high time we amplify these silenced voices once more.
Zaccagnino emphasized that the story’s appeal transcends borders and resonates widely. In her words, “It holds just as much international allure as The Da Vinci Code or The Name of the Rose.” She continued, “The quest is compelling, and we are incredibly eager about this project.
The Angelmakers of Nagyrév
Based on: the real-life events of The Angel Makers from Nagyrév
Countries: Romania, Czech Republic, Germany
Directed by: Cristina Groșan
Screenplay by: Cristina Groșan, Loïc Barrère, Leana Jalukse
Produced by: Anda Ionescu
Cinematography: Márk Győri
Languages: Hungarian, German, Czech, Romanian
Genre: A revisionist take on the western genre with dark comedy undertones.
Angelmaker, courtesy of KVIFF
As a gamer immersed in this fictional world, I found myself taking on the role of Hilda during a time when men were away at war. In their absence, women like me ran the village, managing its daily operations with a mix of resilience and resourcefulness. We worked hard, we laughed, even formed relationships with enemies’ soldiers – it was our way of surviving amidst chaos.
However, when peace returned and the men came storming back, demanding control, tensions escalated. There seemed to be no help coming from outside, so I devised a quick solution: a discreetly administered dose of arsenic that could calm them or end their lives, depending on the amount consumed. With Carina’s medical expertise, we turned this homemade justice into a system. A council was formed, and poison became our policy.
At first, it felt like we were restoring order and balance in our village. But as time passed, the cemetery started overflowing with fresh graves, and a sense of unease grew among us. To make matters worse, a suspicious General began poking around, asking questions about our sudden prosperity. Despite these ominous signs, everything appeared to be running more smoothly than ever before.
Key points: The team unveiled a sneak peek, culminating with the slogan: “Step into our community. Resist the temptation of the soup.
Groșan observed that genuine anecdotes were integrated into the project. She explained, “In early 20th-century villages, women faced difficulties with their husbands because there was no police presence. They had no personal finances and couldn’t divorce. As a result, they resorted to something inconspicuous, like arsenic poisoning.
She remarked: “Initially, it seemed to be for survival purposes, but the approach gained widespread acceptance, and before long, they began using it as a means to eliminate those they disliked.
At the same time, Ionescu expressed, “I found myself fascinated by the hazy boundary between what is right and what is wrong, and how much we can push that limit.
Asked if the series shares a similar feel with “Breaking Bad,” Jalukse replied: “Indeed, there’s an element of ‘Breaking Bad’ in the story. However, our characters aim to set things right after going astray, but they may find it’s already too late.
Barrère shared with the crowd that whenever he embarks on a new venture, he ponders if it’s something he would personally enjoy watching. In this instance, his response was clear – he was eager to witness a team of women challenging patriarchy. He emphasized that the subject matter is strikingly relevant in today’s society and resonates with his own experiences and our current era. The power, he asserted, won’t be given; it must be taken.
Read More
- Grimguard Tactics tier list – Ranking the main classes
- Gold Rate Forecast
- 10 Most Anticipated Anime of 2025
- USD CNY PREDICTION
- Box Office: ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Stomping to $127M U.S. Bow, North of $250M Million Globally
- Silver Rate Forecast
- “Golden” Moment: How ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Created the Year’s Catchiest Soundtrack
- Castle Duels tier list – Best Legendary and Epic cards
- Black Myth: Wukong minimum & recommended system requirements for PC
- Mech Vs Aliens codes – Currently active promos (June 2025)
2025-07-08 15:55