Scripted

Beta Film has picked up international distribution rights to the crime drama Cecilie Mars, created and directed by Christoffer Boe (Warrior, Face to Face). Produced by Karoline Leth (DNA, The Dreamer – Becoming Karen Blixen) for Zentropa, Cecilie Mars was selected for Series Mania’s Co Pro Pitching Session and will be presented on 25 March in the Grand Theatre. The six-part series is adapted from the highly successful book series by Michael Katz Krefeld.

Producer Karoline Leth comments: “I was instantly captivated by the main character Cecilie Mars when I read the book. She is indeed wild! And she is a true hero. A hero, who faces unbearable problems that are nearly breaking her, all the while she is fighting to uphold the balance of justice in a system that sometimes seems to protect the criminal more than it does the victim. Cecilie Mars is always on the victim’s side! She protects young women from perpetrators, no matter what it takes. I’m on Cecilie Mars’ side – whatever she is doing. We are creating a compelling and relatable series that will resonate with a broad audience, in Denmark, Europe, and the rest of the world.”

Creater/director Christoffer Boe adds: “Cecilie Mars is my chance to shake up the thriller genre by diving headfirst into an unseen side of Copenhagen –one filled with shadowy corners, hidden stories, and mysteries lurking just beneath the sunny surface. With Cecilie herself at the core, we have an intensely fascinating protagonist whose layers I can’t wait to peel back, twist by twist – mostly because, even I suspect, she doesn’t know what she’ll do next. It’s the kind of thriller that not only challenges storytelling conventions but also makes you seriously question what your local police officer might be up to when the lights go out.”

Beta Film’s Anais de Neergaard notes: “Karoline gave me the book at one of our first meetings, and after reading it, I knew this was a project we had to board. Cecilie Mars is a captivating story of a female police inspector who constantly blurs the lines between right and wrong, that is unlike what I’ve seen before. We are proud to be co-producers of Cecilie Mars and very excited to bring this one of kind Danish crime series directed by Mr. Boe to the international market.”

Cecilie Mars appears to be in control of her life. She’s good at her job as a police investigator, she has a steamy secret affair with a colleague from the Pub­lic Prosecutor’s office, and she’s a role model to the youngsters of Copenhagen’s Bellahøj neighborhood, where she coaches the local girls in self-defense. So, for now, all is good — but it will soon pass.

The first six episodes are based on the first book of the Danish trilogy Cecilie Mars by Michael Katz Krefeld, Darkness Calls. Further seasons are planned based on the remaining two books of the international success story, Beast in the Night and Dawn of the Executioners. Michael Katz Krefeld is among Denmark’s most widely read crime writers and has received numerous awards for his books. Krefeld’s books about police inspector Cecilie Mars have sold more than 300.000 copies in Denmark and are sold to Germany, Finland, Holland, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, UK; most recently Cecilie Mars launched on Amazon streaming in the US.

Cecilie Mars is produced by Zentropa. Beta Film handles world sales.