Paris / Munich - Amazon Prime Video is teaming up with Newen (through its Telfrance subsidiary), Bavaria Fiction and Deutsche Telekom for the brand new comedy drama Deutsch-Les-Landes starring Roxane Duran, Marie-Anne Chazel, Sylvie Testud and Christoph Maria Herbst.
With "Deutsch-Les-Landes", Prime Video launches the production of its first original series for its video streaming service in France. Amazon Prime Video will also be the exclusive distribution partner for "Deutsch-Les-Landes" in France and Belgium. In Germany, Deutsche Telekom is coproducing the ten-part half-hour comedy drama, under the title "Deutsch-Les-Landes". Its first ever original series, "Deutsch-Les-Landes" will be available exclusively to EntertainTV customers on SVoD Service “EntertainTV Serien”. The series will launch on both platforms at the end of 2018.
The series will unite French and German talent in front of the camera, including French actresses Roxane Duran (La famille Bélier; Paula), Marie-Anne Chazel (Le tueur du Lac, Les Visiteurs) and Sylvie Testud (La Vie En Rose, Jenseits der Stille) as well as German comedian Christoph Maria Herbst (Stromberg). Production will start in April. The series will be shot in the Bordeaux area by French director Denis Dercourt (En équilibre, La tourneuse de page), amongst others.
"Deutsch-Les-Landes" / "Deutsch-Les-Landes" is created by Alexandre Charlot and Franck Magnier (Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis), as well as Thomas Rogel (Heute Show); head writers are Alexandre Charlot, Franck Magnier and Peter Güde who also serves as producer (Mord mit Aussicht and Stromberg). The series is executive-produced by Sandra Ouaiss on behalf of Telfrance (Newen Group), Moritz Polter and Oliver Vogel for Bavaria Fiction.
“We launched Prime Video in France and Belgium just over one year ago and we’re proud today to announce our first French Prime Original with Deutsch-Les-Landes.” says Jay Marine, Vice President Amazon Video EU. “With Deutsch-Les-Landes, we found amazing partners, cast and directors to bring this show to life and can’t wait for all of our French and Belgian Prime Members to see it. This is just the beginning for us, as we will keep on bringing the best of French and international TV, including new French Originals, to our customers here.”
Tanguy de Franclieu, Managing Director of Newen Studios Group, says: “We are very proud that Amazon has chosen us for their first French series, especially for a comedy show, a genre where the French excel, particularly on the big screen. We are also delighted to produce that show with Bavaria Fiction, our partner in the Newen Network since 2012.”
Jan S. Kaiser, Managing Director of Bavaria Fiction, comments: “This is a unique production with stellar talent in front and behind the camera. We are excited to join forces with Telfrance to create the first original series for two innovative platforms – Deutsche Telekom’s EntertainTV and Amazon France.”
About Deutsch-Les-Landes
This is the story of Jiscalosse, an idyllic village in southwestern France with a small community of 1,800 locals. The village is on the brink of financial ruin, thanks to their very own Madame the Mayor. She really needs money to save her town (and her reputation)! So, when an opportune moment appears (in the shape of an eccentric German CEO of a Bavarian Automobile Design Company)… Madame the Mayor sells out. Literally. Historical French properties all over the village now belong to a thriving German company!
The French villagers begrudge the German employees, and the German employees begrudge their CEO… the only reason the employees really moved to the French countryside was in order to keep their jobs! The French enjoy hosting German tourists in the summer months, but an entire company? 365 days a year? 200 Germans…now 10% of the current population…forever? Mon dieu!
About Newen and Telfrance
Newen group is the French leading TV content production and distribution company, producing over 1,500 hours of programmes every year covering all scripted and non-scripted genres and animation, and distributing internationally a 5,000 hours catalogue. Newen’s flagship programmes include “Plus Belle La Vie”, “Candice Renoir”, “Loopdidoo”, “Braquo”,”Le magazine de la santé”, “Demain nous appartient” or “Versailles” which has been sold in more than 135 countries. Newen is part of TF1 group, France’s leading private-sector free-to-air TV broadcaster. Newen has been expanding internationally during the last months with the acquisition of the Dutch producer Tuvalu and the creation of an office in charge of distribution and partnerships in the UK.
Founded in 1949 and part of Newen Group, Telfrance is a French production company headed by Guillaume de Menthon. Today, Telfrance brings together a wide variety of talents especially in scripted programmes. Telfrance comprises 11 entities including 9 production companies, a diversification department and a music publishing company. Through its programs with strong reputation such as the French successful daily soap “Plus Belle La Vie and more recently “Demain Nous Appartient” (scripted saga on air since mid-July every day on TF1), “Candice Renoir”, “Nina”, “Cassandre” and many others, Telfrance offers to its customers broadcasters its high production skills, creativity and diversity. Telfrance is a key player of the French audiovisual landscape.
About EntertainTV – Deutsche Telekom's TV service
With some 300 TV channels, more than 100,000 titles in the online video library and TV archive as well as numerous interactive features, EntertainTV is the undisputed leader in the German IPTV market. EntertainTV also offers the widest selection of high-definition TV broadcasts in Germany, with more than 100 HD channels. It is the most user-friendly option available thanks to features such as smart search, restart, and 7-day replay.