HIDE AND SEEK series – case study

HIDE AND SEEK, produced by FILM.UA Group, is the first Ukrainian noir crime drama and is also on a clear path to become one if not the most successful internationally Ukrainian series to date. Unprecedentedly for Ukrainian drama, HIDE AND SEEK was picked up for distribution by ZDF Enterprises (the same people who introduced THE BRIDGE to the world) at an early stage. The project also became the first Ukrainian series to be selected by prestigious MIP Drama Buyers Summit 2019, held annually in Cannes as a part of MIPTV. Its work-in-progress materials were screened to international buyers alongside projects from Netflix, BBC, etc. The artistic value of the project is further recognized by its selection to a number of key TV festivals. To give you a small taster: HIDE AND SEEK case study and Q&A was already presented at The Great Series Summit (Cologne, Germany) and Series Series (Fontainebleau, France). Next ahead for the series are Serial Killer (the first festival of TV and online series in the region of Central and Eastern Europe) in Brno, Czech Republic and more. 

Mirela Nastase, ZDFE.Drama Director, shared her impression about Ukrainian series’ presentation at MIPTV: “The feedback has been phenomenal! Being selected among the 10 most anticipated series by the Buyers Summit in Cannes was a celebration in itself. After showing the 15-minute teaser, that was edited especially for MipDrama, the reactions have been strong and very much in awe of the production quality, casting and cinematography of the series.”

HIDE AND SEEK is 8-episode drama series that integrates elements of noir and thriller. Compelling story lines and engaging visuals build up tension and make the viewer relive the memories along with the main characters. With complex and multi-layered structure, creators make a deep engagement into the main characters’ drama and integrate the diverse storylines of supporting characters into the plot. Starring Yulia Abdel Fattakh, Pyotr Rykov, Vyacheslav Dovzhenko and others, the series is produced by Victor Mirsky, Olesya Lukyanenko and Andriy Ryzvanyuk with co-producer Kateryna Vyshnevska. It is written by Simor Glasenko and directed by Iryna Gromozda. 

The case study is dedicated to the international rollout of a Ukrainian series, for the first time bringing together creators / producers, broadcaster and international distributor. The participants of the media forum will have a unique chance to watch selected scenes of HIDE AND SEEK and learn from the experience of the key people involved.

The case study will be fronted by creative producer Olesya Lukyanenko (Creative Producer, FILM.UA Group), co-producer Kateryna Vyshnevska (Head of Development and Co-Productions, FILM.UA Group), Mirela Nastase (ZDFE.Drama Director) and Anastasia Steinhaus (ICTV managing Director, Ukrainian series broadcaster). They will discuss the creative process, international andUkrainian strategy and rollout and what it all means for Ukrainian drama.

Olesya Lukyanenko – Creative Producer of HIDE AND SEEK series explains: “The structure of the series is complex and multi-layered. We have a lot of supporting characters, and their storylines are essential to the general plot. We pay a lot of attention to our main characters’ personal dramas and the viewer relives their memories and flashbacks along with them. This was the most challenging part – integrating all these plot lines without sacrificing the integrity of the main mystery”, – she says.

Filming was over on February 2018 and now post-production is under way and the series will be available for Ukrainian viewer in autumn 2019.  

Series starts as a detective story, when a 7-year-old girl disappears from her apartment. Later, a video is posted online showing the missing girl, who’s holding a sign with a mysterious set of numbers. She has certainly been kidnaped and she’s the first among children who disappeared without a trace in a small industrial town. 

The main characters are Varta Naumova and Maxim Shumov – two detectives, who taking up the charge of missing children case.  Having experienced trauma in their lives, they are both touched by the situation on the deep psychological level. In the background of depressing atmosphere of small town, the issue of missing children is depicted from a viewpoint of morality rather than that of criminal justice.

Kateryna Vyshnevska - Head of Development and Co-Productions at FILM.UA Group mentions: “Crime drama in general and noir in particular is a rarity in the Ukrainian television landscape. Ukrainian viewers have not yet had a chance to be exposed to local stories of such complexity. In many regards, Hide and Seek is a bold project for Ukraine. It is also an atmospheric project.”

HIDE AND SEEK series – case study will take place within the first day of KYIV MEDIA WEEK forum (September 16) at 15:00 (London conference hall).

Follow the news about other events, dedicated to series production on our webpage and on media forum’s Facebook page.

KYIV MEDIA WEEK 2019 will be held on September 16-19, 2019 at Hyatt Regency Kyiv (5 Alla Tarasova St., Kyiv, Ukraine).