Anders Hove, Esben Dalgaard, Stine Schrøder Jensen, Katrine Greis-Rosenthal, Peter Plaugborg, Hanne Uldal und Maria Rossing in Splitting Up Together

Brand-new series from Denmark, Britain, Israel, Australia, New Zealand and the US will round off the Berlinale Special programme at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. This year’s selection once again provides a good look at the creativity and variety of forms evident in series production.

“As we were reviewing this year’s submissions, we once again noticed how their makers embraced experimentation. They use the series format for expeditions into new narrative and visual forms in every genre, without losing sight of the realities of society”, says Festival director Dieter Kosslick.

For her adaptation of John le Carré’s spy thriller The Night Manager, Susanne Bier used the current conflicts in the Middle East to set the background for a suspenseful game of cat and mouse.

The Australian/New Zealand series Cleverman takes as its subject the fear of those who are different. It is a disturbing look into a near future in which so-called “hairy people” are marginalised and seek refuge in supervised zones.

Although the series here concentrate on interpersonal relationships, the short form raises questions relevant to the wider society. With a format far afield from classic storytelling, the results are atmospheric microcosms of everyday life that touch succinctly on important topics.

The Danish series Splitting Up Together is a foray into a variety of lifestyles and a very original take on relationships today.

The critically acclaimed The Writer from Israel tells the story of an Arab Israeli writer struggling with an identity crisis which affects his and his whole family’s sense of belonging and nationality.

In the BBC series Love, Nina we explore 1980s London through the eyes of a young woman. It’s a subtle look back at a society clinging doggedly to its traditional class divisions.

And Jimmy McGill once again lives up to his reputation. In the second season of Better Call Saul he perfects his idiosyncratic interpretation of the law, bringing him even more in sync with the simpatico, albeit shady character from Breaking Bad.

List of the serial formats in Berlinale Special

Better Call Saul – Season 2

USA

Showrunners: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould (Breaking Bad – series)

With Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Michael McKean, Rhea Seehorn, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Ed Begley Jr.

Broadcaster: AMC, Netflix

International Premiere

Cleverman

Australia / New Zealand

Original Concept: Ryan Griffen

Directed by Wayne Blair (The Sapphires), Leah Purcell

With Iain Glen, Frances O'Connor, Deborah Mailman, Hunter Page-Lochard, Rob Collins, Stef Dawson, Ryan Corr, Tasma Walton

Broadcaster: ABC (Australia), SundanceTV (USA)

World Premiere

Love, Nina

United Kingdom

Directed by SJ Clarkson (Jessica Jones - series)

Writer: Nick Hornby

With Faye Marsay, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Watkins, Joshua McGuire

Broadcaster: BBC

World Premiere

The Night Manager

United Kingdom / Spain

Directed by Susanne Bier (In a Better World)

Written by David Farr, based on the novel by John le Carré

With Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Debicki, Tom Hollander

Broadcaster: BBC (United Kingdom), AMC (USA)

World Premiere

Splitting Up Together

Denmark

Creator: Mette Heeno (Park Road – series)

Directed by Hella Joof

With Maria Rossing, Peter Plaugborg, Stine Schrøder Jensen, Katrine Greis-Rosenthal, Esben Dalgaard

Broadcaster: TV 2 Denmark A/S

World Premiere

The Writer

Israel

Creator: Sayed Kashua (Arab Labor – series)

Directed by Shay Capon

With Yousef Sweid, Ruba Blal-Asfour, Yasmin Churi, Adham Bachus

Broadcaster: Keshet Broadcasting, IBA Israel Broadcasting Authority

International Premiere

In addition, two episodes of the Netflix series Cooked will be shown as part of the Culinary Cinema programme. The series, produced by Alex Gibney, is based on Michael Pollan’s eponymous bestseller.

Alongside with the series presented in the Berlinale Special programme, the industry platforms of the festival host the “Drama Series Days” on February 15 and 16, 2016 - a joint initiative of the European Film Market, the Berlinale Co-Production Market, and Berlinale Talents. The “Drama Series Days” are presented jointly with the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW at the European Film Market. It welcomes creators, buyers, sales agents, producers, commissioning editors and financial backers of high-quality drama to discuss, present and promote new episodic content and projects in development. For more information please visit www.efm-berlinale.de.