Sky Studios and W&B Television to produce drama series ‘The Ibiza Affair’
Sky Studios and W&B Television to produce drama series ‘The Ibiza Affair’
- TV adaptation of the political scandal that rocked the Austrian government last year
- Based on bestselling book, authored by Süddeutsche Zeitung journalists Bastian Obermayer and Frederik Obermaier
Sky Studios and W&B Television today announce The Ibiza Affair, a new Sky Original series for Sky Deutschland.
A meeting of several hours between two high-ranking Austrian politicians and an alleged Russian oligarch in a finca (country house) in Ibiza is secretly recorded on video. On 17 May 2019, the video is published by German news outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) and Der Spiegel - triggering a political scandal of unimagined proportions. The Ibiza Affair, a fictional series, tells the incredible story of how this video came about. It uncovers the background that led to the fateful meeting and shows how the political drama took its course.
The four-part series is based on the non-fiction book Die Ibiza-Affäre: Innenansichten eines Skandals (published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch) penned by Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer, two journalists from Süddeutsche Zeitung, as well as background interviews and previously unpublished information.
W&B Television produces on behalf of Sky Studios. The series is written by Stefan Holtz and Florian Iwersen. Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann produce for W&B Television, Marcus Ammon, Frank Jastfelder and Lucia Vogdt produce for Sky Studios. Filming will begin early 2021.
Marcus Ammon, Director Original Productions Sky Deutschland said: "The Ibiza Affair is a gripping political thriller. A scandal so unbelievable that it would be hard for any scriptwriter to dream up. Following the huge success of Der Pass, we are delighted to be once again working with Quirin and Max to tell the incredible story behind this now world-famous video that brought down Austria's FPÖ vice chancellor and with him the entire government."
Quirin Berg, producer W&B Television said: "The Ibiza Affair provides powerful evidence of the importance of independent journalism as the driving force of truth-telling and thus the cornerstone of our democracy. In the process, this story is completely absurd, spectacular, shocking, gripping - and above all, reality."
About Sky Deutschland
Sky Deutschland is one of the leading entertainment companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, offering a world class range of content from the best live sports, exclusive series and the latest movies to varied children's programs, exciting documentaries and entertaining shows – many of them Sky Originals. In addition to the free-to-air channel Sky Sport News, viewers can watch programs at home and on the go via Sky Q and Sky Ticket. The entertainment platform Sky Q aggregates all conveniently in one place: Sky and free-to-air channels, thousands of films and series on demand and a wide range of apps. With Sky Ticket, customers can stream series, movies and live sports flexibly where they want and when they want, on a monthly cancellation basis. Sky Deutschland, headquartered in Unterföhring near Munich, is part of the Comcast Group and belongs to Europe's leading media and entertainment company Sky.
About W&B Television
Wiedemann & Berg Film was founded 2003 by Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann, followed by W&B Television in 2010. Both companies are part of the newly founded LEONINE Studios since January 2020.
The over 120 productions include the Oscar-winning The Lives of Others, the two-time Oscar-nominated Never Look Away, multiple number one hits such as Men in the City, Who am I, Joy of Fatherhood, and Welcome to Germany. Numerous TV projects include the cult series 4 Blocks (TNT Serie), Pagan Peak (Sky), or the first German Netflix Original Dark, which was named Greatest Netflix Original Series by leading US review site Rotten Tomatoes.
A pioneering spirit, a large body of work covering everything from blockbusters, linear television and high-end drama for streaming partners, large audiences and a high number of theater visitors, a focus on quality, collaborations with outstanding creative talent and an amazing team have made Wiedemann & Berg one of the most successful production houses in Germany. Nominations and awards include the Bambi, the Bavarian TV Award, the Bavarian Film Award, the German TV Award, the German Film Award, the Golden Camera, the Golden Nymph, the Grimme Award, the GQ Award, the European Film Award, the Hollywood Reporter Award, the LA Critics Award, the Magnolia Award, the Rockie Award, the Academy Award, the BAFTA, the César, the Romy and the Golden Globe.Television in 2010. Both companies are part of the newly founded LEONINE Studios since January 2020.
The over 120 productions include the Oscar-winning The Lives of Others, the two-time Oscar-nominated Never Look Away, multiple number one hits such as Men in the City, Who am I, Joy of Fatherhood, and Welcome to Germany. Numerous TV projects include the cult series 4 Blocks (TNT Serie), Pagan Peak (Sky), or the first German Netflix Original Dark, which was named Greatest Netflix Original Series by leading US review site Rotten Tomatoes.
A pioneering spirit, a large body of work covering everything from blockbusters, linear television and high-end drama for streaming partners, large audiences and a high number of theater visitors, a focus on quality, collaborations with outstanding creative talent and an amazing team have made Wiedemann & Berg one of the most successful production houses in Germany. Nominations and awards include the Bambi, the Bavarian TV Award, the Bavarian Film Award, the German TV Award, the German Film Award, the Golden Camera, the Golden Nymph, the Grimme Award, the GQ Award, the European Film Award, the Hollywood Reporter Award, the LA Critics Award, the Magnolia Award, the Rockie Award, the Academy Award, the BAFTA, the César, the Romy and the Golden Globe.
About Sky Studios
Sky Studios brings to screen unique stories from the very best talent in Europe.
We develop, produce and fund original drama, comedy and documentary for Sky’s 24m customers and beyond. Building on the success of critically-acclaimed Sky Originals including Emmy-winning Chernobyl, Bafta-winning Patrick Melrose and international hits Das Boot, Riviera and Britannia, Sky Studios is the new creative home of Sky Originals, such as The Third Day with Jude Law, I Hate Suzie, co-created by Lucy Prebble and Billie Piper and BAFTA-nominated hit comedy, Brassic.
We’re an agile Studio, seeking out the best untold stories from new voices while working in creative partnership with today’s best writers, producers and on-screen talent to bring viewers stories they wouldn’t find anywhere else.
With commissioning talent and production capability across the UK, Germany and Italy, we understand local tastes across Europe better than anyone else and have plans to more than double our investment in original content by 2024, fully supported and backed by Comcast NBC Universal.
We’re also developing a new TV and movie studio, Sky Studios Elstree, which is expected to lead to the creation of over 2,000 new jobs and generate an additional £3 billion of production investment in the UK creative sector in the first five years alone.
Sky Studios invests in the cultural economy and global production sector with equity stakes in several production companies in the UK and the US, including Great British Bake-Off creator Love Productions, and the premier reality crime producer in the US, Jupiter Entertainment, creator of long-running hit Snapped. Sky Studios has invested in high quality factual specialists Blast Films and True North Productions; entertainment and format expert Znak & Co (US & UK); natural history producer True to Nature; drama producers The Lighthouse and Longboat Pictures; and growth businesses Sugar Films, Chrysalis Vision, and Talos Films (US).
Sky Studios launched in June 2019. The senior leadership team is Chief Executive Officer Gary Davey, Chief Content Officer Jane Millichip, Chief Operating Officer Caroline Cooper, Director of Drama UK Cameron Roach, Director of Comedy UK Jon Mountague, Director Original Production Sky Italia Nils Hartmann, and Director Original Productions Sky Deutschland Marcus Ammon.
Media contact
Birgit Ehmann
External Communications
Phone: 089/9958 6850
birgit.ehmann@sky.de
twitter.com/SkyDeutschland
twitter.com/SkySerien
twitter.com/BirgitEhmann
Contact for pictures
Tamara Söckler / Melissa Aschauer
Bilder.Presse@sky.de
or directly via: https://medien.sky.de
