Helsinki-filmi, one of Finland’s biggest content creators, has partnered with its Icelandic counterpart Glassriver to co-produce a slate of films and series. The first title to start that partnership is a Finnish crime show called “Tango Metal,” which will be pitched on Thursday at the Helsinki International Film Festival’s industry sidebar, Finnish Film Affair.
The six-part series is based on an idea by showrunner Mia Ylönen, who runs Helsinki-filmi’s drama division. Ylönen is known for her work on SkyShowtime’s “Codename: Annika.” The project reunites her with writer Tua Harno, whose credits include “North 66 Precinct” and “Guts,” and with Jojo Erholtz, an AFI and NFTS graduate who has worked on “Detective Mario Kallio” and “Living With My Ex.” Both Harno and Erholtz are also attached to Helsinki-filmi’s upcoming series “Dead Women Talking.”
Paula and Bjarki: Opposites Drawn Together
The story follows Paula, a 38-year-old Finnish crime reporter and tango enthusiast, who is sent to Reykjavik to investigate the ritualistic murder of her estranged brother. In her search for the truth, she joins forces with detective Bjarki Haraldsson, a 35-year-old father who works as a crime detective by day and fronts a metal band at night.
Paula’s life stands still after the accidental death of her husband. Bjarki, by contrast, is sunny and busy — a father, a detective, and a metal frontman. The investigation draws them closer, until the killer starts coming after them.
“‘Basically, Paula has lost everything, while Bjarki has seemingly everything. I wanted to oppose these characters and see how their worlds collide,'” Ylönen said. She noted that she used to cover Heavy Metal gigs as a journalist.
Ylönen on Glassriver’s Track Record
Ylönen approached Glassriver with the project. She said working with them “makes total sense.”
“They have an impressive track record, especially in crime, thriller series such as ‘Black Sands,’ ‘Cold Haven,’ and are very active in international co-productions, which is where we’re venturing into for our series. Financing is in decline in Europe. We have to stand on our own feet and be clever with financing,” Ylönen said. She previously worked as a TV news reporter before becoming a writer, showrunner and executive producer.
She also pointed to shared mindsets between the two Nordic nations. “We both come from small nations; we have a dark sense of humor and rely on trust. This is something that has been evident since we started working on this project.”
Glassriver CEO Andri Ómarsson agreed. “In Iceland, we’re on the outskirts of the Nordics and Europe. Today, all countries realize that international partnerships are critical to get a project off the ground. It makes sense on a creative and business standpoint to collaborate with Finland,” said the seasoned TV executive.
Glassriver’s Corporate Mindset
Ómarsson also underscored broadcasters’ and streamers’ flexible approaches and shift toward co-commissioning. He pointed to a specific example: “We did ‘Cold Haven’ as a co-commissioning between Síminn [Iceland’s leading streamer] and RTP in Portugal. That was Síminn’s first co-commissioning on a high-end show, and they got really excited about it.”
The co-production partners are in advanced negotiations with commissioners in Finland and Iceland. The show is in development and scheduled to start production later this year.
The Slate Beyond Tango Metal
Helsinki-filmi and Glassriver have more than “Tango Metal” in the works. They are co-producing a Finnish near-sci-fi adventure feature, and an Icelandic TV project based on an original story, to be majority shot in Iceland. Details will be announced when key financing is locked.
Glassriver’s active slate includes “Elma,” a crime series based on Eva BjörgÆgisdóttir’s best-selling book series. It is set to premiere next month on Síminn, Iceland’s leading streamer. The co-production with Belgium’s Lunamine is represented globally by Mediawan, with a pre-sale to Finland’s MTV already in place.
Also in development is “Avalanche,” a climate disaster series due for a spring 2027 premiere on Síminn. It is co-produced with Finland’s Whatevergroup and is currently in post-production in Finland. Erholtz is attached as editor.
The comedy drama “Hot Stuff,” ordered by Iceland’s Channel 2, is soon to start lensing in Tenerife, co-produced with Romania’s IDEA Film.
Helsinki-filmi’s Current Slate
On Helsinki-filmi’s slate, the Yle crime series “Dead Women Talking” is backed by the Nordic 12 public broadcaster alliance. Ylönen said it is “That’s our biggest international co-production since ‘Codename: Annika.'”
“Dead Women Talking” is currently lensing and will have a podcast spinoff, she said.
On the feature film front, Helsinki-filmi’s “Tell Everyone” by Alli Haapasalo is due to open domestically Oct. 9. Haapasalo’s “Girl Picture” won last year’s audience prize at Sundance 2022.
“The film bagged last year’s Finnish Film Affair best project award,” Ylönen said.
What This Partnership Says About European TV
The partnership between Helsinki-filmi and Glassriver is part of a broader trend. European indie producers are looking for strong partners in an unstable market. The two companies are betting that international collaboration is the path forward.
“We have to stand on our own feet and be clever with financing.”
Glassriver’s “Cold Haven” with Síminn and RTP was described as Síminn’s first co-commissioning on a high-end show.
The projects they are working on — from “Tango Metal” to “Avalanche” — span crime, sci-fi, and comedy.
The partnership is a sign of what Finnish and Icelandic producers are doing when financing gets harder.
Source material: “‘Tango Metal’ Kickstarts Partnership Between Finland’s Helsinki-filmi and Iceland’s Glassriver (EXCLUSIVE),” Variety.
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