Exclusive: Beta Film strikes global sales for Russia’s Trigger

Beta Film has struck deals across Brazil, Israel and Japan for Russian drama series Trigger, TBI has learned. 

Originally produced by Russian prodco Sreda for Channel One Russia, the series will now go to Globo in Brazil, HOT in Israel and Japan’s VOD platform U-Next.

Negotiations with a German partner are also in final stages, according to Beta Film. The distributor says Trigger is the highest Russian seller on the international market.

Set in fashionable uptown Moscow, Trigger centers around psychologist Artem, who practices “provocative therapy” and is convinced that the fastest and most effective cure is to brutally confront his patients with their fears. Yet his own life is in chaos after he was sentenced to prison for causing a patient’s suicide.

The title’s success has led Beta Film to take another Sreda title, Alibi, out to the international market.

Russian drama has gained acclaim over the past few months after a number of titles were launched at MIPCOM 2018, including Cineflix’s An Ordinary Woman.

Christian Gockel, executive VP international sales and acquisitions at Beta Film, said: “We are extremely happy to see Trigger exceed our expectations. Working together with Sreda Production Company definitely strengthens our belief that Russian content is highly competitive in the global arena.

“The project confirms Beta Film’s philosophy of taking outstanding local content to the international level which can count on Russia as a new but already reliable supplier in this global trend. Despite political volatility, the Russian market is consistent with the rest of the world and Beta Film is glad to spearhead this great new opportunity.”

Alexander Tsekalo, founder and CEO of Sreda, added: “From the beginning, Sreda Production was aiming to produce TV series on international level.Trigger was our newest project and we needed to find a distributor. Fate brought us together with Beta Film, a great team of brilliant professionals.

“We had a feeling that Beta is ‘our company.’ Our hopes were well-founded.”