ZDFneo, France TV, Starlight, Gaumont & Beta link for Ukraine-based drama ‘In Her Car’

In Her Car

Germany’s ZDFneo and France Télévisions are joining forces with Beta Film on a Ukrainian war drama that is being filmed in the war-torn country.

In Her Car (10 x 25 minutes) has been created by showrunner Eugen Tunik together with Kyiv-based Starlight Media, with Gaumont setting up and closing the international financing and co-production.

Beta Film sells globally, with MD Moritz von Kruedener revealing the show today at NEM Dubrovnik.

The drama draws on lived experiences of Kyivans scrambling for shelter following the Russian invasion in February 2022. Each episode follows local therapist Lydia (played by How is Katia? star Anastasia Karpenko) shuttling a different person to safety.

Told from inside the protagonist’s car, the series will explore different tales of resilience and civic responsibility, as each passenger reveals their own story.

Sabine de Mardt, MD of Gaumont Germany, described the show as being of the “utmost relevance to a broad world-wide audience.”

Andreas F. Bareiss, Gaumont’s executive producer on In Her Car, added: “Working with Eugen and the team of Starlight Media on this show is a great experience and privilege for us. We admire the courage of our Ukrainian partners to realize a series under the given conditions on location.”

Veronika Kovacova, Beta’s EVP of international sales & acquisitions for CEE, added: “In Her Car emphasises the power of human stories that cut through borders and conflicts.

“The courage, commitment and professionalism of the talented creatives involved in the realization of In Her Car under most difficult conditions is more than impressing.”