SundanceTV, Fremantle Partner On Event Spy Series ‘Deutschland 83’ – Berlin

In a first-of-its-kind deal, SundanceTV and FremantleMedia International are partnering on eight-part event series Deutschland 83. Sundance has boarded the German-language drama as co-producer. Created by Anna Winger and Joerg Winger, it will air on RTL in Germany later this year with a U.S. date to be set. With the Sundance deal, Deutschland 83 will become the first original German-language drama ever to broadcast on a U.S. TV network. The deal is further proof of the rising profile of international TV series. It premieres here in Berlin today as part of an enhanced Berlinale Special Series program that’s also debuting Italy’s 1992 which Sky UK recently picked up.

Deutschland 83 is a coming-of-age story set against the real culture wars and political events of Germany in the 1980s. It follows Martin Rauch (Jonas Nay) a 24-year-old East Germany native who is sent to the west as an undercover spy for the Stasi foreign service. Hiding in plain sight in the West German army, he must gather the secrets of NATO military strategy.

Deutschland 83 is executive produced by UFA Fiction’s Joerg Winger and Nico Hofmann and directed by Edward Berger and Samira Radsi.