The co-operation between the broadcasters was initiated by BBC Worldwide (www.bbcworldwide.com) and Apple Film Production (www.applefilm.pl). The series is produced by Fresh Pictures (www.freshpicturestv.com) and Apple Film Production, with producers Richard Fell and Dariusz Jabłoński.
Spies in Warsaw is the story of a French attache sent to Warsaw before the outbreak of WWII. He is quickly immersed in the world of crime and spy intrigues, while he maneuvers his way through the diplomatic salons of the city. The hero engages in an affair with a French girl of Polish descent who is a lawyer working for the League Of Nations. The couple travel to Prague, Warsaw, Brussels and Paris, working undercover and never knowing who is really on their side.
The series will be directed by Coky Giedroyc, recognized for her work in Sherlock (www.hartswoodfilms.co.uk) as well as BAFTA nominated The Virgin Queen (www.wolframalpha.com) and Blackpool (www.bbc.co.uk). The screenwriters for this project are Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, known for their work Alan Parker's The Commitments (www.beaconcom.com) awarded with a Golden Globe for best comedy and four BAFTAs. One of the set designers is Ewa Skoczkowska, awarded with an Emmy for her work on Hindenburg: The Untold Story (www.pioneertv.com). The cinematographer is Polish filmmaker Wojciech Szepel (Warsaw,Mr.Kukas Lessons) and Bartłomiej Woźniak will work on the sound.
David Tennant (Doctor Who, Hamlet, Fright Night) and Janet Montgomery (Black Swan, Merilin) play the lead roles. The cast includes Mirosław Zbrojewcz, Radosław Kaim, Piotr Baumann and Maxim Mostov.
"This is a tension-filled, passionate and sensual love story shown as a contrast to the signs of the up-coming war. I think that casting David Tennant as Mercier and Janet Montgomery as Anna is an exciting way of interpreting two highly convincing Furt characters and I am thrilled that Ian and Dick have created such a fascinating script,"
said Richard Klein, Controller of BBC4.
The premiere of the 4-episode series on TVP1 and BBC4 is planned for the fall of 2012. "I am very happy that for the first time in TVP’s history I have the possibility to engage in a co-production with such an outstanding partner as BBC. Spies in Warsaw creates a unique possibility to tell the fascinating history of Poland from a European
perspective. The series will be shot in Poland by an international crew and the cast will include several Polish actors. I hope that the show will gain recognition among the international audience," said Piotr Radziszewski, the Director of TVP1.
Cast:
David Tennant
Janet Montgomery
Mirosław Zbrojewcz
Radosław Kaim
Piotr Baumann
Maxim Mostov
Crew:
Director - Coky Giedroyc
Screenwriter - Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
Cinematographer - Wojciech Szepel
Sound - Barłomiej Woźniak
Producer - Dariusz Jabłoński, Richard Fell
Production company: Apple Film Production, Fresh Pictures for TVP and BBC
Production contact:
Apple Film Production Ltd
ul. Bagatela 10/12
00-585 Warsaw
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel.: +48 22 851 84 40
Fax: +48 22 851 84 4
{mosimage}WARSAW: TVP and BBC will co-produce Spies in Warsaw, a series based on Alan Furst's bestselling novel.
The shoot for the first feature co-production made between Polish public broadcaster TVP (www.tvp.pl) and BBC (www.bbc.co.uk) will launch in Warsaw on 11 April 2012 and will take place only at Polish locations including Krakow.
Published in
Poland
