Helsinki-filmi and Glassriver Launch Nordic Slate With Tango Metal

Finland's Helsinki-filmi and Iceland's Glassriver will co-produce a slate of films and series, starting with the six-part crime series Tango Metal, Variety reported. The initial agreement covers three titles. It pairs one of Finland's established film companies with an Icelandic production house.

Tango Metal (Finnish title Rautamurhat) is built from an idea by Mia Ylönen, Helsinki-filmi's head of drama, who serves as showrunner, the lead writer-producer who guides a series. Writers Tua Harno and Jojo Erholtz are attached, with Erholtz also set to direct. Ylönen took the project to Glassriver to set up the co-production.

The story centres on Paula, a Finnish crime reporter sent to Reykjavik after the ritualistic murder of her estranged brother. There she works with detective Bjarki Haraldsson. The series moves between Finland and Iceland, with dialogue to match.

The project is in development and is scheduled to start production later this year. Producers are in advanced negotiations with commissioners, the broadcasters and streamers who order and fund series, in Finland and Iceland, according to the same report. No broadcaster has been announced.

Buyers will get a first look at Finnish Film Affair, the industry sidebar of the Helsinki International Film Festival where projects seek finance and partners. Tango Metal was picked for its Series selection, Glassriver said. This year's Affair will present 38 film and series projects from the Nordics and beyond to more than 500 attendees, Variety reported.

The wider slate is still taking shape. It also includes a Finnish near-sci-fi adventure feature and an Icelandic television project based on an original story, planned to shoot mainly in Iceland.

For viewers, this means a crime story built to travel. Two small markets are pooling money, locations and talent to make something neither would likely make alone.