Munich-based Beta Film extends its partnership with Russia’s 1-2-3-Production, picking up the series Six Empty Seats by producer duo Valeriy Fedorovich and Evgeniy Nikishov. The eight hour drama won the Best Series Award at the renowned Czech TV festival Serial Killer in Brno.

Beta Film also collaborates with 1-2-3 Production on the thriller series Dead Mountain – The Dyatlov Pass Incident (TNT/Premier One Russia), which premiered at this fall’s MIPCOM and is currently part of Tallinn International Film Festival’s TV Beats lineup.

Six Empty Seats is a provocative drama about a group of people who couldn’t be more disparate – yet they all strive for happiness at the cost of family, morals, and even human life. After missing their flight and therefore miraculously avoiding a lethal plane crash, six colleagues from a small real-estate company take their fates in their own hands in order to selfishly fulfill their dreams. With bags full of cash, they go on the run – with terrible and unforeseen consequences.

Written and directed by Pyotr Todorovskiy, the first six episodes introduce the backstory of one survivor each, the series features award-winning actors Oksana Akinshina (The Bourne Supremacy,), Alexander Robak (To The Lake) and Yuliya Khlynina (Duellist).

Valeriy Fedorovich, (Managing Partner at 1-2-3 Production): “When Evgeniy Nikishov and I had first read the script, it became clear that this story is both unique and timely: It is about people who dare to play against the rules, about the reckless riot of ordinary characters under pressure of circumstances. We are sure that many people deep down would want to rebel, though they will not risk it. Hopefully the international audience will share our opinion.

Leonid Godik (VP International Sales and Acquisitions at Beta Film): “Six Empty Seats is an exciting and intriguing story, written in the best traditions of the European TV dramaturgy and Russian literature. The mixture of a crime story and philosophical analysis of human nature makes it unique and gives lots of opportunities also for international remakes. Its success at international TV festivals shows that it can also be interesting for international platforms and TV broadcasters.”