Italy’s RAI Inks Major Deal for High-Profile, Female-Led Titles With Beta Film Ahead of Mipcom (EXCLUSIVE)

Italian public broadcaster RAI has acquired a slate of international, female-led drama series from Beta Film ahead of Mipcom.

The package comprises “Barton Vet,” in which a veterinarian and her family-run team save animals in the countryside; the French thriller “A Guilty Affair,” about a high school principal desperately searching for her missing daughter; and the hot-selling German period drama “Mozart Mozart,” which centers on the musical genius’ overlooked – and equally gifted – sister.

The deals see the biggest government-backed broadcaster in Italy buying two shows which are backed in their finance by two of the other largest public broadcast networks in Europe. France Télévisions and Germany’s ARD, which outscales the BBC. In this, RAI’s purchases are a reminder of how, despite ever tighter budgets, such public broadcastres still drive a lion’s share or orders and buys in Europe.

A U.S.-Canadian procedural drama, the 12-episode “Barton Vet” stars Georgina Reilly (“Quantum Leap,” “City on a Hill”) as Dr. Kate Barton, who takes over the family’s rural veterinary clinic following the death of her father. Saving the lives of animals while juggling love and hardship, Kate must learn to heal herself along the way. Katia Edith Wood (“The Borderline”), Nadeem Umar-Khitab (“The Handmaid’s Tail”) and Sonja Smits also star.

Directed by Felipe Rodriguez (“Virgin River,” “The Good Doctor”), the series is produced by Shaftesbury in association with BYUtv and Beta Film, which is also selling it internationally.

The four-part French drama “A Guilty Affair” follows Morgane, a high school principal desperately searching for her daughter, who has disappeared. Was the girl murdered by the new physical education teacher with whom she’s been having an affair?

Directed by Sandra Perrin (“High Season”), the show stars Helene De Fougerolles (“Balthazar”), Florent Peyre (“Commandant Saint-Barth”) and Vittoria Di Savoia (“You+Me – Against the World”).

“A Guilty Affair” is produced by France Télévisions, Episode Productions, Be-Films and RTBF. Beta Film is handling international sales.

Described as “a fresh and bold reimagining of the Mozart legacy,” the opulent, six-episode period drama “Mozart Mozart” is a tale of ambition set in 1780’s Vienna and follows Maria Anna Mozart, the talented but overlooked sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. When her brother’s behavior threatens the family’s future, Maria Anna secretly takes his place and performs under his name to the same stunning effect.

Directed by Clara Zoë My-Linh von Arnim (“Marzahn, Mon Amour”) with a modern pop-sensibility, the series stars Havana Joy Josephine Braun (“Love Sucks”) and Eren M. Güvercin, who toplines Fatih Akin’s latest film, “Ghost Song.”

The German series is produced by Story House Pictures, a driving force behind Beta mega-hit “Sisi,” and in co-production with ARD (WDR/SWR/ARD Degeto Film), ORF and Dreaming Sheep Company. Beta Film and Bavaria Media are handling world sales.

John Hopewell contributed to this article.