FremantleMedia forms pact with Croatian writer

FremantleMedia has joined forces with popular Croatian author Marija Jurić Zagorka and local prodco Jadran Film to form a strategic partnership.

Jadran, which has produced more than 200 regional and international films over 70 years, will work with RTL-owned FremantleMedia to develop scripts based on Zagorka’s novels. FremantleMedia will handle distribution of resulting projects.

Described as a Croatia’s first female journalist, Zagorka is a much-read author in Croatia, though her books have never been translated into English.

The first fruits of the pact is a television production of The Witch of Grich (Grička Vještica), which has sold more than 10 million copies in eastern Europe.

The romantic adventure story is set in the 18^th century and tells the story of a woman that becomes the jewel of the Zagrebian aristocracy who is accused of witchcraft after saving a poor woman from witch-hunters.

“Jadran Film has long held the ambition to bring Marija Jurić Zagorka’s work to audiences outside Central Europe,” said Vinko Grubisic, Jadran’s CEO.

“By working with the production and distribution expertise of FremantleMedia, there is now a real opportunity to bring audiences around world the brilliant storytelling of one of Croatia’s most-loved authors.”

Other Zagorka titles expected to be developed include Kneginja iz Petrinjske ulice, Gordana and Jadranka.