Bavaria Takes The "Buddenbrooks" To Cannes

Munich/Cannes, March 09, 2009 – Munich-based distributor Bavaria Media Television is proud to present the television version of Heinrich Breloer's "Buddenbrooks – The Decline of a Family" at this year's MIPTV in Cannes. The adaptation of the Nobel Prize-winning novel by Thomas Mann, which brought more than one million viewers to German cinemas, is now available as an extended three-hour version (2x90') for the small screen.

Buddenbrooks – The Decline of a Family

"Buddenbrooks" tells the rise and fall of a merchant family in Northern Germany, spanning the fate of three generations. The project marks Bavaria Film's largest production since "Das Boot" in 1981. It features many of Germany's most popular actors, among them Armin Mueller-Stahl ("The International", "Eastern Promises"), Jessica Schwarz ("The Perfume") and August Diehl ("The Counterfeiters").

Bavaria Media Television will host a special event on Monday, March 30 th at Auditorium K of the Palais du Festival in order to introduce this outstanding production to international television buyers. Director Heinrich Breloer as well as some key cast members will be joining the event.

Emmy® Award-Winner Heinrich Breloer has built an impressive track record of high-value and high-quality productions, including "Speer & Hitler – The Devil's Architect (2005)", and "The Manns – Novel Of A Century (2001)".

Another Bavaria Media highlight is a brand new telenovela from France: "Second Chance", currently airing on the country's leading commercial broadcaster TF1. "'Second Chance' has not only a mesmerizing story, an attractive cast and a fresh, contemporary look and feel", says Kreuter. "In addition, there is no other long-running series set in Paris, the glamorous capital of style and fashion."

The French telenovela, shot in High Definition, comprises an impressive 180 half-hour episodes and features a cast of about 30 recurring characters. "Second Chance" tells the story of 35-year old Alice, who is abandoned by her husband after 18 years of marriage. The mother of two adolescent children starts a new life with her job in a high-powered advertising agency and has to fight for her second chance in love as well.