Scripted

Beta Film is continuing to strengthen the international reach of premium Greek drama, securing a deal for The Beach with RAI while final negotiations are underway across several major European territories. The agreement marks another significant step in the growing international momentum of Greek scripted content, which is increasingly attracting buyers beyond its domestic market, including in Italy.The first season of The Beach (144x1h) will air on RAI 2 on June 8th.

The distributor’s current slate highlights a new generation of ambitious Greek productions, ranging from the visually striking adaptation The Great Chimera (6x60’), starring Fotinì Peluso (Everything Calls for Salvation), to the emotionally driven thriller Silent Road (13x60’), a contemporary reinterpretation of the Pied Piper of Hamelin tale. The line-up also includes the Berlinale-premiered feature film Arcadia, directed by acclaimed Greek filmmaker Yorgos Zois and starring Vangelis Mourikis and Angeliki Papoulia 

Produced by Foss Productions in co-production Greek public broadcaster ERT and supported by EKKOMED, The Beach became a standout success in Greece, reshaping the local TV landscape: The series delivered record-breaking ratings in ERT’s primetime slot, with close to one in three viewers tuning in daily, peaking at a 12.7 rating and tripling the channel’s average performance.
It also performed strongly across streaming and social media, consistently topping the trending charts on X throughout its run and boosting both the linear channel ERT and its streaming platform ERTFLIX to nationwide prominence.

Adriano De Maio, Director for Cinema and TV Series, RAI: “We share a strong affinity with Greece, especially on a cultural level. That is the main reason that prompted RAI to explore this world and launch a promising collaboration with a company — including a production company — that is much more akin to ours than many others in Europe and the Mediterranean. An Italian arriving in Athens sees the Parthenon first, and this makes us think that with Greece we share not only culture but also scenery and landscape. This is important: The audience must recognize it, even before they get to know it. During my tenure as director, I’ve seen American and German series, chases, and action. Here, we like to think we’ve found a product that represents a shared vision, even before a collaboration. And I thank Beta Film for a proposal that breaks from convention.”

Ferdinand Dohna, Head of Content, Beta Film: “We are so delighted to continue our trusted and fruitful collaboration with our partners at Foss Productions and RAI, now bringing this TV sensation to Italian audiences. The Beach combines a high production value with strong, character-driven storytelling and a compelling narrative rooted in universal themes, all seen through a distinctly Greek lens. It is an immersive series, and we truly believe it will continue its success story in Italy and beyond.”

Stelios Cotionis, CEO Foss Productions: “From the very beginning, we believed that if we created a long-running series with the cinematic language and aesthetic that truly represent us, and that we felt audiences in Greece were ready for and deserved, then the story could also travel beyond our borders and resonate with international viewers. The incredible response to The Beach confirmed that belief for us. It showed that emotionally honest storytelling, grounded characters, and ambitious visual storytelling can connect with audiences everywhere, regardless of language or geography. We truly hope our friends in Italy will enjoy watching the series as much as we enjoyed creating it. A very special thank you to our friends and partners at ERT and EKKOMED for believing in the project from the beginning and helping make it a reality.”

Set in Matala, Crete, in 1969, The Beach unfolds in a seemingly idyllic world of sunny shores, free-spirited youth and newfound community, until a murder exposes the messy entanglements spurred on by the hippies.
Hypatia, Harry, Maria, and Pete collide with other beautiful 20-somethings to create a heaven on Earth in the summer of ‘69. Local beauties Hypatia and Maria relish the carefree attitude of their newfound friends, while sexy outsiders Harry and Pete benevolently rule over the peaceful commune of pot-smoking hippies. No one owns anyone and hedonism extends to all, much to the disapproval of the island’s greedy developers and some distrustful patriarchs. They eye the young people who cavort by the waves with envy and design. Soon a shadow descends upon the idyll when someone kills a young woman who straddles both worlds, the commune and the village. Yet even the straightlaced police officer assigned to investigate the crime finds he can’t resist the temptations of paradise.

The series is directed by Stefanos Blatsos (Love After) and written by Panagiotis Iosifelis, George Chrysovitsanos, and Kostas Gerampinis, and is based on the original idea by Pinelopi Kourtzi and Avgi Vagia. The cast is led by Danai Michalaki (Wild Bees) as Hypatia, a London-based doctor returning to her hometown, alongside Dimitris Mothonaios (A Day in the Life of a Teddy Bear) as Harry.

The Beach (294x1h) is produced by Foss Productions in co-production with ERT and is supported by EKKOMED. Beta Film handles international sales.

watch the trailer