A meeting of several hours between two high-ranking Austrian politicians and an alleged Russian oligarch in a finca (country house) in Ibiza is secretly recorded on video. On 17 May 2019, the video is published by German news outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung (SZ) and Der Spiegel - triggering a political scandal of unimagined proportions. The Ibiza Affair, a fictional series, tells the incredible story of how this video came about. It uncovers the background that led to the fateful meeting and shows how the political drama took its course.
The four-part series is based on the non-fiction book Die Ibiza-Affäre: Innenansichten eines Skandals (published by Kiepenheuer & Witsch) penned by Frederik Obermaier and Bastian Obermayer, two journalists from Süddeutsche Zeitung, as well as background interviews and previously unpublished information.
W&B Television produces on behalf of Sky Studios. The series is written by Stefan Holtz and Florian Iwersen. Quirin Berg and Max Wiedemann produce for W&B Television, Marcus Ammon, Frank Jastfelder and Lucia Vogdt produce for Sky Studios. Filming will begin early 2021.
Marcus Ammon, Director Original Productions Sky Deutschland said: "The Ibiza Affair is a gripping political thriller. A scandal so unbelievable that it would be hard for any scriptwriter to dream up. Following the huge success of Der Pass, we are delighted to be once again working with Quirin and Max to tell the incredible story behind this now world-famous video that brought down Austria's FPÖ vice chancellor and with him the entire government."
Quirin Berg, producer W&B Television said: "The Ibiza Affair provides powerful evidence of the importance of independent journalism as the driving force of truth-telling and thus the cornerstone of our democracy. In the process, this story is completely absurd, spectacular, shocking, gripping - and above all, reality."
