BBC Buys Thomas Vinterberg’s Climate Change TV Drama ‘Families Like Ours’

The BBC has acquired “Families Like Ours,” the debut TV drama by Oscar-winning director Thomas Vinterberg (“Another Round,” “The Hunt”) from StudioCanal for the U.K.

Written by Vinterberg and Bo Hr. Hansen (“Department Q: Journal 64,” “The Art of Crying”) and having first premiered at last year’s Venice Film Festival, the 7-part “Families Like Ours” is set in a near-future Denmark where rising water levels can no longer be ignored and the country needs to be evacuated. As people disperse in all directions, they must bid farewell to what they love, what they know, and who they are.

It was shot across five countries and stars Amaryllis August, Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt, Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Paprika Steen, Helene Reingaard Neumann, Magnus Millang, Esben Smed, Thomas Bo Larsen, David Dencik, Asta Kamma August, and Max Kaysen Høyrup.

“I have a deepfelt connection with the U.K. and as you will see, it also plays a part in this series. Therefore, it is with eager anticipation that I now await how a new audience will receive ‘Families Like Ours,’ and I am very thankful to the BBC for delivering this story to a nation I feel such a close kinship with.”

Added Sue Deeks, head of BBC programme acquisition: “’Families Like Ours’ is a beautifully constructed, thought-provoking drama about what happens when people are confronted by the inconceivable, and forced to make seemingly impossible choices…”

The series was produced by Zentropa Entertainments for TV 2 Denmark, STUDIOCANAL and Canal+, co-funded by The Danish Film Institute – Public Service Fund, The European Union and Nordisk Film & TV Fond in co-production with NRK, TV4, Ard Degeto, co-produced by Film I Väst, Sirena Film, Zentropa Sweden, Saga Film and Ginger Pictures, co-produced with the support from Czech Film Fund and BNP Paribas Fortis Film Finance in collaboration with Canal+ Poland and M7. It is distributed by StudioCanal.