Brief
Beta Film lands SVT and ZDF deals for ‘Queen Silvia’ and ‘La Vida Barcelona’
Swedish broadcaster SVT will air ‘Queen Silvia’ after Prime Video, while Germany’s ZDF joins ‘La Vida Barcelona’ as co‑producer.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Beta Film announced two major distribution agreements on Wednesday, October 12, 2026. Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT acquired the second‑window rights to the royal drama “Queen Silvia” after its world premiere at Cannes, and German public broadcaster ZDF joined the upcoming series “La Vida Barcelona” as a co‑production partner.
What happened
“Queen Silvia,” produced by Germany’s Pyjama Pictures and Unlimited Stories for Prime Video in German‑language territories and the Nordics, will be shown on SVT following its debut at the Cannes Film Festival’s Grand Auditorium. The series dramatises the romance between German‑Brazilian interpreter Silvia Sommerlath (Alicia von Rittberg) and Swedish Crown Prince Carl Gustaf (Edvin Endre), tracing their meeting at the 1972 Munich Olympics and subsequent life across Munich, Stockholm and the Côte d’Azur.
“La Vida Barcelona,” a German‑language series co‑produced by Beta Film, Millstreet Films and now ZDF, continues the company’s focus on female‑led stories. The show is produced by Pyjama Pictures and Unlimited Stories for Prime Video, with ZDF joining as a co‑producer alongside the existing partners.
What the reports add
Variety noted that “Queen Silvia” is supported by the German Motion Picture Fund, Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg and FilmFörderung Bayern, while “La Vida Barcelona” is linked to the successful “Máxima” franchise and the director of “Emily in Paris.” The article also listed the series’ creative team: director Miguel Alexandre, co‑writer Lisa Hofer, showrunner Carsten Kelber and a slate of executive producers including Tina Ermuth and Frank Buchs.
What was said
Karolina Stallwood, president for acquisitions at SVT, said, “‘Queen Silvia’ is a romantic drama inspired by the real‑life love story of Silvia Sommerlath and Crown Prince Carl Gustaf. Set against the backdrop of the early 1970s, the series offers a warm and engaging portrayal of their relationship and the events surrounding it. We’re very pleased to bring the series to SVT’s audience,” as reported by Variety.
Emil Wiklund of Unlimited Stories added, “It is a privilege to bring the love story of our King and Queen to the Swedish audience. We hope to capture the emotional truth of a love that has endured for almost 55 years.”
How it came about
Beta Film’s recent strategy of securing female‑led content follows its October 9 deal with Italy’s RAI, which bought three female‑drama series ahead of Mipcom. The company’s emphasis on women‑centric narratives has also been highlighted at industry events such as Chanel’s “Through Her Lens” luncheon earlier in September, underscoring a broader industry push for gender‑balanced programming.
Key facts
- SVT acquired second‑window rights to "Queen Silvia" after its Cannes premiere. (variety.com)
- "La Vida Barcelona" added ZDF as a co‑production partner. (variety.com)
- "Queen Silvia" stars Alicia von Rittberg as Silvia Sommerlath and Edvin Endre as Crown Prince Carl Gustaf. (variety.com)
- Beta Film’s productions are supported by German Motion Picture Fund, Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg and FilmFörderung Bayern. (variety.com)
Sources
- [1] variety.com — originally reported as “Beta Film Secures Major Deals for Female-Led Dramas ‘Queen Silvia’ and ‘La Vida Barcelona’”
