The Finnish crime drama produced by Dionysos Films had a strong opening on YLE, Wednesday March 14. The first of 12 episodes had 462,000 viewers and a share of 24.9 per cent when it was launched on the Finnish pubcaster, and combined numbers for free TV and online climbed to 800,000 during the weekend.

Producer Riina Hyytiä said: ”It’s super great to see that the show we’ve been working on for so many years, has made its way to so many viewers. People want to discuss the story on Twitter and Facebook and all those conversations ad meaning to our work.”

Deadwind was directed by Rike Jokela, who co-wrote it with Jari Olavi Rantala and Kirsi Porkka. The trio was nominated in Göteborg for the 2018 Nordisk Film & TV Fond Prize-Best Nordic Screenplay.

Black Widows’ Pihla Viitala plays detective Sofia Karppi, who has just lost her husband and has to raise her two kids on her own. Back at work, her first assignment is to investigate the murder of a young woman, found on a construction site.

The show was produced by Dionysos Films, in co-production with Germany’s H&V Entertainment. Paris-based About Premium Content handles world sales. According to Hyytiä, a returning season is in development.

Dionysos Films will attend MIPTV with Deadwind, the comedy series Living with My Ex, sold by ZDFE, and the web series Nerd: Dragonslayer666, winner of Best Children and Youth series at the last Finnish Venla Television awards. The hit comedy series about a 19-year old gamer who’s mum destroys his computer, is handled by YLE Sales.