Yellow Film & TV and Elisa Viihde/Viaplay team up on Goldfish series

Based on the personal experiences of writer Tatiana Elf (Roba, King Liar) and Yellow Film & TV producer Essi Hellén, the Finnish drama comedy Goldfish (Kultakala) centres on a mother/daughter relationship and how everything changes when the mother is diagnosed with an early-stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

Elf is co-writer with Anna Dahlman (behind the award-winning sketch comedy Pajama Party) who also serves as director.

Besides Katariina Kaitue (Bordertown), Miila Virtanen (M/S Romantic), Chike Ohanwe (Aurora) and Pekka Strang (Tom of Finland), co-stars include Helmi-Leena Nummela (Putous, Syke) and Mikko Penttilä (The Principal).

Speaking about the series, Elf said: “I was a family carer for my mother for years. It took its toll on my relationship and social life, and often left me without a good night’s sleep. I want this series to offer hope and moments of understanding for those whose loved ones suffer from a memory disorder or who suffer from one themselves. This is not a story about death – it is a story about life, which must be lived to the fullest before it is too late.”

Producer Hellén who worked on the development process, says her experience of caring for her father who suffered from Lewy body dementia was an inspiration for the show. “I often didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at some of the things he got up to. But laughter always made it easier.”

Writer/director Dahlman says she is often ’inspired by comedies about serious topics’. “As the mother of a daughter and a daughter myself, I feel that there is plenty of drama, comedy, crying and laughter to deal with in those relationships, even enough for several TV series!” Goldfish is currently filming and will premiere exclusively on Elisa Viihde Viaplay in 2022.

Yellow Film & TV and the major Finnish streaming service are also collaborating on the second season of the crime drama Arctic Circle, currently filming until February.

Season 1 was the most watched original series of all time for Elisa Viihde, and the returning season has already been sold by Lagardère Studios to the niche VOD service Topic in the US.

Reprising their roles are Iina Kuustonen, Pihla Viitala, Mikko Leppilampi, Kari Ketonen and Pertti Koivula among others.