EXCLUSIVE: HBO Max has signed a deal with London-based distribution and production organization WestEnd Films to provide the worldwide rights to Valley Of Tears, Israel’s biggest budget TV series.
The show marked WestEnd’s first foray into television via the WeSeries banner. It produces and co-funds the project that debuted in the Series Mania official competition earlier this year.
Valley Of Tears was created and co-written by Israeli-American television and film writers Ron Leshem (Euphoria from HBO), Amit Cohen (False Flag), Daniel Amsel, and Yaron Zilberman (A Late Quartet). The latter also directed the entire series.
The series will be branded as the HBO Max Original if it releases on an undisclosed date. Inspired by true events, the ten-part show shows the 1973 Yom Kippur War through the eyes of young combatants. It tells four emotional and highly personal stories of individuals who were swept away from their loved ones by the ravages of war, four parallel storylines that are intertwined in a climate battle.
Related story
Netflix boss Ted Sarandos strikes back on the controversy over “Cuties”: “It is surprising that in 2020 we will have a discussion in America about censorship of storytelling.”
The actors are the Israeli star Lior Ashkenazi (Foxtrot) alongside Aviv Alush (The Shack), Lee Biran, Shahar Taboch, Joy Rieger and Ofer Hayoun (Euphoria), Maor Schwitzer (Shtisel) and Imri Biton.
Valley Of Tears is a co-production by WestEnd Films, United King, Israeli broadcaster KAN 11, Endemol Shine Israel and HBO Max. Executive producers on the series are Sharon Harel-Cohen, Maya Amsellem, Moshe Edery, Amir Ganor, Eldad Koblenz, Leshem and Cohen.
WestEnd previously worked with director Zilberman after A Late Quartet and the Israeli Oscar entry Incitement were released. Leshem, who co-wrote all eight episodes of HBO’s hit show Euphoria, also wrote the 2007 Oscar-nominated Beaufort picture.
WestEnd is also producing a second Israeli series, the thriller-drama Traitor, with Ron Leshem and Amit Cohen; The show is in post production.
“Valley Of Tears is an intelligent and exciting series that goes well beyond the war drama genre. It will keep viewers on the edge of their seats while they are emotionally invested in the main characters’ stories. HBO Max really is the perfect home for the series and we can’t wait to share it with audiences around the world, ”said Maya Amsellem, executive director of WestEnd Films.
Comments are closed.