SYFY remains on the forefront of cutting edge fantasy based digital entertainment with the acquisition of the highly acclaimed web series, Riese, it was announced today by Craig Engler, SVP and GM of Syfy Digital. Syfy Digital has acquired the rights to the entire 10-part series – which is distributed by Fireworks International, the television and digital distribution arm of ContentFilm pic – with an eye towards development for broadcast air. Riese consists of two five-part episode seasons, with season two premiering fully for the first time exclusively on Syfy.com. Season one and two are both slated for a digital launch in fall 2010.
Riese is a fantasy-adventured based web series that chronicles a mysterious wanderer named Riese (Christine Chatelain). A life-on-the-run from a world with a dim future, Riese and her trusted wolf companion, Fenrir, flee their dying land of Eleysia in search of freedom as they are hunted by assassins of “The Sect,” a terrifying religion entity. As she tries to piece together her mysterious past, Riese will take on a life and death journey with the balance and the fate of the world lying in the palm of her hand.
Says Craig Engler, “Riese is a fantastic web series with a lot of room to grow, and we’re excited to work with the very talented cast and crew to help them take the show to the next level, backed by the full promotional efforts that Syfy can bring to the table. At the same time, we’ll be working hand-in-hand with our TV development team to see if Riese has the potential to make the jump to TV, just like our hit show Sanctuary did.”
Riese recently scooped the Streamy Award for “Best Cinematography in a Web Series,” with a further three nominations for best Sound Design, Best Foreign Series and Art Direction. The digital series starring Christine Chatelain (Sanctuary, Fringe), Sharon Taylor (Smallville, Eureka), Ben Cotton (Stargate Atlantis, Harper’s Island) and Patrick Gilmore (Fringe, Stargate Atlantis) was shot in Vancouver, BC, and is created by Ryan Copple and Kaleena Kiff and produced by Galen Fletcher and Nicholas Humphries.
Jonathan Ford, Executive Vice-President, Digital Acquisitions and Distribution at Fireworks International added, “Syfy is highly regarded in the digital community with a fantastic background in identifying and securing the best in new multi platform content. We are delighted to announce this significant deal for the important U.S. market and look forward to working with the Syfy team on the web series as well as developing Riese for television.”
