About the Quality Content Council Finnish Sports Drama “Guts”

Paris-based About Premium Content hits international sales charts with Finnish sports thriller Guts from hit creator Jemina Jokisalo, the feminist erotic story Money Shot” won the Student Award for Best Short Drama at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and is currently competing for the Gothenburg TV Series Visual Nordic Series Screenplay Award.

News of APC's takeover of “Guts” comes as Paris-based Federation Studios handles international sales for “Money Shot” alongside Nordisk Film, signing first rights for “Money Shot” in France (Canal+), Lithuania and Greece Release Agreement.

Commissioned by Finnish publisher Yle, the eight-part series Guts is produced by Just Republic, co-led by producer Sasu Norhomaa and writer Jokisalo.

The story revolves around Anna, a top cross-country skier who gets another chance to become a world champion. A perpetual loser, she's determined to win at all costs and defeat her nemesis, Maria, a born ski star.

Roosa Söderholm (Baby Jane, They Got Away) and Sannah Nedergård (Codename Annika, The Sandham Murders) star two top female athletes in a battle of the minds . Other cast members include Reetta Ylä-Rautio (Money Shot), Kreeta Salminen (Headwind), Antti Virmavirta (Transportation), Edit Williams and Viktor Nyström.

Akseli Tuomivala (“Paradise,” “Next of Kin”) and Petra Lumiosa (“Fuse”) share directing duties.

Yle Drama executive producer Suvi Mansnerus, who provided notes to creatives at an early stage, said: “Guts is a perfect fit for Yle as it combines elements of mystery, drama and thriller , is able to resonate with a broad and young audience. The show's focus on human-related challenges, even in the competitive world of elite sports, is very much in line with Yle's commitment to providing engaging and thought-provoking content. The unique storytelling style offers something fresh and unique, making it an excellent series.”

Emmanuelle Guilbart and Laurent Boissel, co-CEOs of Premium Content, added: “We are delighted to be working with the talented team at Just Republic on this exciting series and following the success of Deadwind, we are once again working with Yle Collaboration. We were involved in the production of “Guts” from the early stages, working on development notes on the script with Jemina to find the best balance between sports thriller and personal drama for this unique snowy “Black Swan” , we are sure it will resonate with a large global audience.”

Jokisalo said she got the idea for the show after watching a play inspired by the life of legendary Finnish cross-country skiing Olympic medalist Aino-Kaisa Saarinen. “I was immediately captivated by her story and continued reading her biography, which depicted the difficult world of a competitive athlete and felt it would be the perfect setting for a compelling drama.”

As part of his research, the veteran screenwriter attended ski camps and interviewed more than a dozen top skiers and coaches. “I'm interested in the power games and battles of minds between competitors, their drive and willingness to make huge sacrifices in order to succeed. Typically, women are seen as gentle and easy-going, but difficult circumstances force them to be selfish And ruthless. That fascinates me,” Jokisalo said.

The series is currently being filmed between Finland and Slovenia and is co-produced by Slovenia's Staragara and Swedish label Anagram Scotland, part of Newen Studios, itself a majority shareholder in Just Republic. Co-funders include N12 Nordic Alliance of Public Broadcasters (Yle, DR, SVT, NRK, RÚV), Nordic Film and Television Foundation, Business Finland, Film i Skåne, Finnish Film Foundation and Slovenian Film Centre. Delivery is expected in early 2026.

Jokisalo, meanwhile, is riding high on the success of Elisa Viihde's drama Money Shot, for which she has been nominated for a Nordic Screenplay Series Award, which will be presented at the upcoming TV series Vision at the Gothenburg Film Festival on January 28 Awarded at the meeting.

“There is a lot of competition among Nordic series. I'm delighted to receive this prestigious award, which resonates with so many people. It shows that there is room in the market for bold series.” Paris-based Federation Studios with Nordisk Film Responsible for international sales and has so far signed distribution deals for Money Shot with France (Canal+), Lithuania and Greece.