Banijay is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay is present in 16 territories.
Banijay is the world's largest independent content creation Group for television and multimedia platforms. Banijay is present in 16 territories.

Tag Archive: mastiff sweden

  1. Björn Borg’s Memoir Heartbeat Set for Screen Adaptation by Acclaimed Writer/Director Jonas Åkerlund

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    Content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces Jarowskij/Yellow Bird and Mastiff Sweden are co-developing a scripted interpretation of Björn Borg’s bestselling memoir Hjärtslag (Heartbeat). The adaptation will be helmed by internationally renowned filmmaker Jonas Åkerlund, one of Sweden’s most influential directors, known for his groundbreaking music videos for Madonna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and The Rolling Stones, as well as films like Polar, Spun, Lord of Chaos and the Netflix series Clark.

    Björn Borg says: “I’ve spent my entire life in matches – both on and off the court. Jonas wants to explore both sides, and I feel the time is right for that. He has the eye, the energy, and the courage to tell my story in his own way.”

    Currently in development, the screen adaptation will explore Borg’s meteoric rise to tennis superstardom, including his unprecedented five consecutive Wimbledon titles, and his shocking decision to retire at just 26 years old. Based on Hjärtslag, published by Norstedts last month, the story delves into Borg’s life beyond the court, from childhood and tennis stardom to the years of financial collapse, media scrutiny, and personal reinvention.

    Jonas Åkerlund, Writer/Director, says: “Everyone knows Björn Borg for his legendary moments on the court, for his fierce, unparalleled power as an athlete and icon. With his book, we finally dipped a toe into his enigmatic mind. But with this project, we’re canon-balling into the deep end.” 

    Mattias Olsson, Head of Creative at Mastiff Sweden, and Elin Kvist, Chief Executive Officer, Jarowskij/Yellow Bird say: “We are incredibly proud to have been entrusted with this unique story, about one of the greatest sports heroes of all time, Björn Borg. There’s only one person who can tell it, and that’s the cultural force of Jonas Åkerlund. This is going to be a memorable biopic that must be seen.”

    Mastiff Sweden is behind ambitious formats like the recently announced TV4 culinary showdown 100 Knives, co-developed with Banijay Americas label Bunim/Murray Productions, as well as a long-running local version of Survivor, and Love is Blind Sweden, serving as the production partner for multiple Netflix adaptations.  Meanwhile, high-end scripted production company Jarowskij/Yellow Bird has delivered successful productions like Diary of a Ditched Girl, A Nearly Normal Family, Millennium, The Restaurant, and the major upcoming reinterpretation of iconic detective Wallander.

    Banijay Entertainment is the number one scripted studio in Europe, home to over 60 labels, producing more than 110 titles annually. Its global portfolio includes House of Guinness, Half Man, The Law According to Lidea Poet, Motor Valley, Montmartre, Carême, The Anatomy of a Moment and the Culpa trilogy. The Nordic slate includes Fallen, My Brother, Billionaire’s Island, Still Breathing, Supporting Actor and Murder in Hanko.

    This project also reflects Banijay Entertainment’s growing expansion in sport storytelling, following the launch of Banijay Sports, and underscores its commitment to delivering a bold, cross-genre offering to audiences worldwide.

  2. Mastiff Sweden and TV4 Cut Through with New Culinary Showdown, 100 Knives

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    Content powerhouse, Banijay Entertainment, today announces Mastiff Sweden has landed a prime-time commission from TV4 for the debut series of 100 Knives, a new high-stakes culinary showdown, co-developed with Bunim/Murray Productions, part of Banijay Americas and Smart Dog Media. Originally unveiled in 2024 as a development collaboration between the three companies, the ambitious competition format has been picked up for series through a creative partnership with TV4.

    100 Knives throws 100 chefs into a high-pressure culinary arena where teamwork is everything and no one can afford to be the weakest link. From food truck owners to fine dining apprentices, contestants are split into brigades and face escalating challenges that test skill and leadership. With each episode, chefs are eliminated, and the brigades reshaped until only the strongest remain, culminating in one ultimate winner who proves they can survive the heat and lead under pressure.

    Matilda Snöwall, CEO, Mastiff Sweden says: “Audiences are gravitating to supersized formats with real emotional stakes – and we all know professional kitchens are a hotbed of tension and drama. 100 Knivestakes that intensity and scales it to huge proportions – one hundred chefs, brigade battles and relentless pressure. With TV4 as our partner, this is going to be a spectacle for viewers.”

     

    Fredrik Arefalk, Director of Channels and Content, TV4 says: ”We’re excited to be part of the journey behind 100 Knives, a format that truly stands out in a noisy market. At TV4, we have a strong tradition of launching original formats that capture the hearts of our viewers, and this collaboration is a great example of that spirit. Competition, dreams, emotions and food — it’s a powerful mix that we know engages, and we look forward to sharing it with our audience.”

    James Townley, Chief Content Officer, Development at Banijay Entertainment says: “From its early development stages to first commission, 100 Knives is testament to how collaboration heightens creative ambition. There’s a growing appetite for formats that push scale and tension, delivering immersive and emotionally charged storytelling. 100 Knives takes the energy of pressure cooker kitchens and amplifies it to a level rarely seen on television.”

    Mastiff Sweden is behind ambitious formats like the local version of Survivor, and Love is Blind Sweden, serving as the production partner on multiple other adaptations of the global Netflix hit. The company also produces Best Singer, Over the Atlantic and Trash and Treasure.

    100 Knives joins Banijay Entertainment’s all-new slate of original and entertaining formats for MIPCOM 2025, including Let’s Play Ball, Football Island, Villa of Temptations, Foodish, and Lost and Found in the Lakes.

  3. Banijay’s All Against 1 Heads to Sweden

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    Mastiff Sweden, a Banijay company, today announces it will produce a local version of All Against 1 for SVT, under the title 1 mot Sverige.

     

    The interactive entertainment show is set to air this fall on SVT, marking the seventh adaptation for the format.  All Against 1 pits a contestant against the nation, with viewers simultaneously trying to predict the outcome of unique and outlandish experiments via a fully integrated app, created and managed by Banijay Nordic Mobile. The contestant plays alone, while the nation’s collective answer is determined by the average of the viewer’s responses. But, there’s only one way to win the jackpot: be the closest to answering the final question. How will the individual get on? Will their brain rival that of the nation’s? Or, will a lucky viewer win the prize?

     

    Co-created by Nordisk Film TV Denmark and Nordisk Film TV Norway, All Against 1 was first commissioned in Denmark for DR 1, where the series is the most played second screen game in the broadcaster’s history and continues to attract large audiences within Europe.

     

    Norway’s fourth season, produced by Nordisk Film TV Norway, performed incredibly well and broke records. In 2020, the third season’s special episode, featuring the country’s Prime Minister, more than doubled the channel’s average with an audience of 862,000 viewers.

     

    Matilda Snöwall, CEO of Mastiff Sweden comments: “This is a very addictive game show which allows everyone to play-along and really see if they have what it takes to win. All Against 1 has already enjoyed so much success across Europe and we are excited to work with SVT to bring it to Sweden.”

     

    Lucas Green, Global Head of Content Operations at Banijay adds: “All Against 1 is the perfect example of engaging and inclusive family viewing. The audience is truly at the forefront of the format and the use of apps has drawn a younger demographic, while boosting interactivity. We are looking forward to seeing where the format will head next.”

  4. Mastiff Sweden Crafts Made in Sweden

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    Mastiff Sweden, a Banijay Group company, today announces a brand-new design competition for SVT – Made in Sweden. The 6-part series, set to premiere in autumn 2019, will follow amateur craftsmen as they compete to be named the best craftsman in Sweden.

     

    This competitive reality series challenges the amateurs to use a range of materials, including ceramics, paper, leather, forging and wood, to express themselves. The amateurs are then judged by a team headed up by designer, Samir Alj Fält. Made in Sweden will showcase traditional crafts within a modern context, as well as presenting the perfect opportunity for enthusiasts from all over Sweden to demonstrate their creativity.

     

    Pernilla Månsson Colt, Show Presenter comments: “It’s great fun to follow the contestants and their creative ideas. I myself am an amateur but I learn things all the time in this program! It’s great to make a craft program that actually takes the design into the 2020s… finally uniting the nation’s interest in traditional craft with an exciting competition program.”

     

    Johan Liljeroth, Executive Producer, SVT comments: “Made in Sweden finally unites the great interest in traditional craft art with an exciting competition program.”

     

    Matilda Snöwall, CEO, Mastiff Sweden: “It’s great to see Made in Sweden find a home on SVT. Combing traditional arts and crafts with the drama which comes with the competitive reality genre, we hope to build an entertainment brand that resonates with audiences across the nation.”

     

    Made in Sweden was created by Mastiff Denmark and Mastiff Sweden and ran on Denmark’s DR1 in 2015 and 2016. The title is distributed by Banijay Rights.