Finnish producer Helsinki-filmi and Icelandic company Glassriver have formed a three-title co-production partnership, beginning with the six-part crime series “Tango Metal”. The project, combining crime, romance, tango and heavy metal, reflects a wider push among European independent producers to share creative and financial risks as funding declines and international co-commissioning becomes more important.

The series follows Finnish crime reporter Paula, who travels to Reykjavík after her estranged brother is murdered in a ritualistic killing, and teams up with Icelandic detective and metal-band frontman Bjarki. Mia Ylönen created the series and is attached alongside writers Tua Harno and Jojo Erholtz; the show is in development, in advanced talks with Finnish and Icelandic commissioners, and is expected to begin production later this year. The partnership’s other projects are a Finnish near-science-fiction feature and an Icelandic television project, with details due once financing is secured.