Oscar-winning director Danis Tanović is returning to television with a new drama series, Hedgehogs in the Haze (Ježevi u magli), featuring a powerhouse cast led by Džana Pinjo, Snežana Bogićević, and Maja Izetbegović. The project was unveiled at the Berlinale’s Co-Pro Series pitching event, drawing attention for its mix of dark humor, thriller elements, and raw storytelling.
A Story of Friendship and Survival
The series follows three best friends—Dunja, Ira, and Belma—as they navigate personal struggles including financial hardship, oppressive relationships, and fractured family ties. Their lives take a dramatic turn when they stumble upon a fortune in drugs. Hoping to dismantle Dunja’s abusive ex-husband Kemo’s criminal operation, they attempt to sell the stash. Instead, their failed efforts drag them deeper into danger, testing their loyalty and resilience.
Despite betrayal and loss, the women ultimately forgive one another, choosing a fresh start. Tanović describes the show as “a thriller about three women who find a box that could destroy or liberate them, but at its core, it’s a darkly funny, unpredictable story about friendship—the kind only Sarajevo could produce.”
Cast and Creative Team
Pinjo, known for her role in Angelina Jolie’s In the Land of Blood and Honey, joins Bogićević, star of Bosnian sitcom Crazy, Confused, Normal, and Izetbegović, who recently premiered Regained Memory at Karlovy Vary. The ensemble also includes Ermin Bravo, Alban Ukaj, and Boris Ler. The series was co-created by Pinjo and Bravo, produced by RealStage (Bosnia & Herzegovina) alongside partners Agitprop (Bulgaria), Para Film & Theatre (Norway), Brand Vision (Serbia), and BH Telecom. Co-directing with Tanović is Nermin Hamzagić.
Financing Challenges
Producer Lara Grozdanić of RealStage highlighted the difficulties of financing drama series in today’s market. While European frameworks like Creative Europe MEDIA and Eurimages provide support, she noted that commercial investment and broadcaster commitments have contracted significantly in recent years. Co-production forums such as Berlinale Co-Pro Series now serve more as strategic networking platforms than deal-closing spaces Despite these challenges, Hedgehogs in the Haze secured Creative Europe MEDIA funding, a crucial step for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s limited domestic support system.
A Sarajevo-Born Story
Tanović emphasized that the series grew organically from workshops with trusted Sarajevo actors, drawing on their lived experiences and humor. The project blends gritty realism with dark comedy, promising a fresh take on friendship, survival, and resilience in the face of adversity.
