German thriller "Shadow Leaks" explores student secrets online

A new German teen thriller series called “Shadow Leaks” has drawn attention at the Series Mania Buyers Upfront. The show, produced by Dreamtool Entertainment and sold by Beta Film, is based on a bestselling novel by Jonas Ems, who is also one of the actors. The series is set in a small town high school. After a student's mysterious suicide, a website called the "Shadow Page" begins to reveal students’ personal secrets, including private chats and explicit pictures. This raises questions about innocence and the impact of secrets being exposed. Stefan Raiser, a producer of the series, compares it to “Gossip Girl” but highlights that it has darker themes similar to “13 Reasons Why.” Ems believes that modern technology makes it easy for people to share secrets, which can have both freeing and damaging effects. Ems and Raiser emphasize that the show is crafted with the younger generation's perspective in mind. They aim for authenticity and relatability, as many shows fail to represent younger voices accurately. They also conducted research by talking to students to make the story more engaging. “Shadow Leaks” aims to connect with viewers used to fast-paced social media environments. The creators are optimistic about the show's future, hinting at a possible second season that might explore the lives of parents as well. Overall, they hope to present a thrilling yet realistic portrayal of teenage life.