Epic Historical Drama · Feature / Limited Series Proposal
Explore the legendary life of Vlad Țepeș, the Impaler, in an epic cinematic journey through medieval Europe’s most notorious — and misunderstood — figure. A powerful blend of drama, politics and myth, designed for global audiences.
Between empires, betrayal and survival, one ruler turns terror into a weapon to defend his land.
Context
The Story of Vlad is a captivating historical epic that combines emotion, drama and political intrigue. It offers a gripping portrayal of Vlad Țepeș – one of medieval Europe’s most legendary and misunderstood figures – and gives his story the large-scale, nuanced treatment it has rarely received on screen.
Rather than reducing Vlad to a horror icon, the film explores the complexities of his character and actions. We place his decisions in the harsh political and social context of the time: the clash of empires, internal betrayal and the brutal logic of medieval power.
Global audiences are drawn to complex anti-heroes, morally ambiguous leaders and rich historical worlds – from Vikings and The Last Kingdom to Game of Thrones.
Synopsis
Short synopsis: The Story of Vlad is conceived as an unmissable cinematic experience that entertains, educates and inspires. Through a sweeping historical narrative, the film follows Vlad Țepeș as he navigates betrayal, war, shifting alliances and the brutal rules of medieval power.
We move beyond cliché and myth to show a complex leader fighting to hold his land and people together between empires. The story sheds light on a crucial period of European history and invites audiences to rethink what they believe they know about Vlad the Impaler.
From hostage prince to feared ruler, each chapter of Vlad’s life reveals new tensions between justice, cruelty and survival, building towards a climax where every choice has irreversible consequences.
It is time to bring Vlad Țepeș’ story to the forefront and give it the cinematic recognition it deserves.
Creative team
Germain Kanda – Director
Germain Kanda is a graduate of UNATC with a specialization in Film Directing (2011–2014) under Professor Laurențiu Damian, and holds a Master’s in Film Directing (2014–2016). Since 2016 he has been working at StudioSet and has been distinguished with multiple awards at international festivals, including the Grand Prize for Experimental Film at the Sichuan TV Gold Panda Awards in 2013 for “Vibration”, as well as Best Director at the Los Angeles Comedy Film Festival in 2021 for “Hippopotamus & Crocodile Hunt”.
Mario-Cristian Marian – Producer
Mario is a graduate of the Faculty of Administration and Business at the University of Bucharest and is currently pursuing Master’s studies at UNAP (Crisis Management and Conflict Prevention) and at UNATC “I.L. Caragiale” in Film Production.
In 2018 he collaborated with director Tedy Necula on “Coborâm la prima”, coordinating the financial department and the marketing and distribution campaign. In 2020 he took over the production of “Clouds of Chernobyl” (dir. Ligia Ciornei), released in 2022, and recently completed the feature film “Mai departe” (dir. Tedy Necula).
Vision
The Story of Vlad is a historical drama that treats Vlad Țepeș as both a symbol and a human being. The film looks at how legends are born – and at what cost they are sustained.
The film is a gripping, character-driven epic exploring the tension between justice, cruelty and survival in medieval leadership. It shows how Vlad is forced to embrace terrifying methods in order to keep invaders at bay and control internal betrayal.
The visual language favors large-scale battlefields, intimate candle-lit interiors, and symbolic compositions that contrast brutality with vulnerability.
The film is an opportunity to shed light on a crucial period of European history and give Vlad’s story the nuanced, large-scale treatment it has never truly had on screen.
Format & audience
Type: Drama, History
Proposal: Feature Film or Mini-Series
The material is strong enough to sustain either a self-contained epic feature or an extended limited series (4–6 episodes), allowing deeper exploration of political intrigue, regional alliances and the evolution of Vlad across key moments in his life.
Scale & ambition
Estimated production budget: $10 million
Distribution: Cinema and/or VOD (global)
World Wide Box Office estimate: $100 million
The project is designed with a strong cinematic value proposition for both traditional theatrical release and premium VOD platforms, with potential for franchise expansion (prequels, sequels, spin-off series, docu-series on historical truth vs. legend).
We are seeking international co-producers, sales agents, funds and platforms interested
in bringing a bold, cinematic reinterpretation of Vlad Țepeș to a global audience.
The package includes this pitch, extended treatment, lookbook, director’s statement and a
scalable budget designed around a $10M production.
Full bios, previous works, references and a more detailed financial deck are available upon request.
