ZDF Studiosis launching in Cannes a big and diverse programming slate that includesthrilling dramas, a stunning nature series, the ultimate quiz show format and three animated children’s series.
The company, located at R7.D5,is hosting the International Launch Screening for their blue-chip natural history series Africa from Above in Auditorium A on October 17 at 4.15pm, which is being followed by a Q&A with RalfRueckauer, ZDF Studios’ VP Unscripted, and executives from the project’s partners Off the Fence, UKTV/BBC Studios, ARTE and ZDF.
Also, the fascinating science series Naked – Generation Genderis being presented as a non-scripted case study at MIPCOM on Wednesday, October 19 at 2.30pmat Seaview Producer’s Hub, Riviera 9. Hosted by Peter Hamilton from Documentary Business, it has strong panelists as Kay Siering (Spiegel Tv), Michael McMahon (Primitive Entertainment) and Rueckauer.
Dr. Markus Schäfer, President and CEO, ZDF Studios, explain: ‘I’m very much looking forward to MIPCOM, which promises to be a very busy market with an impressive number of international participants. The range and quality of new programming that we’ll be showcasing in Cannes is a result of the great partnerships we have with top-class producers both in the global market and within the ZDF Studios group- All of them have worked with such skill and diligence to produce engaging and entertaining content. We are delighted to be able to work with such a large pool of outstanding creative talents’, he added.
The drama slate kicks off with an epic series, Boundless – Magellan’s and Elcano’s Journey to the Edge of the Earth (6×45’). Directed by Simon West, it tells the story of Juan Sebastián Elcano and Ferdinand Magellan and their voyage 500 years ago in pursuit of the mythical Spice Islands. Produced by Mono Films in coproduction with Fulwell 73 Productions, in association with RTVE, in collaboration with Prime Video, in cooperation with ZDF Studios.
Starring in the dark thriller Clean Sweep (6×52’) is the award-winning Irish actress Charlene McKenna as Shelly Mohan, a housewife and mother of three married to a Garda detective, who kills her former partner-in-crime when he threatens to expose her dark past. It is produced by ShinAwiLandIncendo.
The chilling series The Crimson Rivers S4 (8×50′, 4×100′), now in season four, is set in a world full of gruesome criminal cases, sadistic killers, creepy rituals and mysterious incidents. It is produced by STORIA TELEVISION in co-production with MAZE PICTURES for France Télévisions and ZDF in cooperation with ZDF Enterprises.
Apart fromAfrica from Above (10×50’), whichshows a fresh perspective of the continent, unscripted titles from ZDF Studiosinclude Surviving Hothouse Earth (3×50’) that explores how humanity is determining the changes in Earth’s climate, produced by BilderfestFactual Entertainment for ZDF in association with Arte and ZDF Studios. War Gamers (6×50′), a new history title that takes viewers back in time to WWII, produced by World Media Rights for Curiosity Stream, in association with ZDF Studios.
Quiz Hunt, available as format or readymade (450×60’ adaptable) is an exciting duel with entertaining questions, ingenious strategies and a cash prize of €5,000 per round. It was developed by Interspot Film for Servus TV.Naked – Generation Gender (6×50’ or 90’), raises big questions of how our biological sexes and assigned genders affect us and seeks answers in lived realities and current research from around the world.
Regarding children content,the distributor launches three new animated series:Grisù(52×12’) from Mondo TV and Toon2Tanto,where a little dragon who dreams of becoming a firefighter; Törtle (26×24’) from Caligari Film and Traffix Entertainmentabout the tranquil little life on Muddle Lake town, where wild animals come into conflict with the residents and their pets; and Mimo& Leva – Back to the Bronze Age (26×7’) from Mideu Films (Germany), whichtells the story of two youngsters whose paths are predetermined.
