ZDF Enterprises Unveils Multifaceted MIPTV Line-Up

ZDF Enterprises is bracing itself for a large influx of buyers at this spring’s media industry trade fair MIPTV, which will be held in Cannes from 4 to 7 April. Buyers’ attention has been especially drawn to ZDF Enterprises through the company’s lead sponsorship of FOCUS ON GERMANY as well as a new market event, the MIPDrama Screenings. This event aims to present new high-end drama at MIPTV, whereby every kind of drama is allowed – as long as the jury is convinced of its exceptional quality.

One of the 12 international programs that was selected, and the only German-language or German-produced program in the line-up, is Ku’Damm ’56 – Rebel With a Cause (3 x 90’) the latest addition to the ZDFE.drama catalogue and a vibrant, stylish social drama set in post-war Berlin. It captures the feel of the times, when men were reconstructing the nation and women were reconstructing their lives: a mother and her three marriageable daughters seek their role in a shattered society where anything is possible, including the demand for women’s rights.

In Thicker than Water II (20 x 60’), pent-up Scandinavian emotions continue to wreak havoc on the lives of the Waldemar family at their guest house in the idyllic Swedish archipelagos. The second season deals with issues of identity and guilt in a dysfunctional family attempting to heal old wounds. Strong emotions such as love, hate and betrayal are also treated in this little society. Will the characters ultimately be forced to take responsibility and make the sacrifices necessary to finally bring peace to the family?

ZDF Enterprises’ factual programs can count on brisk sales this spring, with several programs poised to make it really big. For instance, First Flight - Conquest of the Skies (1 x 50’) which seeks to clear up who actually first flew a motorized airplane, the Wright Brothers in 1903 or the German immigrant to the U.S. Gustave Whitehead two years earlier. The documentary Why Size Matters (2 x 50/ 4K or 10 x 50) reveals that when it comes to the universe, size really does matter. And in The Lesser Caucasus (1 x 50’), we explore barely accessible stretches of mountains between Europe and Asia.n.

At this spring’s MIPTV, ZDF Enterprises is putting an accent on entertainment formats, a genre that boasts finest-quality shows like You Can’t Fool Me! (90’) a believe-it-or-not game show where the star – sound, sight, touch, smell, taste – is nature itself and the tricks it loves to play on us. Also new to the ZDFE.entertainment library is the party-game-inspired family show The Game Begins! The Big Show for 3 to 99 (180’). Also featured in the entertainment block are Quiz Champion, which challenges players with some of the trickiest questions in the genre; and Dalli Dalli, a revised classic.

ZDFE.junior would hardly be junior without werewolves! But this season, the extremely cool Wolfblood (52 x 26’) and its companion piece Wolfblood Uncovered (10 x 12’) are competing for the teen heart, mind and howl with Scream Street (52 x 11’). A fast-paced, stylish, comedy-horror extravaganza, this animated show based on the hit book series follows the adventures of Luke Watson – a regular teen, apart from the werewolf gene!