Jasmin Maeda, Head of International Fiction: "The success of the co-operation so far underlines the relevance and quality of the New8 projects - but also the power of European co-productions: We are very proud to present the new projects of the New8 co-operation here in Lille. The diversity of genres, themes and stories is one of the great strengths of European co-productions. The quality of series already produced, such as 'The Cum-Ex Affair' or 'Kabul', stands for itself and demonstrates the power of European productions." 

ZDF is once again in charge of two series in the new slate:

The eco-thriller "Phoenix" tells the story of young people from various European countries who, in the run-up to an economic summit in the French Alps, kidnap the children of the CEOs of the "Four Wastes" (four companies that are doing the most damage to the climate) and hole up in the mountains with their victims. They want to force the business leaders to save the climate. Six 45-minute episodes will be produced by Les Films du Cygne, Storia Télévisions and Maze Pictures. The film will be directed by Franck Brett and scripted by Matthieu Bernard, Louis Aubert and Clément Marchand. Maik Platzen and Frank Seyberth are the editors in charge at ZDF. 

The second series, "The Dark Ones", is about dangerous creatures that invade people's lives on an island in the North Sea. However, they are neither monsters nor demons, but also humans - in fact, the worst possible versions of the inhabitants there, dodgy doppelgangers who want to swap places with them. The only one who might be able to stop them is a young woman in search of her origins. The mystery drama series is produced by Network Movie and Studio Zentral. Six 45-minute episodes will be produced by director Lea Becker from scripts by Arne Nolting and Jan Martin Scharf. Johannes Frick-Königsmann is responsible for editing at ZDF. 

Some of the first eight series created in this collaboration have already been published, including some that have been recognised nationally and internationally: For example, Katja Benrath and Mia Maariel Meyer were honoured with the German Television Award in the "Best Director Fiction" category in 2024 for the series "Push", which was brought in by ZDF. The drama series "Kabul", a production of the European Alliance and brought into New8 by ZDF, is taking part in this year's "International Competition" of "Series Mania", as is the series "Generations" brought into the cooperation by DR. DR also brought the ZDF co-production "The Cum-Ex Affair" to the New8, which was the only series invited to the "Panorama" section of the Berlinale this year. The German-Danish series by Jan Schomburg can currently be streamed on ZDF.de and will soon be shown on ZDF on Sunday, 13 April 2025, and Monday, 14 April 2025, both from 10.15 pm. 

To the press release 

Picture: © ZDF /Klaus Wedding