ZDF Studios Reveals Series Mania Lineup

ZDF Studios will showcase a lineup of new and returning scripted titles at Series Mania Forum, including Bust Up, Benidorm Is Murder and Grand Hotel by the Sea.

“Series Mania Forum is a vital meeting place for the international drama community, and we’re delighted to present one of our strongest and most diverse slates to date,” said Tim Gerhartz, chief commercial officer at ZDF Studios. “From gripping crime thrillers to sweeping period romance, our lineup reflects the high-quality, globally resonant storytelling we are committed to developing with our partners. We look forward to engaging with producers, broadcasters and creative talent in Lille, and to sharing these outstanding series with the world.”

Among the highlights is the crime drama Bust Up, a production by Lippy Pictures in co-production with MadeFor Film, ZDF, ZDF Studios and Sky New Zealand Originals. The six-part buddy-cop-crime series is set  in the New Zealand North, following ex-lovers Mihi and Deb, who, unexpectedly, after ten years apart, are thrown together as reluctant cop partners in a small town.

Newly titled detective drama Benidorm Is Murder, a project led by BlackBox Multimedia and Clapperboard Studios and commissioned by Channel 5 in the U.K., blends humor with crime storytelling as a seasoned detective uncovers the darker side of a bustling Spanish holiday resort.

Eight-part romantic period drama Grand Hotel by the Sea, created by Fleur Winters and produced by Big Blue in coproduction with KRONCRV and VRT, is set between 1912 and 1919 on the North Sea coast in Noordwijk. The series follows Sandra, who inherits a grand seaside hotel and aims to transform it into a premier destination for Europe’s elite while navigating societal and personal challenges.

Crime series High Season, produced by Media Distribution Company, Idi Metra Enterprise and Chanh Phuong Films, dives deep into the criminal underbelly of a glamorous coastal destination.

Lastly, season two of the romantic drama Legacy has joined the catalog. Legacy is a family saga set against themes of inheritance, rivalry and forbidden love, with its blend of emotional storytelling, dramatic twists and lush visual style.