NATPE Budapest Spotlight: ZDF Enterprises

BUDAPEST: ZDF Enterprises’s (ZDFE) labels are showcasing a lineup that covers a range of genres at NATPE Budapest.

Among the kids’ highlights on ZDFE’s slate is the stop-motion-animation series Scream Street. The book-based program follows Luke Watson, a regular kid who happens to have the werewolf gene. Wolfblood, meanwhile, is a live-action series about a teen who is neither fully wolf nor completely human and must learn to live with her super speed, strength and senses.

Another title from the ZDFE.junior catalog is Dance Academy, which targets teen and tween audiences. “It is very difficult to touch that group, but Dance Academy has worked very well for us,” says Fred Burcksen, the executive VP and COO of ZDFE. For the younger set, there are preschool shows such as Coconut, the Little Dragon. “We’ve done amazing things on a global scale, and everybody knows our brands,” adds Burcksen.

ZDFE.factual is promoting First Flight: Conquest of the Skies, which questions whether the Wright brothers were actually the first to fly. There’s also the science documentary Why Size Matters and the nature and wildlife film The Lesser Caucasus: Between Ararat and the Caspian Sea. “Factual has always been an important genre for ZDF and ZDF Enterprises,” explains Burcksen.

Ku’damm 56: Rebel with a Cause, meanwhile, is an event miniseries from ZDFE.drama that is set in 1956 at a dance school. “It’s a beautiful story,” says Burcksen. In terms of formats, ZDFE.entertainment’s offering includes game shows such as You Can’t Fool Me! and The Game Begins!

Burcksen adds: “We are always out there looking for the next big thing—everywhere, anytime.”