ZDF Studios' Drama Team Heads to Series Mania Forum 2026 with Strong Line-up of New and Returning Titles
Mainz, 18 March 2026
ZDF Studios will participate at this year’s Series Mania Forum in Lille with a strong line-up of premium drama productions across crime, suspense, romance and period storytelling. Representing the company on site will be Tim Gerhartz, Sebastian Krekeler, Mirela Nastase, Nik Sivaloganathan, Yuliya Fischer, Rodrigo Herrera and Viviane Richard, who will introduce the latest additions to the ZDF Studios catalogue and meet with international partners.
Among the highlights presented at the Forum is the gripping crime drama Bust Up, which will be showcased on Wednesday, 25 March, from 12:15 to 13:00 in Grand Palais Room 3.5 – 3.6. Bust Up s 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 set in the wild and beautiful New Zealand North. At the heart of the series are ex-lovers Mihi, played by Roimata Fox (Muru, Cowboy Bebop, The Wrecking Crew) and Deb (Morgana O'Reilly, Housebound, Neighbours, and the Emmy-winning series INSiDE) who, unexpectedly, after ten years apart, are thrown together as reluctant cop partners in the small town of Waitote. Neither of them expected to have to work together but despite the initial tension, it turns out they’re a great team.
Also part of the line-up is the newly titled detective drama Benidorm is Murder (6 x 60’), produced by Clapperboard Studios and BlackBox Multimedia and commissioned by Channel 5 in the UK. Led by acclaimed actor John Hannah (Four Weddings and a Funeral, The Mummy, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), the series blends sharp humour with atmospheric crime storytelling as a seasoned detective uncovers the darker side of a bustling Spanish holiday resort, where glamour and secrets collide under the Mediterranean sun.
ZDF Studios will also present the eight-part romantic period drama Grand Hotel by the Sea (8 x 45’), the first series of its kind produced in the Netherlands. Created by Fleur Winters and produced by Big Blue in coproduction with KRONCRV and VRT, the drama is set between 1912 and 1919 on the North Sea coast in Noordwijk. The series stars Thekla Reuten (Narcosis, Warrior Nun, In Bruges) as 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. The cast also includes Joes Brauers, Florence Vos Weeda and Mustafa Duygulu.
Brand new to the catalogue is the international crime series High Season (8 x 50’), produced by Media Distribution Company, Idi Metra Enterprise and Chanh Phuong Films. Featuring Anna Zavtur, Pavel Popov, Arthur Beschastny (The Challenge, Whisper of the Witch) and Frol Frolov, the series dives deep into the criminal underbelly of a glamorous coastal destination. When a murder disrupts peak tourist season, investigators are drawn into a world of corruption, trafficking and hidden power structures in a fast-paced, atmospheric thriller with strong global appeal.
In addition, ZDF Studios is proud to announce that Season 2 of the hit romantic drama Legacy has now joined the catalogue, now bringing the total to 208 x 45’ episodes. Created by International Emmy® nominated, multi-award-winning TV duo Gwydon Beynon and Phathu Makwarela, Legacy is produced by Tshedza Pictures. Following the success of its first season, the new episodes continue the sweeping family saga set against themes of inheritance, rivalry and forbidden love. With its blend of emotional storytelling, dramatic twists and lush visual style, Legacy remains a standout title in the love and romance genre.
Reflecting on the line-up, Tim Gerhartz, Chief Commercial Officer at ZDF Studios, said: “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. From gripping crime thrillers to sweeping period romance, our line-up 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.”
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About ZDF Studios
ZDF Studios is a commercial subsidiary of ZDF, one of the largest TV broadcasters in Europe. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Mainz, Germany, the ZDF Studios Group operates more than 30 direct and indirect subsidiaries and affiliates spanning TV production, distribution and services. The parent company, ZDF Studios, is responsible for global programme distribution, realisation of international co-productions, acquisition of licences and merchandising of successful programme brands under its own name, for ZDF and third parties. ZDF Studios has the largest German-language programme inventory in the world and a constantly growing range of international productions, consisting of series and mini-series, television films, documentaries and children's programmes.
The companies of the ZDF Studios Group cover the entire value chain from the development of scripted and unscripted TV content to production, marketing and monetizing, including TV and streaming licences as well as merchandising and online rights. The positioning of ZDF Studios as an integrated media company enables the development of innovative, outstanding and high-quality programmes and makes the Group an attractive workplace for German and international talent to flourish in a very inspiring and creative environment.
Contact ZDF Studios
Christine Denilauler (VP Marketing and Corporate Communications), ZDF Studios GmbH, Erich-Dombrowski-Str. 1, 55127 Mainz/Germany, tel.: +49 6131-9911130, email: christine.denilauler@zdf-studios.com, www.zdf-studios.com