ZDF Studios Takes on International Distribution of “Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise”
An extraordinary wildlife documentary about destruction, responsibility and the return of paradise by award‑winning filmmaker Florian Guthknecht
Mainz, 23 April 2026
ZDF Studios is expanding its international catalogue of premium nature and wildlife documentaries and is taking on worldwide distribution of “Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise” (1 x 60’) by internationally acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Florian Guthknecht.
The film takes viewers to one of the rarest places on Earth: a remote island in the Pacific Ocean with a biodiversity unique in the world, both on land and underwater. Lord Howe Island is surrounded by the world’s southernmost coral reef and is home to numerous endemic animal and plant species. At the same time, it stands as a striking example of how fragile even the most strictly protected ecosystems can be.
Introduced rats and mice pushed the island’s ecological balance to the brink of collapse. Rather than resigning themselves to this fate, the island’s residents joined forces with scientists – including world‑renowned photographer and naturalist Ian Hutton – as well as national park rangers to launch an unprecedented rescue mission. Over the course of nearly three years, the island was completely cleared of the invasive rodents. What followed was a miracle captured on film that surprised even experts: plants began to regenerate, insects and birds returned, and species long believed to be extinct for centuries reappeared. Life flourished once again where no one had expected it.
Florian Guthknecht has been documenting this extraordinary process for more than two decades. Around 20 years ago, he made his first major film about the island for ZDF and Arte, “Lord Howe Island – Pacific Eden” (1 x 50’), which is also distributed by ZDF Studios. The new production offers a rare before‑and‑after narrative: a film that combines breathtaking natural imagery with scientific depth, adventure and emotional intimacy, powerfully illustrating how the island has changed.
The new documentary also brings the significance of Lord Howe Island as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site to life for today’s audiences using state‑of‑the‑art filming technology. It provides rare insights into a flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world and presents a tangible ecological comeback – from the rediscovery of the legendary tree lobster to the visible recovery of entire bird populations.
ZDF Studios already distributes several award‑winning productions by Florian Guthknecht, whose films are renowned for their exceptional visual language, strong storytelling and high social relevance, and are equally sought after by broadcasters, platforms and international festivals. Among his most recent successes is “Magic Meadows: The Power of Seagrass” (ZDF/Arte), which is also distributed by ZDF Studios.
Nikolas Hülbusch, Director Unscripted at ZDF Studios, says: “Lord Howe Island – Reset of Paradise” is an ideal addition to our nature documentary portfolio. Florian Guthknecht’s new film is far more than an observation of nature: it tells a story about humanity’s ability to destroy nature – and our equally powerful ability to restore it. Especially at a time of global climate and biodiversity crises, this film shows that nature can recover when responsibility is taken. We are delighted to distribute this hopeful story internationally and make it accessible to audiences worldwide.”
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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