Germany’s ZDF strikes first-look with UK indie

ZDF Enterprises, the commercial arm of the German pubcaster ZDF, has inked a first-look deal with Bonafide Films, the London and Newcastle-based UK drama indie.

The deal gives ZDFE the first option on international rights to Bonafide’s upcoming scripted projects and it will provide deficit funding for the shows its picks up.

The pair first hooked up on a development deal in August 2013.

ZDFE has successfully distributed several Nordic Noir series including The Bridge and The Killing, and the Bonafide agreement and marks an effort to bolster its 5,000-hour catalogue with English-language fiction.

Bonafide’s upcoming projects include Nosferatu in Love, from Wolf Hall writer Peter Straughan and debuting on Sky Arts in the UK in May, and an untitled comedy series for UKTV that it will produce with comedy indie BabyCow television.

“Bonafide Films look to create bold, stand out drama and original comedy for television and film,” said Alexander Coridass, president and CEO of ZDF Enterprises.

“We at ZDF Enterprises have a long-standing experience in the development and worldwide distribution of drama programs and are convinced that we’ll be able to jointly create many international hits.”

Margery Bone, managing director of Bonafide Films added: “As a partner ZDF Enterprises are hugely supportive creatively, sharing our drive to find the ambitious content that the international market demands.”