ZDF Studios brings German streaming hit Dear Vivi to buyers in Lille

German crime thriller Dear Vivi (Gestern Waren wir Noch Kinder)

SERIES MANIA: Germany’s ZDF Studios is lining up what it has described as streamer ZDFmediathek’s “most-viewed series to date” for international buyers in Lille, France this week.

Dear Vivi (7×45’) is a crime thriller from Berlin-based Seven Dogs Filmproduktion, written by Natalie Scharf (Spring Fever, Balaton Residence). Airing in Germany under the title Gestern Waren wir Noch Kinder, the show debuted on ZDF in January and later on the public broadcaster’s OTT service ZDFmediathek.

The seven episodes have so far reached almost 21 million views, or three million views per episode. This makes it “the most-viewed series in the ZDFmediathek to date and by far the most successful German streaming offer in the current year,” according to ZDF Studios.

The show tells the story of a seemingly perfect German family, whose world falls to pieces when the father suddenly kills his wife in the heat of the moment and ends up in custody awaiting trial.

ZDF Studios is also showcasing eight-part thriller The Swarm in Lille this week, the French premiere of which takes place at a Series Mania screening on Thursday.

The Swarm is from Emmy-winning producer Frank Doelger (Game of Thrones) and revolves around a group of scientists heading to the Arctic Ocean to explore strange natural phenomena that seems to be retaliating against mankind.

The German company will also be pitching new period coming-of-age drama The Brontë Sisters during the Co-Pro Pitching Sessions this morning. The project, from ZDF Studios and UK-based Parsonage Productions, dramatises the teenage lives of the three Brontë sisters.