ARD and ZDF Open Joint Call for Streaming Documentary Format

The cultural units of Germany's two public broadcasters, ZDFkultur and ARD Kultur, open a joint call for a self-contained nonfiction format about social cohesion and how people handle polarisation, made for the ZDF streaming portal and the ARD Mediathek. The brief asks for strong characters with a German connection, a target audience of 25 to 45, and audience participation built on the tools of the Public Spaces Incubator, a public-broadcaster project ZDF helped found in 2022 and ARD joined in 2024. Producers, filmmakers, creators and emerging talent can submit until November 3, with a decision expected in December and a premiere in 2027; the call names no budget.