Love Sucks: A Vampire Romance Series Premiering at Berlinale
Industry leaders and international buyers previewed upcoming German series at the Berlinale Series Market. Among them was “Love Sucks,” a unique vampire romance reminiscent of “Romeo and Juliet” and “Twilight,” exploring two lovers separated by a dark secret.
ZDFneo presented “Love Sucks” and “Krank” at the event. “Love Sucks” is penned by “Dark” screenwriter Marc O. Seng and directed by Andreas Prochaska (“The Dark Valley”) and Lea Becker (“Höllgrund”). ZDF Studios handles global distribution.
Creator O. Seng expressed surprise at partnering with ZDF, initially expecting creative limitations. However, ZDF’s enthusiasm for the project proved him wrong.
Berlinale Series Market attendees
O. Seng elaborated on ZDF’s openness: “When we met with ZDF, we truly understood their love for the show. My preconceived notion of this large German broadcaster was completely wrong. They pushed us to the limits with violence, sexuality, and dark themes.” This reflects a broader trend of European public broadcasters embracing innovative content.
The Berlinale Series Market also discussed crucial industry issues, like first rights and the relationship between international streamers and public broadcasters. Securing co-productions with streamers was once difficult, but producers noted increased accessibility.
The changing market also affected established partnerships. Producers mentioned the absence of partners like Paramount and challenges with Disney, requiring early distribution strategy decisions: global streamer deals or public broadcaster networks. Broadcasters previously resisted collaborations with major streamers.
Several participants highlighted the evolving role of public broadcasters, particularly ZDF’s willingness to push boundaries, challenging their conservative image. “ZDF was the last place we imagined we’d have the show,” admitted O. Seng, underscoring the changing perception of public broadcasters.
