EXCLUSIVE: Soccer doc FC Hollywood — Der FC Bayern und die Verrückten has scored international distribution.
The ZDF and Bildundtonfabrik feature doc has been picked up by German vendor OneGate Media, which is heading to the UK next week, during which London TV Screenings and the debuting MIP London will be held.
The five-part series has been blowing up on ZDF Mediathek, the streaming service of German pubcaster ZDF, with more than six million views accrued since launch on January 10. Given that Bayern are Germany’s most successful team, with 33 league titles, 20 national cups and six European Cups/Champions League wins, it’s unsurprising interest as been high.
FC Hollywood explores a dramatic period between 1996 and 2001, when a team of unparalleled squad talent often became it’s own biggest rival, giving birth to the ‘FC Hollywood’ nickname. It features exclusive interviews with Bayern legends such as Lothar Matthäus, Jürgen Klinsmann, Mehmet Scholl, Mario Basler and Stefan Effenberg and leading journalists such as Reinhold Beckmann, Patrizia Riekel, and Marcel Reif. Included are the club’s struggles, internal chaos and moments “that are as humorous as they are dramatic.”
The doc comes from indie producer BTF (Bildundtonfabrik) in co-production with ZDF, and is supported by ilm- und Medienstiftung NRW and the FFA German Motion Picture Fund. Stepan Arapovic, Philipp Käßbohrer and Matthias Murmann are the producers, Nicolas Berse-Gilles is the director and Markus Brauckmann, Simone Schillinger and Florian Nöthe are the writers.
“FC Hollywood is much more than just a classic football documentary,” said Tania Reichert-Facilides, Managing Director of OneGate Media. “It tells a gripping story full of emotions, drama, and unexpected twists — all brought to life by some of footballs icons and experienced journalists.
“The outstanding streaming numbers on ZDF Mediathek confirm the demand for this kind of documentary and highlight the strong interest in this remarkable era of FC Bayern. We are confident that the documentary, powered by the global appeal of the FC Bayern Munich brand, will captivate audiences worldwide.”
BTF is behind shows such Netflix’s crime drama series How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast) and Big Mäck – Gangster und Gold. More recently, it was behind Disney+’s Pauline, Prime Video’s Perfekt Verpasst and short film Der Dritte Kurzschluss for WDR/Das Erste & ARD Mediathek). Locally, its has made shows such as MAITHINK X for ZDFNeo and The Carolin Kebekus Show for Das Erste.
“In line with BTF’s innovative content strategy, we are further expanding our global reach through new distribution channels,” added Karolin Engl-Lubba, BTF’s Head of Business, Legal Affairs & Commercial, and Franziska Gärtner, Head of Acquisitions & Sales, in a statement.
“Collaborating with international distributors is a key pillar of this strategy, and ‘FC Hollywood’ presents the perfect opportunity to strengthen our international presence and make the documentary accessible worldwide. With OneGate, we have found fantastic partners, and we look forward to working together.”
