ZDF Studios to partner with Mipformats Pitch 2024

The French distributor RX France announced that a global Call for Entries is now open for the 2024 Mipformats Pitch, seeking new entertainment formats with international appeal and staged for the first time in partnership with the German company ZDF Studios.

Mipformats will be a global gathering of formats producers, creators, buyers and distributors from over 40 countries. The event will take place within the MIPTV pre-opening weekend (6-7 April). Following the global call for entries, the 2024 Mipformats Pitch will see a short list of five finalists selected to pitch their concepts in the Palais des Festivals on Sunday 7th April at 16:30 to a jury of international format experts, from which one winner will be selected live on stage. Last year’s competition attracted  89 submissions from over 25 countries; with Turkish talent show format "The Show Must Go On", created by FormatWorkshop triumphing over concepts from Italy, the UK and Ukraine.

In selecting the shortlist, the jury will be looking for universally appealing international formats with the winner receiving a financial contribution of €2000 to development, complementary accreditation to a future MipMarket and access to coaching and mentoring expertise from within the ZDF Studios Group for a year. Finalists will be announced in the run up to the market. Producers and content creators globally are invited to submit entries via the Mipformats website from for original non-scripted formats as yet commissioned, broadcast or exhibited, and for which worldwide rights are available. 

RX France Entertainment Division Director & Director of MIPTV Lucy Smith referred to the new strategic alliance:“The Mipformats Pitch offers producers and creators a prestigious platform for ideas, invaluable exposure to global decision makers, and now, through ZDF Studios, access to international expertise that can help get their concepts on the map," said.

On the other hand, Ralf Rückauer, Vice President Unscripted of ZDF Studios mentions that the initiative arises from the challenge of finding new and interesting formats: “All popular shows that are known to a large, global audience are based on a simple but clever idea - but they are not easy to find. With RX France, we are looking forward to finding that next big hit. It will be exciting to discover fresh ideas and to honour the winner in Cannes. In addition to the prize money, we wanted to create additional value for the winners through coaching and mentoring from format specialists in the ZDF Studios Group," noted.