ZIVIS wins RTL+ Storytellers 2026 competition

The comedy series “ZIVIS” has emerged as the winner of the sixth round of the Storytellers competition, an initiative by RTL+ and the Film and Media Foundation NRW. The project was developed by a team of students from the ifs International Film School Cologne, including Paul Safran, Beth Barnes, Sofia Magalhães, and Gabriel Rios.

Set as a young-adult comedy, the series explores the concept of reintroduced civil service. The plot follows three diverse Generation Z teenagers who are assigned to work in a senior citizens' residence, where they encounter a world vastly different from their own.

Apollonia Film will produce the series for the streaming service RTL+. Filming is scheduled to take place in 2027. The competition saw significant interest, with 112 submissions vying for the final selection.