Zdf 37 Grad

Editorial tone

Close, empathetic, observational. People and their stories at the centre. Not voice-over journalism — storytelling through accompaniment. Emotional, not voyeuristic.

What this format covers

• ●Social issues from personal perspective
• ●Lived realities outside the mainstream
• ●Social justice, exclusion, integration
• ●Mental health, addiction, illness
• ●Generational conflict and life choices
• ●Making taboo subjects visible

What this format does NOT want

• ●Historical documentaries without present-day connection
• ●Science or technology formats
• ●Investigative exposés (that's Frontal)
• ●Political analysis or background reports
• ●Topics without identifiable protagonists
• ●Wildlife or nature films

Visual expectations

Observational camera, proximity to protagonists, documentary style. Minimal staging, authentic situations. Interviews in protagonists' own environments, not studio. Handheld aesthetic permitted.

Expected exposé structure

1. Logline
2. Protagonist(s) and their story
3. Social relevance
4. Narrative approach
5. Visual execution
6. Fit for slot

Example productions

• 37°: Wenn die Seele streikt
• 37°: Leben auf der Straße
• 37°: Schuften bis zum Umfallen
• 37°: Wenn Eltern zu viel trinken
• 37°: Albtraum Pflege