ZDF Studios has secured the worldwide distribution rights to the one-hour special Lord Howe Island—Reset of Paradise, exploring the remote island in the Pacific Ocean.
The latest addition to ZDF Studios’ extensive nature and wildlife doc slate takes viewers to the UNESCO World Natural Heritage site, exploring its unique biodiversity on land and underwater through the lens of acclaimed wildlife filmmaker Florian Guthknecht. Guthknecht made Lord Howe Island—Pacific Eden, which is also in the ZDF Studios catalog, for ZDF and ARTE some two decades ago. ZDF Studios also represents Guthknech’s Magic Meadows: The Power of Seagrass.
The film explores how residents collaborated with scientists, including Ian Hutton, and park rangers to address an invasive rodent problem that threatened the island’s ecological balance and highlights success stories of ecological comebacks.
Nikolas Hülbusch, Director Unscripted at ZDF Studios, remarked, “Lord Howe Island—Reset of Paradise is an ideal addition to our nature documentary portfolio. Florian Guthknecht’s new film is far more than an observation of nature: it tells a story about humanity’s ability to destroy nature—and our equally powerful ability to restore it. Especially at a time of global climate and biodiversity crises, this film shows that nature can recover when responsibility is taken. We are delighted to distribute this hopeful story internationally and make it accessible to audiences worldwide.”
