ZDF Studios is serving as the international distributor of The Godfather of St. Petersburg, a two-part doc from Story House Productions charting Vladimir Putin’s rise to power.
Produced for ZDF and ZDF Studios, the doc, currently in production, comes as Putin marked 25 years at the helm of Russia this year. The Godfather of St. Petersburg takes audiences back to 1990s St. Petersburg to chart how Putin cultivated relationships with intelligence services, high-powered businessmen, and criminal figures to ascend to power.
The two-parter will feature experts, access to exclusive documents, eyewitness accounts, and previously unpublished material. Former collaborators and acquaintances of Putin are featured, some speaking publicly for the very first time.
Nikolas Hülbusch, Director Unscripted at ZDF Studios, said the doc is “more than a historical account; it’s a deep dive into the forces that shaped modern Russia. With exclusive access and compelling storytelling, The Godfather of St. Petersburg uncovers the networks and decisions that propelled Vladimir Putin from local politics to global power. We are excited to bring this extraordinary series to international audiences.”
Jens Afflerbach, general manager & CEP at Story House Productions, noted, “With The Godfather of St. Petersburg, we aim to shed light on one of the most pivotal and least understood chapters in modern history. By combining exclusive documents, eyewitness accounts, and unprecedented access to Putin’s inner circle, this series reveals how a city in chaos became the cradle of a power structure that still shapes global politics today.”
