NEWS
“70 Years of the ESC – More than Music“
Archive Producer
Documentary 90 Min.
ARD
Director: Christopher Kaufmann
Production: DRIVE beta
2026
From a modest TV evening to a pop culture phenomenon: since its debut in 1956, the ‘Grand Prix Eurovision de la Chanson’ has evolved from a low-key TV gala into a massive musical event that now captivates around 160 million viewers worldwide. To mark its 70th anniversary, this ARD documentary explores this success story and examines why the ESC is far more than just a music competition: the Eurovision Song Contest reflects social and cultural changes and serves as a unique platform for diversity in Europe. With its formative influence on pop culture, fashion and the media, as well as its special significance for the LGBTQIA+ community, the Eurovision Song Contest stands, like almost no other event, for lived diversity and international solidarity. Spectacular performances, unforgettable songs, international careers and political controversies – a vibrant journey through seven decades of eventful European music and cultural history.
Premieres on 11 May 2026 at 8.15 pm on ARD and available from 8 May in the ARD media library
“Holt – The Wind Power Swindler”
Archive Producer
Documentary 90 Min.
ARD
Director: Jan Peter, Sandra Naumann
Production: Caligari Entertainment
2026
Entrepreneur Hendrik Richard Holt claims to want to revolutionise wind power, yet in doing so builds an empire of lies. The documentary shows how a charismatic con artist, together with other family members, swindles millions through fake wind power projects – all the while moving in the highest political and social circles. He uses forged documents and empty promises to swindle investors out of millions and finance a life of dazzling luxury. With his biggest planned coup, he is aiming for a haul of more than a billion euros. For a long time, no one wants to believe the obvious fraud is real, until an ambitious public prosecutor steps in. What follows is a hair-raising game of cat and mouse that comes to a spectacular end in a luxury suite at the Hotel Adlon in 2020.
Watch online in the ARD media library
