Ralf Blasius – In Memoriam:
Our dear friend and colleague Ralf Blasius died unexpectedly on 9 January 2019 in Mainz, Germany.
A highly-esteemed colleague, he played a crucial role in shaping ZDF‘s Natural History and Science programmes as a commissioning editor. He made successful documentaries such as “Armageddon” or “Tsunami – a wave moves the world” possible.
Credit: k22 Films
During his time at the ZDF, he was a permanent delegate and part of the editorial staff of the MIP Markets in Cannes, Wildlife and Conservation Summit in Jackson Hole and Wildscreen Festival in Bristol. He was also a jury member at numerous international and German Wildlife and Nature film festivals
After ZDF, he worked for years as a producer for Off The Fence in Amsterdam and Mainz. There, he developed and produced multi-part series, which were sold internationally.
Besides his work for OTF, he founded his own company k22film in Mainz in 2011. This resulted in a successful collaboration, when Ralf worked for the first time as director and author for the ZDF series Terra X.
Ralf was a passionate filmmaker: his technical expertise, curiosity and boundless creativity made him produce outstanding images and vivid stories. He never shied away from tackling the most difficult topics as a filmmaker.
For Terra X he took the audience on expeditions throughout the natural history of Germany and Europe, from prehistoric times to the present day; documentaries that delivered exceptional ratings and received critical acclaim.
In 2014 he was awarded one of the most prestigious television award in Germany: The Bavarian Television Prize, for “Expedition Deutschland”.
Over the last two years he was fully absorbed in the production of his Terra X follow-up project Expedition Europe. It was to be his last project. On 6 January 2019, the first part of the series was broadcast with great success. He was not to experience the broadcast of the 2nd part of the series, one week later.
Thank you Ralf for all the years we had the chance to work with you. For the many creative hours in which we worked on scripts, pictures and texts. For your ability to always think new and different.
ZDF Terra X lost a brilliant filmmaker, the rest of us lost a wonderful person.
Our hearts go out to your partner, baby daughter, colleagues and friends.