At the 64th Monte-Carlo Television Festival, the new German series Hundertdreizehn had its world premiere. Produced by Windlight Pictures and Sotel Film in co-production with WDR/ARD and ORF, and distributed internationally by ITV Studios, the show is set to debut in Germany in October 2025. From the title alone, curiosity is sparked—why keep it in German?

Producers explained that while the international title will be 113, recent festival appearances, including in Munich and Monte Carlo, retained the original German name to better connect with local audiences. Regardless of language, the number “113” remains central to the show’s identity.

The concept stems from a study conducted by Germany’s Ministry of Transport, which found that each fatal accident directly affects 113 people—family members, witnesses, and first responders. Inspired by this data, the show’s writer and co-creator envisioned a radial narrative structure centered around a bus crash. From this pivotal event, six to seven intertwining stories emerge, involving police investigations, hidden secrets, and emotional fallout that deeply impact the characters.

Each episode functions as a self-contained 45-minute film, exploring universal themes like guilt, love, death, and forgiveness. The ensemble cast features over 60 characters and six primary protagonists—an ambitious production that required a significant budget and meticulous attention to both writing and performance.

One of the series’ most powerful moments, highlighted during the press conference, is the performance by Armin Rohde as a man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease—a particularly moving portrayal for the writer, who has faced the illness within his own family.

The cast emphasized the unique working process on set, where the show’s author was always present to explain the motivation behind each line and collaborate with the actors—even managing a scene involving a dog nicknamed “Earthquake,” who became something of a set mascot, complete with his own Instagram account.

Actress Patricia Olinski described her character as a woman betrayed and emotionally shut down, unable at first to face the loss of her partner and the father of her child. Over time, she slowly opens up to grief and the truth of a hidden double life. Another key character (Robert Stadlober, Das Boot) is an empathetic police officer who acts as a mediator, noticing what others miss. His approach contrasts with his more analytical, rational partner, creating a dynamic interplay of intuition and logic.

The producers revealed that the idea for Hundertdreizehn originated eight years ago in a different format. It only found its current form after the founding of Windlight Pictures, with Austrian partner Sotel coming on board. This collaboration allowed for the inclusion of an Austrian family subplot, which not only made the co-production viable but also enriched the narrative.

Despite high production costs—due to its anthology-style structure and lack of scale economies—the creators aimed to deliver a unique series: original, ambitious, and not adapted from novels or existing franchises. It’s a rare move in a television landscape often dominated by safer, derivative content.

As for the future, the creators haven’t ruled out a second season, though they confirmed that the storyline surrounding the bus crash will conclude in Season 1. If the show continues, it could focus on the investigators, maintaining the episodic, self-contained format with a connecting thread, in the vein of White Lotus.

The roundtable discussion also had lighter moments, including actors reflecting on how the series’ themes of loss and resilience echoed their own life experiences. Stadlober shared a personal story of an accident in his youth, underlining the essence of Hundertdreizehn: beginning with tragedy, and exploring the ripple effects of life and death on those left behind.

Currently in post-production—with audio mixing and final titling still underway—the series is clearly poised to travel internationally. First, as a standout German-Austrian production (shot also in Cologne where it premiered at Seriencamp) showcasing the strength of local television, and potentially later as a format adaptable for other markets.

Intense, emotional, and richly layered, Hundertdreizehn is already positioning itself as one of the most talked-about titles of Fall 2025. It’s a work that merges cinematic ambition with television storytelling grounded in raw, human experience.