• Screenwriting students developed and wrote the episode »Doppeltes Kaliber«
• Successful collaboration between Network Movie Köln and ifs

When the new episode of the crime series SOKO Köln airs on ZDF on 17 February at 6 p.m., it will be the result of a successful collaboration between the film production company Network Movie Köln and the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln. 
The script for the episode »Doppeltes Kaliber« was written by screenwriting graduates of the BA Film programme, focusing on a hostage-taking in the SOKO. As part of the collaboration with Network Movie Köln, the students at the time developed the plot and exposé for the episode during their classes at the ifs.

The project was initiated by Florian Strebin (producer, Network Movie Köln), who also supervised the students as a lecturer. The final script for the episode was then written in collaboration with the screenwriting graduates of the year, who had since completed their studies: Keyan Abdollahi, Julia Bettermann, Tim Dude, Hürcihan Gül, Nina Lieverscheidt, Sylvia Sargisyan, Olivia Unruh, and Anna Wagner. The episode was edited by ZDF editor Dagmar Ungureit. 

Florian Strebin: "As part of my seminar ‘TV Series Development’ at the ifs, I worked with the, at the time, screenwriting students to develop the plot for an episode of the ZDF series SOKO KÖLN. This intensive creative collaboration resulted in an exposé that was ultimately sold to the broadcaster. On this basis, a script for a series episode was written, which was developed by the authors with great commitment and narrative power. I am delighted that our joint development work has resulted in an independent work, and I congratulate the graduates on this step in their professional lives."

At the invitation of the episode's producer, Robert Schaefer (Network Movie Köln), some of the screenwriting graduates were able to attend the filming of the episode »Doppeltes Kaliber« in September 2025 and look over director Till Müller-Edenborn's shoulder. 

Robert Schaefer: “Having all eight screenwriting graduates from one year write a script as a collective was a successful experiment for everyone involved. The writers showed how SOKO Köln can be reimagined and tested the boundaries of the format. The result is a very special episode that all SOKO fans can look forward to.”

The plot of the episode »Doppeltes Kaliber«: Actor Simon Wilkens, who played one of the leading roles in a successful crime series alongside his wife Birgit (Jennifer Ulrich), has been killed with a trophy. Fingerprints belonging to his agent Kathleen (Vu Mai Duong Kieu) are found on the murder weapon. Birgit Wilkens is convinced that the investigators are suspecting the wrong person and resorts to extreme measures: she takes detectives Lilly Funke (Tatjana Kästel) and Matti Wagner (Pierre Besson) hostage.

The episode »Doppeltes Kaliber« will be broadcast on Tuesday, 17 February, at 6 p.m. on ZDF and is now available to view in the ZDF media library.

Images relating to the episode are available at @email or by telephone. Photos from the screenwriting graduates' visit to the set can be found here: