Production house The Feds has taken away the top prize at the MIPFormats International Pitch competition in Cannes for Zombie Bootcamp, a morbid twist on the reality elimination show.
The competition, which invites creators and producers from around the world to pitch original, non-scripted entertainment formats, is sponsored by Warner Bros International TV Production, which has committed €25,000 to develop the concept.
Zombie Bootcamp is billed as a "disruptive play on an endurance challenge with a morbid twist, pitting 16 contestants against each other and the end of the world in the Zombie Apocalypse".
"Every episode contestants in two teams will compete in a survival challenge, testing their skills in everything from skull protection to improvised bullets. The winning team will be given immunity – the losing team must choose three contestants to face the zombies," The Feds explain.
"Two contestants will escape but the last to reach the escape hatch will be eaten. In the finale the final two will face 200 zombies, including their old team members, in the greatest zombie battle ever seen!"
Warner Bros ITVP senior vice president for creative, format development and sales Andrew Zein said: "This year's finalists showed a great variety of original and entertaining ideas and they all did a brilliant job pitching to our jury. Zombie Bootcamp is definitely a unique idea. We look forward to working with The Feds on developing their format further for the international market."
Lizzy Nash, The Feds founder and director of content and broadcast, said: "This win is a testament to the rich and diverse content that is coming out of Australia right now and The Feds are proud to be taking our innovation globally with such a supportive development partner in Warner Bros."
MIPFormats takes place ahead of MIPTV, the global TV content market, which kicks off today at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France.
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