• Under the motto “Space for All!”, UFA and Arvato Systems are jointly setting an example for unrestricted equality, acceptance, diversity and equal opportunities

The wagon is rolling again! This year, UFA is once again taking part in the CSD demonstration in Cologne together with Arvato Systems. On Sunday, July 9, 2023, the employees will parade through the streets of Cologne with a joint float, demonstrating for unrestricted equality and acceptance and setting an example for diversity and equal opportunities – on the largest CSD float in UFA’s history to date. The UFA and Arvato Systems employees will be joined by former contestants from the BOYS BOYS BOYS and GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS specials of TAKE ME OUT produced by UFA Show & Factual, ALLES WAS ZÄHLT actress Sarah Victoria Schalow and UNTER UNS actress Jess Maura Opitz.

Nico Hofmann, CEO UFA GmbH: “As UFA, we have been committed to diversity and equal opportunities for many years, both in front of and behind the camera. We are more than happy to demonstrate this stance again with our own float at this year’s CSD in Cologne. My heartfelt thanks to all our colleagues who planned our appearance this year, both creatively and organizationally.“

Matthias Moeller, CEO Arvato Systems Group: “I am delighted that we are once again taking part in the CSD demonstration with a large float together with the UFA Kolleg:innen this year. As an innovative company, we need and promote strong personalities. Our employees are characterized by motivation, creativity and commitment. To achieve this, everyone must be able to develop as freely as possible. As Arvato Systems, we – like the whole of Bertelsmann – represent the motto ‘Open for ALL’. Our wide-ranging presence at ColognePride 2023 is another sign of diversity in action.“

As in 2019, the car will also have its own motto this year. All UFA and Arvato Systems employees were able to submit their suggestions to the internal employee networks be.queer@UFA and be.queer@Arvato Systems – and the winning slogan is “Space for All!”. With this slogan, UFA and Arvato Systems want to both offer safe spaces and overcome the need for them by advocating an open and non-discriminatory society. This is also how UFA and Arvato Systems understand this year’s motto of the Cologne CSD “FOR HUMAN RIGHTS– Many. Together. Strong!” and are making their contribution by standing up as a company, as a network, as a group and as people for those who need support.

With this year’s motto, ColognePride enables all CSD participants to adapt the motto individually to their own reality of life and thus become or remain visible. The aim of this universal and yet very individual motto 2023 is to be applicable for several years in the sense of sustainability. In this way, individuals and groups can use the motto “FOR HUMAN RIGHTS– Many. Together. Strong!” for themselves and individualize it, new, more diverse terms can be added and thus generate long-term attention. The underline under the word people represents this individualization option.

The demonstration will not only take place on the CSD float with the starting number 57: Numerous employees from UFA and Arvato Systems will also be walking in the CSD demonstration. In addition, the Bertelsmann employee network be.queer will have its own information booth in Bechergasse, right next to Alter Markt, as part of the CSD street festival from July 7 to 9. There, anyone interested can find out about Bertelsmann’s various divisions and their commitment to LGBTIQ employees.

Participation in the CSD in Cologne is jointly organized by the internal UFA employee network be.queer@UFA and be.queer@Arvato Systems. The be.queer@UFA team is part of the cross-divisional be.queer employee network at Bertelsmann, which explicitly aims to promote an open working environment for all employees – regardless of their sexual identity and orientation. For almost six years now, the team has set itself the goal of promoting diversity within UFA and taking a clear stance externally. On the initiative of the UFA be.queer team, UFA already took part in the CSD parade with a float in 2018 and 2019.

UFA is one of the leading production companies for series and films, shows and documentaries in the German-speaking world. New and long-running programs from UFA reach an audience of millions every day and are currently available on almost all TV channels and streaming services. The creative house bundles the range of its genres in the units UFA Fiction and UFA Serial Drama, UFA Show & Factual and UFA Documentary under one roof. UFA is part of the international production company Fremantle, the global production arm of RTL Group. UFA is rich in tradition and was founded in 1917. Its headquarters are in Potsdam-Babelsberg. The managing directors are Nico Hofmann (CEO) and Joachim Kosack.

As an international IT specialist, Arvato Systems supports well-known companies in their digital transformation. Around 3,300 employees at over 25 locations worldwide stand for a high level of technical understanding, industry expertise and a clear focus on customer needs. As a team, we develop innovative IT solutions, bring our customers into the cloud, integrate digital processes and take over the operation and support of IT systems. We can also map entire value chains as part of the Arvato Group, which is part of the Bertelsmann Group. Thanks to our strong strategic partner network with top international players such as AWS, Google, Microsoft and SAP, we are continuously strengthening our expertise and relying on state-of-the-art technology. We Empower Digital Leaders. arvato-systems.com

UFA SHOW & FACTUAL GmbH | Jennifer Stritzke, Senior Manager Communications | T +49 221 99 55- 1106 | jennifer.stritzke@ufa.de | www.ufa.de

Arvato Systems | Marcus Metzner, Chief Marketing Officer | T +49 5241 80-88242 | press@arvato-systems.de | www.arvato-systems.de