The European Showrunner Training is an intensive 6-month advanced training and mentoring programme designed to provide experienced European series writers with the opportunity to acquire and refine the skills needed for taking on the demanding role of a showrunner.

Through online and residential seminars as well as one-on-one mentoring, the programme supports each participant in cultivating the mind-set and self-awareness necessary for becoming a successful showrunner in Europe.

Topics include:

Creative Leadership
Head Writing, Producing, Directing, Editing
Social Impact – On and Off Screen

I would definitely recommend the European Showrunner Programme to any professional looking to take their career to new levels in terms of vision and creative ownership.

Malina Nwabuonwor, Austria

»Sam – A Saxon«, »Para – We are King« (Season 2)

The European Showrunner Programme has given me more tools to deal with all the challenges. The trainers are key names in the industry who generously share their knowledge and experience.

Pedro Lopes, Portugal

»Glória«, »O Códex 632«

The European Showrunner Programme has been truly transformational. The producing knowledge I've gained has already enabled me to communicate more effectively and bear more influence over my projects - which I believe will have a positive impact on the quality of what we produce. My Showrunner mentors have given me not just moral support and advice, but significant practical help. Added to that, the network of participants is invaluable. It’s a fantastic programme, and I hope participants will be benefitting from it as I have for several years to come.

Rachel Paterson, UK

»Domina«, »Fallen«

This programme was a great way to both connect with other showrunners and to improve our craft and support each other. From the mentorship sessions to the case studies, it was great to get so many tips and war stories.

Tunde Aladese, Nigeria / Germany

»MTV Shuga«, »Transatlantic«

The European Showrunner Programme (ESP) is designed for brilliant series writers with a strong creative vision, who know their craft and enjoy creative collaboration as well as leading teams.

Building on this foundation, the ESP aims to provide the participants with key insights and skills related to the production and creative leadership aspects of the showrunner’s position, such as

understanding budgets
understanding schedules
understanding business partners and all members of the creative team
understanding how to hire the right people
understanding how to position creative partners for success
understanding the social impact of storytellers and team leaders

The following subject areas and topics are covered:

Creative Leadership

The European Showrunner Programme centres on Creative Leadership. Leadership models and skills relevant for the role of the showrunner as well as individual showrunners' leadership styles build the core of the ESP. These topics are addressed continuously throughout the program, both in class and in one-on-one mentoring sessions.

Hard Skills

Participants learn how to structure and intertwine the dense writing and production processes required when creating and producing drama series today. They deepen their knowledge of areas such as producing, directing, and editing and explore various aspects of visual style.

Social Impact

The powerful role stories play in society, reaching and affecting the minds, viewpoints, and beliefs of local and global audiences alike, is a well-studied phenomenon. By featuring characters that audiences grow closely attached to – sometimes for a lifetime – series constitute a form of storytelling that has a particularly strong influence. A showrunner must take this into account as well as the fact that the work culture they foster, the diversity of their cast and crew, and the wasteful or sustainable way in which the show is produced also reflects this responsibility.

Analysis, Discussion, and Definition

At the end of each module, there is a reflection on the topics and challenges addressed and a discussion on how to implement these findings into a future model of showrunning in Europe

Mentoring

Another important feature of the programme is one-on-one meetings with personal mentors. In four online meetings of 60-90 minutes each, mentors support each participant individually in exploring what kind of showrunner they aim to be.

The ESP is no training in screenwriting. Applicants need to bring extensive screenwriting experience.
The ESP is no training in writers‘ room techniques. This knowledge, too, is a prerequisite for all applicants.
The ESP is no training for non-writing professionals. While future editions might include applicants with different backgrounds, the current edition is writer-centred.
The ESP is no project incubator. The focus of this training is on skills and insights. There will be no series projects developed in the course. However, since this is a part-time course, all aspects learned may be immediately applied to the projects the participants are currently working on.

FORMAT

The ESP is designed as a blended learning programme featuring both on-site and online sessions. The European Showrunner Training consists of lectures, seminars, interactive workshops, case studies, masterclasses, and mentoring in the form of one-on-one online consultations.

Sessions in Cologne: full days, 10 am – 6 pm CET
Online Sessions: Fridays, 2 pm – 6:30 pm CET. Saturdays, 9 am – 1:30 pm CET
Online Recap Sessions: Wednesdays, 5 pm – 7 pm CET

May 30-Jun 1. Workshop I

Summer Break

Aug 27-29 Workshop II
Nov 14-15 Workshop III

subject to change

Jun 13. Online Session I
Jun 14. Online Session II
Jun 18. Online Recap Class I
Jun 27. Online Session III
Jun 28. Online Session IV
Jul 2. Online Recap Class II
Jul 11. Online Session V
Jul 12. Online Session VI
Jul 25. Online Session VII
Jul 26. Online Session VIII

Summer Break

Sep 5. Online Session IX
Sep 6. Online Session X
Sep 10. Online Recap Class III
Sep 19. Online Session XI
Sep 20. Online Session XII
Oct 1. Online Recap Class IV
Oct 17. Online Session XII
Oct 18. Online Session XIV
Oct 31. Online Session XV
Nov 1. Online Session XVI

subject to change

Fees

Participations Fees & Scholarships

Fees

The European Showrunner Training has a participation fee of

2,500 Euros, excluding accommodation, including meals for on-site workshops
3,500 Euros, including accommodation and meals for on-site workshops (8 days in total)

The actual cost of the European Showrunner Training is significantly higher, but thanks to the support of the Creative Europe MEDIA Programme of the European Union, this in-depth training can be offered for this reasonable fee.

Scholarships

Partial and full scholarships are available in priority (but not exclusively) to candidates from the following countries: Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Hungary, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, as well as [subject to the conditions being fulfilled for their participation in the MEDIA strand] Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine.)

For obtaining a scholarship, applicants are asked to indicate the request in the application form as well as to substantiate their request briefly in their statement of motivation for attending the European Showrunner Training.

Speakers and Mentors 2023 included (amongst many others)

Lisa Ambjörn

European Showrunner Programme

Alumni

Lecturers

Uta Briesewitz

Lecturers

Katharina Eyssen

Lecturers

Johan Fasting

Lecturers

Teresa Fernández-Valdés

Lecturers

Fana Giorgis

Lecturers

Edgar Medina

Lecturers

Barbara Petronio

Lecturers

Marie Roussin

Lecturers

Frank Spotnitz

Lecturers

We thank our funders and Partners

Questions? Ask us!

Carolin Groẞe Hellmann

Head of Serial Storytelling

Team

Head of Professional Training for Screenwriters

Team

Head of European Showrunner Programme

Team

Phone: +49 221 920188261
E-Mail: Email

Hannah Schorr

Coordinator European Showrunner Programme

Team

Deputy Equal Opportunities Officer

Team

Phone: +49 221 920188270
E-Mail: Email

Run the show!

Insights of the european showrunner programme

Malina Nwabuonwor, Austria

Pedro Lopes, Portugal

Rachel Paterson, UK

Tunde Aladese, Nigeria / Germany

Creative Leadership

Hard Skills

Social Impact

Analysis, Discussion, and Definition

Mentoring

Participations Fees & Scholarships

Fees

Scholarships

Speakers and Mentors 2023 included (amongst many others)

European Showrunner Programme

We thank our funders and Partners

Funded by

Cooperation Partner

Media Partner

Partners Think Tanks and Network

Questions? Ask us!

Head of Serial Storytelling

Head of Professional Training for Screenwriters

Head of European Showrunner Programme

Coordinator European Showrunner Programme

Deputy Equal Opportunities Officer

Run the show!