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MIDPOINT Series Launch 2025

Series
Open Call

Transform your series idea into a marketable project! Enhance your scriptwriting and creative skills while uncovering exciting funding opportunities. Whether you have a limited or ongoing series, our program welcomes and supports your vision. Join us and bring your project to life!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: December 2, 2024

Benefits

An exquisite experience

MIDPOINT Series Launch is a residential, project-based training program tailored for the creative teams of emerging and mid-career professionals. It is dedicated to talents from Central and Eastern Europe, while also welcoming voices from across Europe and beyond.

For teams of writers, producers, and if attached, directors

  • Explore the television and series industry landscape.
  • Develop a strong, marketable series project package: pilot script, bible, 3-pager, teaser, and solid production strategy.
  • Pitch it and network within Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event.
  • Gain basic skills for sustainable and efficient use of AI in a development workflow.
  • Learn to create various marketing and financing models.
  • Work with some of the most established European and international creators and professionals who are willing to lay their cards on the table, both good and bad.

For Development Executive Participants

Test your skills in practice. This training gives you the opportunity to observe the process of shaping initial series ideas into scripts and learn how to guide project teams towards the best possible results.

  • Watch new European drama develop and be a part of this creative process firsthand.
  • Explore the television and series industry landscape.
  • Enhance your script editing and communication skills.
  • Learn to give constructive feedback.
  • Improve your leadership abilities.
  • Learn how to present yourself as a development executive.
  • Pitch yourself as the new hot editor and series script consultant within Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event.

For more information click here.

How to apply

Take the first steps towards becoming part of the network

OPEN CALL
September 16, 2024 - December 2, 2024
FEE
2 100 EUR per participant (writers, directors, producers, development executives)
Possible to pay in instalments. The fee includes accommodation, board, and tuition during the residential workshops. Travel costs are NOT included.

Who can apply?

  • project team members – writer/s, producer/s, director/s (if attached)
  • junior (aspiring) development executives
  • The program accepts projects coming mainly from Central and Eastern Europe or with the co-production intention with this region

Application requirements

To apply for the workshop, please create an account on the MIDPOINT Institute Visitor Page and follow the instructions within the submission form.  

The application materials consist of:

  • Basic information (title, genre, format, estimated number of episodes per season, estimated number of seasons, episode length, countries of production, reference series, possible connection to a broadcaster - not a condition of selection)
  • Logline
  • Synopsis (of the entire series)
  • Series pitch (the main premise of the series, the setting and arena, the storylines, the narrative style, description of 3–4 main characters)
  • Statement of purpose (relevance of the series in the contemporary series landscape, the elements that distinguish their project as a series - as opposed to a feature film, and if it's an ongoing series, what aspects of the stories will be repeatable, the applicants' personal connection to the project)
  • Mood book (presenting the visual approach - optional)
  • Writing sample (10-page excerpt of the previous work, preferably close in tone to the submitted project)
  • Biography/ies of each team member 
  • Photo/s of each team member 
  • Justification scholarship letter (if applicable)

Please note that a detailed description of the requested materials can be found on the submission form!

Structure

A year-long intensive program combining various formats

Nine creative teams, split into three groups, work under the guidance of internationally renowned and experienced tutors. They collaborate closely with development executive participants who are involved in all parts of the program.

Tutors

Inspirational professionals with passion for sharing their experience

To ensure the most complex approach to training, Series Launch works with established and well-respected industry names coming from Central and Eastern Europe, Western Europe, USA or Australia.

 

Head of Studies

The Head of Studies oversees the general methodology of the program, ensures the needs of the participants are met in the most effective way, and guarantees the practical value and industry impact of the training delivered.

Gabor Krigler
Hungary  
Gabor’s career began on the writing staff of a daily serial at the Australian-German firm Grundy UFA in 1999. He became a Creative Executive at the Budapest office of HBO Europe in 2010. In 2019, ...
Complete bio

Group Leaders

The Group Leaders oversee the development of projects in their group from the very beginning of the training until they graduate from the program. They also coach the development executive participant assigned to their group.

Gabor Krigler
Hungary  
Gabor’s career began on the writing staff of a daily serial at the Australian-German firm Grundy UFA in 1999. He ...
Complete bio
Steve Matthews
United Kingdom  
Steve Matthews is Banijay’s Content Partnerships Executive, where he acts as a key facilitator in the group’s ...
Complete bio
Tatjana Samopjan
Sweden  
Tatjana Samopjan's impactful lectures explore the interplay between storytelling, science, spirituality, social ...
Complete bio

Development Executive Mentor

The Development Executive Mentor attends and co-creates the training program for the development-executive participants, ensuring that it's implemented into group work and that the collaborative set-up simulates a real-life industry environment.

Sasha Vyshnevska
Ukraine  
Sasha started her career as an International Activities Manager at FILM.UA Group, one of the biggest media groups in ...
Complete bio

Advisory Board

Gabor Krigler
Hungary  
Complete bio
Steve Matthews
United Kingdom  
Complete bio
Marike Muselaers
Sweden  
Complete bio
Nebojsa Taraba
Croatia  
Complete bio

References

A pushing experience that gives you confidence

Successful series

Selection of our successful alumni

FAQs

  • My English no good. Me can apply?

    Sadly, no. As the entire training runs in English, and during the working days you'll be asked to write directly in English, we require an intermediate level of these language skills. This simply means: your grammar doesn't have to be perfect, but you need to talk/write fluently and have the vocabulary to do so.

  • I have an idea of a series but it's still early development. Can I apply anyway?

    Absolutely! The sooner in the development process you apply, the better. Series Launch is designed as a "bottom-up" training program, and will help you create your show from scratch.

  • What the fudge is a development executive?

    In our region, you might know the profession under the term "television dramaturg" or "commissioning editor". It basically is the script consultant and person who oversees the creative development of series. He/she stands on the broadcaster's side mostly, but could also easily be a development producer at a production company. Read more by clicking on the links stated in the "Overview" folder of this page, or simply ask us.

  • I'd like to apply with a limited series. Am I eligible?

    Sure! But before you apply, take a moment and first think about why is a series format the one you're thinking of as opposed to a feature film. Is there an engine moving your story? Are you working with a more complex world? (...) Took that moment? Okay, so now apply.

  • Once selected, how much time should I allocate to the training?

    Quite honestly - a lot. Series Launch is an intensive training, and apart from the assignments and work done during the residential workshops themselves, it operates with a system of tasks and deadlines in between the three workshops. So clear that calendar out a bit.

  • Can I apply with a short form series (web series/digital series)?

    Not for this particular program. But brace yourself! We are also offering a special training for the short form series (under 20 mins per episode) creators! Check it out here.

  • I'm developing a 90-minute 3-part mini-series. Am I eligible?

    Sadly, no. Based on our experience, the series rules do not quite apply to formats running over an hour and tend to behave more like feature films. It certainly is a format finding its place on television, we've however opted to focus our training to projects that are series in their core.

  • Can I apply with a reality show, documentary or animation series project?

    Sadly, this program does not work with reality show, animation or documentary projects, its focus are fiction series projects (drama, comedy, etc.).

  • What is the ideal number of project team members?

    Taking into account the methodology of collective group work, we strongly recommend applying as a project team consisting of 2-3 creators, ideally consisting of writer, (co-writer), and producer.

  • I have difficulty finding a producer: Can I still apply with my project?

    The way how Series Launch is designed, a producer is really needed to be on board. You can consider coming as a writer-producer yourself and taking on another co-writer. It would only mean that you'd have to take over the position of the producer at a certain point of the training and focus more on production planning.

  • I'd like to apply as a writer and a producer at the same time.

    This is of course possible, but as series writing, in general, is team-based, we really really really suggest bringing another writer with you. During the workshop, you'll be asked to brainstorm and come up with new, and then some new, and then other new ideas, and this is difficult to do in a one-man-show set-up. It might come in handy to have somebody to bounce off your ideas along the way.

  • Can we replace the members of our project team in the course of the training?

    The continuity of work of specific persons during the entire program is essential. Therefore, it is not possible to add (or replace) the team members during the program.

  • The creator is a novelist/playwright.

    We embrace all kinds of talent coming from different types of backgrounds. But because we actively and intensely work during the run of the program (both during and outside the residential workshops), it might be a good idea to bring an actual screenwriter – somebody who's familiar with screenwriting structure and formatting and used to day-to-day deliveries, as the tempo and demands during the workshop might seem a bit overwhelming for a first-time writer. This person can be added to the team alongside the creator.

  • I have this great idea for a show based on a historical figure...

    Great! We love those. But don't forget that you're not writing a Wikipedia profile for a specific person or event in history, you're telling a story. Don't describe it; narrate it. Pitch it to us as if we were the viewers already watching the show on the screen.

  • Do I have to pay the whole amount of the participation fee at once?

    It is possible to pay the participation fee in three instalments corresponding to the three parts of the training program (i.e., 3*700 EUR per participant)

  • Does MIDPOINT Institute offer scholarships?

    It does. However, these are only partial, cannot be allocated to all participants, and their granting therefore considers various criteria. We HIGHLY recommend applying to a local supporting organization (national or local funds, ministries of culture or education, professional associations, etc.) at the same time you're applying to MIDPOINT Series Launch. You can always withdraw your application if not selected, but as the processing time of this support can be rather long, it might be quite late to do this once we confirm you're in.

  • Am I eligible to apply for a scholarship?

    We don't have a particular list of eligible countries, as basically the entire region we work with is eligible. We do give out scholarships; their allocation and value depend on the selected projects and teams - based on how many of them come from countries with no system of support.

  • How do I write my biography/resume?

    Be clear about which of the projects you're mentioning were actually produced/released and which are being developed, and with the ones already made, name a few specific results (festivals, awards, number of viewers, etc.).

    Also be clear what specifically your role was in these projects. Mention relevant international training programs you've participated in the past, interesting collaborations you've been a part of and in what role, industry events / presentations you've taken part in and in which capacity.

  • What exactly is a “series pitch” and “statement of purpose”?

    You can find a detailed description on all the requested submission materials on the first page of your submission form. You can access the form once you've created a profile at the MIDPOINT Visitor Page (see instructions in the "Application" segment of the program’s web profile).

    No worries! You can save the form anytime you like and come back to it later, and you can also save or submit any number of applications you like!

Contact

Did we forget something?

Anita Pocsova
Program Coordinator Junior
anita.pocsova@midpoint-institute.eu

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