European Writers Club (EWC) in association with the National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama and Screen Ireland announce the new EWC pilot programme, 'Bridging Generations and Connecting Audiences'.
Bridging Generations aims to foster cross-generational storytelling by encouraging young and older experienced writers to co-create TV series and explore adapting these series into formats like games, podcasts, feature films, and social media.
For Bridging Generations, in 2025 the EWC will select 6-8 teams with early-stage TV series concepts. In the selection of teams, EWC will focus on the age gap within the team, the writers' experience, diversity, cross-generational potential, and broadcaster or producer involvement. Concepts should offer fresh perspectives and aim to impact audiences across generations.
EWC’s goal is to see all selected concepts commissioned for further development after the conclusion of the third camp.
Bridging Generations is all about creative empowerment. EWC encourages co-creation and collaboration among European TV series storytellers, boosting their creativity and originality in developing compelling narratives from early-stage ideas to TV series that can cross European borders and generations.
The teams selected will receive remuneration of €3000 for each writer. The writers must cover their own travel expenses to and from the camps. Accommodation and subsistence will be covered by NTA, EWC and Screen Ireland for all three camps.
Dates/Duration:
The programme will take place in 2025 through three camps:
- 07 - 11 April, Brignogan / France
- Team Building, Concept Testing and deciding on theme. Explorational camp focusing on team building and testing the selected concepts with co-creating and pre-writing tools.
- 9 - 13 June, Malmö / Sweden
- Concept development: A workshop camp focusing on further development of concept. Audience perception of themes. Introduction to additional formats with format consultants.
- 22 - 26 September, Spain (City TBC)
- Proof of Concept: Last project development push, integrating live audience feedback and exploration of selected additional format for each project.
Who Can Apply:
The eligibility criteria for teams are as follows:
- Teams shall consist of an experienced younger writer and an experienced older writer with a minimum of 10 years in between. Writers must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Young writers (38 or younger): being a creator or showrunner of a TV series, have written at least one episode of a TV series, being a creator or writer for a game, web series, short film, podcast, or any other audiovisual narrative format, have written a publicly performed theatre play, or have a writer’s credit on a feature film.
- Older writers (39 or older): being a creator or showrunner of a TV series, a head writer of a TV series, or have written a minimum of two episodes (each at least 25 minutes) of a show aired in at least two EU countries, including the country of origin.
- Teams shall submit a TV series concept in early story development.
- The teams must be open to making changes to the story as part of the development process.
- Teams must sort out all legal matters before applying.
- All selected teams will receive a participation grant.
- All applicants must be EU citizens.
- The selected teams of writers will be included in three immersive camps: France (April), Sweden (June), and Spain (September) 2025. In the camps, the projects will be tested and developed further in collaboration with format consultants, tutors, broadcasters, sales agents, and an audience panel attached to each project.
- Questions can be addressed to Filson Ali at filson@europeanwriters.club and Basel Mawlawi at basel@europeanwriters.club
How To Apply:
Applicants must apply by completing the application form, linked HERE
For more information, please visit www.europeanwriters.club
Deadline to Apply is 31st December 2024. EXTENDED DEADLINE: 7 January 2025 at 22.59 GMT
Selection Process:
Once the call closes, the selection process will begin in January and continue throughout February. The selection committee will consist of EWC, Bridging Generations’ Special Advisory Board, EWC General Advisory Board and Le Groupe Ouest. The shortlisted teams will be interviewed online. A final selection of 6 to 8 teams will be made and we will announce these teams at Series Mania in March 2025.
Further Information:
Bridging Generations is financed by the European Union together with Film i Skåne/South of Sweden Regional Film Fund and Commission, Eesti Filmi Instituut/Estonia, Axencia Galega das Industrias Culturais (AGADIC)/Spain, Fís Éireann /Ireland, National Talent Academies/Ireland, SGAE/Spain, The National Film School of Denmark/Denmark, MOIN Filmföderung Hamburg Slesvig-Holstein/Germany, La Cité Europenne des Scénaristes/France, VAF/Belgium, Icelandic Film Center/Iceland, The Danish Writers Guild/Denmark. Broadcasters and sales agents are to be announced shortly.
About EWC:
EWC aims to spark and facilitate collaboration between creators, writers, broadcasters, and producers of European TV series to boost creativity and originality in telling important, impactful stories that transcend to a larger European audience across borders. We support the main vision of the EU to unite the European countries and create a common platform for a sense of connectedness. We aim to boost, upscale, and upgrade stories that resonate with Europeans from all walks of life. In a time where Europe is fragmented on multiple geopolitical levels, we help create stories that are relevant on a supranational level - stories that unite European talents and audiences and generate profit. We create a room of trust in between the industry creatives with the writers in focus, where ideas are welcomed with open arms, tried and tested, and developed in iterative processes. We bring industry professionals, including writers, producers, broadcasters, and institutes, together in a unique European network. By inspiring, exchanging, and collaborating with each other, EWC fast-tracks ideas to audiences using a toolbox of new methods and initiatives. We boost stories that unite Europe, transcend borders, and speak into new paradigms. We believe that cross-border collaboration creates fertile soil for the best stories.
The National Talent Academy for Film and TV Drama is an initiative of Screen Ireland managed by Ardán.
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