– Twelve experienced series writers from nine countries have been selected for the latest edition of European Showrunner Training, which has commenced in Cologne
The participants in the fifth edition of European Showrunner Training (© ifs/Heiko Specht)
The fifth edition of European Showrunner Training, organised by the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln, has officially begun in Cologne. The six-month professional-development programme, which supports experienced television writers in acquiring the skills necessary to become showrunners, has welcomed 12 participants from nine European countries for its latest edition.
The initiative forms part of the broader European Showrunner Programme, funded by Creative Europe – MEDIA and supported by Swiss foundation FOCAL. Designed as a part-time training scheme, it combines online learning with three in-person modules in Cologne and focuses on creative leadership, series production and emerging industry topics, including artificial intelligence and sustainable production practices.
The 2026 cohort was selected from a competitive pool of applicants and brings together writers with experience across a broad range of scripted television projects. The programme is headed up by acclaimed Danish writer and showrunner Jeppe Gjervig Gram, known for his work on Borgen and Follow the Money, who returns to guide participants through the training. The first workshop, recently held in Cologne, focused on fostering exchanges among the participants and exploring individual pathways towards showrunning. It also featured showcase sessions with British showrunner Chris Chibnall (Broadchurch, Doctor Who) and German writer-showrunner Marianne Wendt (Neumatt, Wer wir sind).
As part of the opening sessions, Nadja Radojevic, chief executive director of ifs and director of the European Showrunner Programme, presented the report Showrunning in Europe – Skills, Tasks, Responsibilities, published in December 2025 (see the news) and described as the first comprehensive study of showrunning practices across Europe.
Alongside the training strand, the European Showrunner Programme also encompasses the European Showrunner Think Tank, a platform dedicated to discussing and shaping the role of the showrunner within the European audiovisual landscape, as well as the European Showrunner Network, which facilitates ongoing professional exchange among European series creators.
The programme’s key festival partners include Seriencamp in Cologne, TV Drama Vision at the Göteborg Film Festival and TV Beats, held within the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival. Upcoming activities include the panel discussion “Series as Brands: Reimagining and Expanding IPs for the New Media Ecosystems”, taking place on 10 June during the Seriencamp Conference, featuring showrunner Steven Kane (Halo, Jack Ryan, The Last Ship).
The 2026 participants in the European Showrunner Training are as follows:
Eric Andreae (Switzerland) – Mindblow, Die Lehrer
Judit Anna Banhazi (Hungary/France) – Ouija-un été meurtrier, Underdog
Sina Flammang (Germany) – Die drei !!!/The Three Detectives, Cassandra
João Lacerda Matos (Portugal) – O Clube/Good Girls Club, Salgueiro Maia – o implicado
Victor Lockwood (France) – One Night to Live, Mental
Makgano Mamabolo (South Africa/Denmark) – MTV Shuga Mashariki, Society (seasons 1 and 2)
Rodrigo Ordóñez (Spain) – Toda la Sangre/Pray for Blood, Dani Who
Christina Øster (Denmark) – Tinka and the Mirror of the Soul, Hooligan
Yemi Oyefuwa (UK) – Dreaming Whilst Black, Fool Me Once
Katharina Ruß (Germany) – Der Staatsanwalt, Ein Fall für zwei
Maja Todorović (Montenegro) – Toma, V-Effect
Christian Wehrlin (Switzerland) – Blind, Our Little Embassy
