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MIDPOINT Series Launch: Essentials 2026

Series

Now Running

A unique training platform helping outstanding creators turn early-stage series ideas into solid projects with the guidance of experienced European mentors — fast and efficiently.

Projects

Nine promising series projects

Participating projects are divided into three groups of three, and development of each group is overseen by both a group leader and participating script consultant trainee.

A Dance Like This in the Middle of the Field Is My Desire

Riya, a Delhi-based journalist, travels to Kabul in 2019 out of curiosity, to report on a girls' dance group led by Tooba, a young college student. The trip changes everything for Riya and Tooba. As ...

MIDPOINT participants: Ishita Dave Anu Singh Sahraa Karimi

Project detail

Desiogas

Nathalie, a once‑idealistic academic, now burnt‑out, takes over her aunt’s gas station, near the Austrian-Czech border, as a last resort to gain financial stability. The superficial calm and ...

MIDPOINT participants: Matteo Sanders Tobias Resch

Project detail

Growing Up

Growing Up is a dramedy about a generation of Croatian millennials raised on the belief that real life happens somewhere else — in Western European cities, in the long-held promise of making it ...

MIDPOINT participants: Sara Grguric Dana Budisavljevic Karla Leko Sara Grguric

Project detail

If It Were

Seven emotionally fractured strangers arrive at URSA, an AI-driven memory-healing retreat in Mumbai, hoping to recover from trauma. Instead, they become subjects in a secret experiment run by ...

MIDPOINT participants: Vinamra Pancharia

Project detail

Inside the Aftermind

In 1960s and 70s Czechoslovakia, a group of psychiatrists begins pioneering research into LSD, believing it can unlock the depths of the human mind and transform the treatment of trauma. Anna, ...

MIDPOINT participants: Natalia Pavlove Josef Kokta Terezia Halamova

Project detail

it's bettie, again

Audrey Harris has returned to the workforce, after spending three years learning to manage her newly diagnosed chronic illnesses. As she attempts to juggle her debilitating symptoms with working ...

MIDPOINT participants: Annick Sheedy McLellan Taras Lesiuk

Project detail

OUTLOUD

OUTLOUD is a 4-part limited drama thriller about queer visibility turned into a public weapon. When 17-year-old Ismail is outed by a viral TikTok, his private life explodes into public crisis. ...

MIDPOINT participants: Aiman Hassani

Project detail

The Bala Incident

When an explosion tears through a protest in the picturesque town of Bala in north Wales, residents find themselves at the centre of a mystery that threatens to tear their community apart. But what ...

MIDPOINT participants: Ciron Gruffydd

Project detail

The Concierge

Lena, a certified people pleaser and concierge to the ultra-rich, finally snaps at her most obnoxious client, Chloe, a maligned nepo baby, after her boyfriend dumps her for taking Chloe’s twelfth ...

MIDPOINT participants: Antigoni Tsiakka

Project detail

Participants

The next wave of European professionals specializing in series content

Dana Budisavljevic

Ishita Dave

Sara Grguric

Ciron Gruffydd

Terezia Halamova

Aiman Hassani

Sahraa Karimi

Josef Kokta

Karla Leko

Taras Lesiuk

Vinamra Pancharia

Natalia Pavlove

Tobias Resch

Matteo Sanders

Annick Sheedy McLellan

Anu Singh

Antigoni Tsiakka

Script Consultant Trainees

Tommaso Muffato

Katerina Papanastasatou

Nuno Soler

Tutors

Inspirational professionals with a passion for sharing their experience

To ensure the most comprehensive approach to training, Series Launch works with established and respected names from all over the European industry.

Group Leaders

The Group Leaders oversee the development of projects in their group from the very beginning of the program through graduation. They also coach the script-consultant trainee 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 the Head of Scripted, Creative, at Banijay Entertainment, where he plays a pivotal role in the ...

Complete bio

Donna Sharpe

United Kingdom / Germany

Writer/Creator of high-end European drama series; I’ve written shows for BBC, HBO Nordic, Viaplay, ZDF, DR, Netflix ...

Complete bio

Script-consultant Trainee Mentor

The Script-consultant Trainee Mentor co-creates the training for the script-consultant trainees, ensuring that this training is implemented organically into the group work and that the collaborative set-up simulates a real-life industry environment. She meets regularly with the trainees, providing feedback and support.

Tatjana Samopjan

Sweden

Tatjana Samopjan is a sought-after speaker known for her deep dives into art, craft and soul of storytelling. Her ...

Complete bio

Producer Tutor

The Producer Tutor oversees the development of all projects, advises them during the process regarding production and budgetary issues, and guides them through the European series industry landscape.

Maria Garcia-Castrillon

Spain

Maria is a creative Executive Producer, focus on the Internacional market. With a deep knowledge of European and ...

Complete bio

Guest Tutors

Gyorgy Barathy

Hungary

Complete bio

Gerhard Maier

Germany

Complete bio

Sasha Vyshnevska

Ukraine

Complete bio

Tim Wagendorp

Belgium

Complete bio

Structure

Comprehensive program combining various formats

Benefits

A collaborative program for creators, teams, and aspiring script consultants working on early-stage series projects. Through guided development, participants deepen their storytelling, build a pilot script, and refine production approach using group work, lectures, and case studies, while preparing their projects for professional presentation.

As the first film & series development platform in Europe, MIDPOINT Institute introduces a multi-stage project selection process within its programs in order to support more talents. From the applications, we will select approx. 15 series ideas, of which their creators will receive an online assessment from an experienced script consultant mentor. Based on this assessment, 9 projects will be selected for the Series Launch: Essentials 2026 program.

For solo writers, or teams of creators!

Bring your drama series idea to life!
Enhance your series storytelling skills
Develop your pilot and production strategy
Grow with support from European industry experts, who are willing to lay the cards out on the table (good or bad)
Explore the current television and series industry landscape
Access the TV and streaming market
Build long-term professional relationships and networks
Access the MIDPOINT Talent Connection, a curated database connecting talents with the international audiovisual market, presented at major partnering series markets.
Present your project at TV Days of Serial Killer festival in Brno, Czech Republic

For Script Consultant Trainees

Get unique experience - possibility to work on real projects
Take advantage of safe environment & thorough guidance of an experienced mentor
Enhance your script editing and communication skills
Learn to give constructive feedback
Master your analytic craft of writing script reports
Access the MIDPOINT Talent Connection, a curated database connecting talents with the international audiovisual market, presented at major partnering series markets.
Present yourself at TV Days of Serial Killer festival in Brno, Czech Republic

FAQs

You may ask...

I'm not fluent in English, can I still 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.
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 of 2–3 creators, ideally consisting of a writer (or co-writer) and a producer. However, we also accept solo screenwriters with a series project in development.
I have an idea of a series but it's still in very early development. Can I apply?

Absolutely! The sooner in the development process you apply, the better. Series Launch: Essentials is designed as a "bottom-up" training program, and will help you create your show from scratch.
I have a project in mid- or late-stage of development. Am I eligible?

Sadly, no. In Series Launch Essentials, we focus on building the series arc and pilot episode from scratch. If you already have a pilot script and a series bible, but feel that something is still missing for the project to break through to the top tier of the European series market, we recommend applying to Series Launch: Accelerator. The first module starts in early 2027!
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.
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.).
Once selected, how much time should I allocate to the training?

Quite honestly – a lot. Series Launch: Essentials is an intensive training, and apart from the assignments and work done during residential workshops, it operates with a system of tasks and deadlines in between these modules. So clear that calendar up a bit.
Do I need to attend all the workshops in the program?

Yes, to fully engage in the training, it is essential for all team members to be present at every module of the program. It is not possible to selectively choose which workshops to attend, nor can someone else be nominated to take your or your teammate's place without the permission of the program´s selection board.

If you are aware, at the time of application, that you will not be able to participate in all the modules as described in the program structure above, please reconsider your application or seek a dedicated teammate who can commit to completing the entire training.
Does MIDPOINT Institute offer scholarships?

It does; however, these are only partial and can be allocated only to participants under specific conditions. 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 our program. 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.
Do I have to pay the whole amount of the participation fee at once?

It is possible to pay the participation fee in two instalments corresponding to the two parts of the residential training program (i.e., 2 x 700 EUR per participant).
Can I send you the application materials via e-mail?

We only accept applications submitted through our Visitor Page. Firstly, that way you can be sure your e-mail doesn't end up in junk, and secondly, all submitted materials are distributed to the selection committee via the Visitor Page (please see the 'Application' section).