An international program offering a unique experience in a professional writers’ room setting.
MIDPOINT Writers' Room 2025
Series
Open Call
Benefits
A program simulating a writers' room, merging a diverse group of writers who are trained on various types of series.
For writers and writing producers
- develop storytelling craft and writing skills through practical plotting and writing exercises
- gain insight into the collaborative process of series creation, including creative teamwork, joint brainstorming, and maintaining a unified narrative voice and vision
- learn about the structural elements of scripted series episodes, both procedural and serialized
- expand your professional network within an international and diverse community of writers
- gain access to the MIDPOINT Talent Connections - a curated industry database connecting skilled talents with the international audiovisual market. The database is presented at major partnering series markets.
For observing producers
- rare insight into the inner workings of a professional writers’ room
- improved understanding of the creative development process
- greater confidence in contributing to story development and collaboration with writers
Structure
Writers' Room simulation from different perspectives
Selected participants are offered lectures tackling the organization of a writers' room as well as addressing the structure of a pilot episode and season. The core of the program is a hands-on writers’ room simulation, guided by experienced industry professionals.
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All participantsWorkshopOctober 12 - 18, 2025 | Prague, Czech Republic
Writers
Writers and writing producers entering the program as creative talents will explore the structure, hierarchy, and workflow of professional writers’ rooms from two distinct series formats: procedural and serialized. The program combines theoretical lectures with practical plotting exercises and the writers’ room simulation.Observing producers
Observing participants will have the unique opportunity to explore how professional writers' rooms function, gaining valuable insight into becoming a more secure and engaged part of the creative development process.
Fee & how to apply
Open call
May 7 - June 30, 2025
Fee
1,000 EUR
per participant
The fee includes accommodation, board, and tuition during the residential workshop. Travel costs are NOT included.
Application materials
To apply for the workshop, please create an account on the MIDPOINT Visitor Page and follow the instructions within the submission form.
We welcome international participants to join the program.
The application materials consist of:
- basic information on the applicant
- motivation letter or video explaining the applicant's professional background, the motivation and reasons for joining the Writers' Room, how the participant is planning to use the acquired skills after the training. Letter: no restriction in lenght / video: max. 5 minutes
- max. 10-page excerpt of a script written by the applicant (any fiction genre: series, feature, short; please set the excerpt up for context) *only mandatory for submitters applying as actively writing participants
- biography max. 1.000 characters including spaces, and photo
Tutors
Inspirational professionals with passion for sharing their experience
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
Sarah-Louise Hawkins
United Kingdom
Sarah-Louise is a highly experienced British screenwriter, specialising in crime shows that find a large popular worldwide audience. Her most recent work includes “Whitstable Pearl” (UK Drama/Acorn ...
Complete bio
References
It's rare to get the chance to peek into the dynamics and techniques of professional writers in a Writers' Room. This program provides an excellent opportunity not only to do that but also to meet talented writers and producers from around the world, sharing processes and visions in an exciting, creatively vibrant environment. Spaces like these are essential for us to grow as writers and to imagine new work dynamics.
Carlos Robisco Pena
Writer, Writers' Room 2024, Alumnus
The MIDPOINT Writers' Room simulation was a workshop that showed me the importance of teamwork and how to create a team where everyone is different but working towards a common goal. Egos, competition, power struggles don't count - it's about respecting each other, supporting each other in the process and focusing on the good of the project. It is an experience that restores the belief that cinema is a team game and that good stories write themselves in a good, creative atmosphere.
Anna Bielak
Writer, Writers' Room 2024, Alumna
The tutors were super knowledgeable who are at the top of their game in the industry. It was a pleasure to pick their brain and gain an insight to how the TV writers' room works in Europe and UK markets. The workshop also gave me a solid framework for collaborative writing that I feel will be very beneficial for my future projects.
Chinh Tran
Writer, Writers' Room 2024, Alumna
Before the course, I viewed the writers' room as an entertaining but not particularly serious tool. However, after participating in the simulation sessions and comparing the creative outcomes of two different subgroups, I am now confident that it is an effective and valuable instrument worth both time and investment.
Inessa Sobolieva
Writer, Writers' Room 2024, Alumna
As a writer, I'm used to spending a lot of time working on my own, alone by my desk, unable to share ideas with anyone but just me. That's why participating in MIDPOINT's Writers' Room has been a great chance to work with a variety of different and inspiring European writers. It has also been a nice way to get in touch with other visions of the world, of other industries, of other ways of creating, of thinking, of envisioning the art of writing TV series. I think it is a great moment now to be an emerging series-writer seeking to work internationally, and creative spaces like MIDPOINT are proof that it is indeed worth a try.
Tomas Bayo Encontra
Writer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumnus
In the world with so much chaos, I was very happy to discover that when we create together (though we had heated discussions with lots of clapping) - we connect to each other very fast and on an emotional level. So, I am going back not only inspired to write but with a belief that we can find a way to understand and help each other in this world.
Gabija Siurbyte
Writer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumna
The workshop was a great way of gathering knowledge, experience, and new friends. I loved connecting with fellow creators from all over Europe, and it gave me hope that there are many amazing European series yet to be made. The tutors were very generous with their knowledge and also wonderful people to be around. Would definitely recommend joining the MIDPOINT WR.
Eva Todica
Writer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumna
The MIDPOINT Writers' Room workshop gave me an amazing insight into what no one taught me during my university studies, namely how a TV series are actually developed for broadcasters, streamers and studios.
In my role as an observing producer, I was worried that I would be a bit of a passive bystander but the workshop is designed in such a way that everyone is involved in the process and debate and you are on the same level as the writers.
Jakub Ralek
Producer, Writers' Room 2023, Alumnus
FAQs
You may ask...
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I have an idea for a project. Is Writers' Room a program for me?
Not really. Writers' Room is a program designed to work on your skills, as opposed to a particular project. However, if you do have a project you'd like to develop within MIDPOINT, we strongly suggest that you apply for MIDPOINT Series Launch.
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I'm a writer and producer – how do I choose in which capacity am I to apply for the program?
This really depends on your ambitions: if you'd like to participate in writing and be trained in actual writing skills, we'd suggest applying as a writer. As a writer, we will be asking you to participate in writing exercises during the training. If your profile is more of a producer and you feel more comfortable in a semi-observing position, we suggest you apply as an observing producer.
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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.
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What background should the writing applicants have?
We don't like to narrow the profile of the applicants down too much, as we believe talent comes from all places, however, Writers' Room is designed for writers wanting to train their skills in series writing, in particular. Writers that have written features, documentaries, shorts or series before are welcome. But so are script editors or directors or any other actively writing talents.
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What sample of a script/writing should I submit in my application? Should the sample already be produced?
No, it doesn't have to be produced already, and you're most welcome to submit any fiction script you feel reflects your style the best: feature, short or series episode. Of course, the sent material has to be submitted in English.
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What is the function of an observing producer in the training?
While the selected writers will be actively participating in all the writing and plotting exercises, and actively work throughout the training, the producers will rather take on an observing position. But don't get us wrong, it will be no holiday. They will be still asked to participate and be a part of the discussion.
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I'm not European, can I apply?
Yes, you are more than welcome to apply! Although our primary focus is on working with writers from Central and Eastern Europe, we are also open to other European and international talents.
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Does MIDPOINT Institute offer scholarships?
Sadly, not for this particular program. We HIGHLY recommend to submit an application to a national organization (fund, institute, ministry) at the same time you're applying to MIDPOINT Institute. 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.
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