Series' Women
SERIES’ WOMEN is the first leadership and career enhancement programme designed
exclusively for female producers working in the European drama series
industry.
Overview
Launched in 2021, the initiative has already made a meaningful impact. We are pleased to announce that applications for the 2026/2027 edition are now open.
This unique programme offers a dynamic blend of hands-on training, curated mentoring, and direct industry access. Participants will benefit from expert-led sessions on visibility, leadership, and digital entrepreneurship, as well as receive personalised 1-on-1 mentoring and pitching coaching tailored to their individual career goals.
SERIES’ WOMEN also connects participants with key industry players through exclusive networking opportunities at major European markets — providing the tools, confidence, and connections to take their careers to the next level.
By supporting outstanding female producers and amplifying female-driven projects, SERIES’ WOMEN is actively working to improve representation, build strong professional networks, and bring more diverse voices to the forefront of the European screen industry.
Workshops & coaching
Format
English
Language
500 - 2.500 EUR
Programme Fee
Nov 2026 - Apr 2027
Duration
September 4, 2026
Application Deadline
Info Sessions
25 June 2026
14:00 CEST | Online
23 July 2026
14:00 CEST | Online
.
27 August 2026
14:00 CEST | Online
Programme Elements
Module 1 | Creating Visibility
November 2nd-3rd & 9th -10th 2026 | Online
- Understanding who you are and what drives you
- Presenting and communicating who you are and positioning yourself as a female leader
- Handling interpersonal communication, conflicts and feedback
- Building your profile and designing your future
Online workshop, 2x2 days
Module 2 | Developing Visibility
November 2026 - March 2027 | Online
- Access to a selection of EPI's innovative online courses
- 1:1 pitching coaching from a designated pitching experts
- 1:1 project and career mentoring from a designated mentor
Self-study phase, 30-50 hours of learning/coaching
Module 3 | Understanding the TV Drama
Series Industry
January 30th - February 3rd 2027 | Gothenburg
- Financial and legal aspects of series production in Europe and beyond
- Finding your audience and developing a marketing and distribution strategy
- Market attendance of TV Drama Vision 2027 in Gothenburg
On-site workshop, 2 days, & market attendance, 2 days
Module 4 | Inclusive & Sustainable Workplace Culture
Early March 2027 | Online
- Workshop for hiring managers on inclusive, sustainable people practices
- Understanding the value of inclusive and equitable people management
- Implementing gender equality management and sustainable HR practices in organisations
Online workshop, 2 days
Navigating Business, Leadership & Entrepreneurship
March 21st-24th 2027 | Lille
- Innovation, change & leadership in dynamic environments Leadership in the producing context, managing business & creative partners
- Entrepreneurship and practical application (including pitching for peer feedback)
- Market attendance of Series Mania Forum 2026 in Lille
On-site workshop, 2 days, & market attendance, 2 days
What you will take away
Designed to empower your career growth, strengthen your projects, and broaden your professional network.
Entrepreneurial, leadership, communication skills
Develop the necessary skills and confidence to lead, communicate, and navigate the challenges of today's series industry..
Personal development &
career positioning
Benefit from tailored 1:1 mentoring and pitch coaching to strengthen your career positioning and professional profile.
Knowledge & Industry Insights
Gain practical knowledge through expert-led workshops, e-learning, and insights into the European drama series landscape
Industry Access & Networking
Connect with fellow producers, expand your professional network, and participate in leading international industry events.
Experts & Coaches 2025/2026
Annette Birkholz
Annette Birkholz is a certified systemic creative consultant, coach and facilitator. She has qualifications in systemic organisational development (artop / HU Berlin) and systemic coaching (certified according to DBVC) and has as several years of international experience. In 2009, she founded her own creative consultancy Incendo and the Archery Academy Berlin (bogenakademie.de). In the following years, she also opened up the Leadership Academy for Stone Sculpture (bildhauerakademie-dresden) and in 2021 leading.digital which offers virtual leadership journeys “for women by women”. Her clients range from NGOs to international corporates - including organisations and individuals from the media, art and music industry. She also coaches film- and theatre actors.
Raffaela Bonivento
Independent consultant on the International television market, executive producer and creative tv drama producer, with extensive experience in acting, entertainment law and business affairs. Enjoyed working with Disney, Mediaset, BBC, Tandem Communication, Arte and ZDF, Shine International, Eccho Rights, and Maestro Pavarotti, among many others. Worked as head legal affairs and business affairs, drama scout and tv drama executive producer; ran the International tv drama co-production division at a commercial broadcaster for 10+ years; contributed to European co-production summits and to the successful launch of the MIA audiovisual market in Italy; executive produced titles such as Zen (BBC, RTI, ZDF, Masterpiece & Ingenius) or The Fatal Conflict: Judea and Rome (Wildbear Entertainment, finalist best Docudrama Atom Award 2020). Experienced lecturing at Università Cattolica di Milano and Centro Sperimentale di Milano, is member of the evaluation committee for international festivals and markets, including Series Mania, served as Learning Experience Facilitator for SeriesMakers supported by Beta, is currently head of studies and project manager for the advanced training program in Italy for screenwriters in Writers' Room for Anica Academy Foundation founded by Anica, Medusa, Netflix, Paramount, Rai, Vision Distribution, Gaumont. Loves exploring harmony in complexity and encouraging new voices to begin collaborative creative processes and creative incubation.
Danna Stern
Berlin-based, Israeli -born, seasoned content executive, Stern works across borders and genres, focusing on scripted and non-scripted productions. One of her recent projects “Bros” (Netflix) launched earlier this spring and she has recently completed production of the documentary “Supernova: The Music Festival Massacre” currently airing on multiple channels and platforms around the world. As the founder of Tel-Aviv based yes Studios, Stern created a distribution and development powerhouse delivering premium content for international platforms. Recognized twice as one of Variety Magazine’s “Top 500 Global Media Leaders” she was directly responsible for the global launches of multiple series including : Fauda, Shtisel, The Devil Next Door, The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem etc. In addition, Stern has spearheaded dozens of format adaptations in multiple territories including Your Honor one of the bestselling scripted formats in recent years, As We See It (Amazon, originally On the Spectrum ) , 68 Whiskey (Paramount +) The Good Cop (Netflix) Significant Other (ITV), Tanaav (Fauda India, SonyLiv), Escort Boys ( Amazon/ TF-1) etc.
Alexandra Streichfuss
Alexandra Streichfuss advises on all aspects of media, copyright, and entertainment law. It is not least due to her private passion for movies and TV that her practice focuses on advising national and international film and TV productions – ranging from financing and rights clearance to production and exploitation. Her work experience included many years as Head of Business and Legal and in program acquisition for a leading global distribution company (of movie and TV content). The position allowed her to gain detailed industry and market knowledge in the international distribution and licensing business, in particular the interaction between producers, distribution, sales, broadcasters, and platforms, and various international financing constellations. This enables her to identify client needs beyond the purely legal aspects, to draft contracts taking account of the various economic and entrepreneurial interests, and to find practical solutions. Based on her prior work for GEMA in broadcasting licensing and online licensing, her in-depth expertise also extends to issues relating to music law, particularly the online exploitation of audiovisual works.
Helene Granqvist
Helene Granqvist is a prize-winning producer who has worked with film and television for more than 30 years. She studied Production Design at Statens Teaterskole (1984-1988) in Copenhagen and worked as a production designer all through the 1990’s. In 2000 she co-founded the production company Good World AB (today Good Film & Post), and began to work as a producer. In 2011 she founded the production company Nordic Factory (previously DoDream) based on the vision of connecting ideas with resources, and the communication of sustainable values – socially, culturally, economically and ecologically. Since her time at Good, she has produced a dozen documentaries, as well as many short films, a number of feature films, a web TV channel, and a documentary TV series. She also work as an international pitch coach. Nordic Genre Boost, Nordic Talents, Nordic Film Market, Film Greenland. Baltic Powr Event, Super 16, Royal Jordan Film Commission and Balkan Film Market are some of them she’s been working for. She also work as a moderator and founded The Southern Sweden Film Network Helene is since 2013 the president of WIFT Sverige (Women in Film & Television, Sweden), the founder of WIFT Nordic and since 2018 also the president for Women in Film & Television International.
Isabelle Lindberg Pechou
Isabelle Lindberg Pechou is an international Creative Producer with +20 years of experience in the international media industry. French with Italian roots established in Denmark since 2016, she launched the Drama Agency, her one-person-consultancy company. She spent 16 years at France Télévisions as International Fiction Executive and then held several positions in the Co-productions arena at danish outfits TrustNordisk and REinvent Studios. She is the Creative Producer of Viaplay´s Originals TROM and co-producer of Peacock´s+Viaplay´s Last light. Isabelle mentors creators and producers on their individual projects or through initiatives such as Series Makers, Series Mania´ Writers Campus and HFF´s Munich Film Up residency. She onboards the development phase, from ideation to the pitch. From pitchdeck to script doctoring of awarded as well as emerging talents ́ projects, based all over Europe and beyond. For both Tv series and feature films. Delivering local and international stories in connection and respect to the creators is her raison d´être. And eco-shows are at the core of her interests.
Valeria Bullo
Valeria Bullo is an experienced Production Wellbeing and Inclusion consultant with a strong passion for behaviour change in the TV and film industry. A people leader with experience working across Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Human Resources, Education, and Mental Health. Valeria has a proven track record of establishing important industry partnerships and supporting talent pipelines particularly focused on creating opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups. With a 20-year history in a wide range of high-level production experience including physical on-set production and in-house developmental work. Experienced in leading and implementing change with wellbeing and mental health within the industry, she is the creator and founder of the female-led organisation Cinemamas, which supports mothers working across film & TV, Valeria recently has become Chair of the board of Trustees for Reclaim the Frame, an organisation which champion marginalised genders and perspectives in cinema.
Marike Muselaers
With almost 20 years of experience in the international film and TV industry, Marike recently joined the Nordisk Film Production management team (Denmark/Sweden/Norway) as Head of International Financing and Coproductions. She started her career at Fortissimo Films and RTL Netherlands, but really developed an interest for quality storytelling and international partnerships during her 15 years at the Lumiere Group in the Benelux, where she was responsible for sales, acquisitions, coproductions and international financing in production and distribution, before co-leading the group as Lumiere’s co-CEO. At Nordisk Film Production, Marike Muselaers is responsible for strengthening the financing of film and series projects and creating and maintaining meaningful partnerships with streaming services, broadcasters, co-producers and other partners. Next to connecting the best storytellers with the right partners for Nordisk Film Production, Marike is coaching (Central Eastern European) producers and writers in her role as Financing Tutor for the Midpoint Series Launch program. She also enjoys being a mentor at training programs like Qumra Series, Cinelink Sarajevo and SeriesWomen, and she is a member of the advisory board of TV Drama Vision and Nostradamus at the Göteborg Film Festival. Marike is also a well known moderator, keynote speaker and panel guest at many industry events like Berlinale, Cannes Film Festival, NEM Zagreb, SeriesMania, TV Beats Tallinn, Content London and the European Showrunner Program, and she holds an MBA for the Creative Industries.
Triona Campbell
Triona Campbell is a two-time Emmy-nominated producer and winner of two Kidscreen Awards. She is the creator of Ireland’s first TV series on video games Gamer Mode (RTÉ) and a producer on the ground-breaking and iconic UK teen drama, Sofia’s Diary (SONY Pictures Television). Triona has a Master’s in Creative Writing from Trinity College, Dublin. She is also the writer of the award-winning podcast series Adventures of a Young Pirate Queen and a best-selling novelist for A Game Of Life or Death (named one of the best YA novels of 2023 by Waterstones, winner of the 2023 Great Reads Award). Her second book The Traitor in The Game was published in February 2024, debuting at no 1 in Ireland and was nominated for the 2024 Irish An Post Book Of The Year Awards. Enter The EndGame is her third novel and was released in August 2025. She is passionate about creating teen content and is a producer at Roundstone Media, an Irish company focused on creating innovative entertainment for digital natives.
Fees & Scholarships
Fees
We offer financing consultancy and financing plans to help producers enable their participation. Please contact us for further information. We encourage all applicants to seek financial support with their national/regional funding bodies.
Scholarships & Discounts
We offer a wide range of scholarships, discounts and financing options. Please indicate in the application form if you wish to apply for the above scholarship or discount. For inquiries, please contact us directly.
Participants from countries that are not part of European Union's MEDIA initiative may still be eligible for a scholarship depending on their participation in the MEDIA strand. These countries include: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Republic of Serbia and Ukraine.
The Erich Pommer Institut encourages cultural and social diversity in their training activities and welcomes everyone to take part in our programmes - regardless of their ethnic and social background, disability, or age. The EPI Scholarship sets out to ensure that our participants come from varied backgrounds and creates opportunities for those from marginalized groups and those who may otherwise not be able to participate.
Thanks to the support of FOCAL, applicants based in Switzerland may apply for a FOCAL scholarship.
Thanks to the support of Screen Ireland, applicants based in Ireland may apply for a Screen Ireland scholarship.
Thanks to our partnerships with EAVE, EWA and WIFTI, their alumni or members may apply for a discount.
We encourage all applicants to seek financial support from their national or regional funding bodies, as they may offer bursaries or grants to cover training and professional development.
For information on potential financial support for participating in MEDIA-funded trainings, please contact the MEDIA Desk in your country or region. Please note that participation costs for MEDIA trainings are eligible expenses under MEDIA Development grants.
Application Process
Requirements
- Female producers with a proven track record in the European audiovisual industry and at least one producing credit (producer, executive producer, line producer or similar)
- With one long running or limited drama series project in development
Important: Please note that applications cannot be saved during the process or edited after submission in the online form. We therefore recommend preparing all required information in advance.
- Personal and Contact Information
- Professional information (incl. professional biography with max. 1200 characters ~200 words;1-3 recent or major credits as producers)
- Company Information (incl. company profile, max. 1200 characters ~200 words)
- The project in development (incl. project information, logline, synopsis with max. 1800 characters, ~270 words, total budget, budget per episode)
- If applicable, information about the nominated hiring manager in your company
- Motivation statement (describe why the programme is important for your career, what challenges or opportunities make it relevant, why you should be selected, what your professional goals are for the next five years and how do you expect this programme to help you achieve them, max. 1200 characters ~200 words)
- Scholarships and financing (if you would like to apply for a scholarship, please explain why you require it. If you are applying for an EPI scholarship, please indicate whether you have already explored other funding options through your local or national funding bodies, max. 1200 characters ~200 words)
Evaluation Criteria
- The level of industry experience
- The motivation and reasons for applying
- Relevance of the programme to your career development
- The international, creative and commercial merits of the project in development
Selection Process
- Applications will be reviewed by a designated selection committee, which may include programme partners.
- All applicants will be informed of the status of their application in mid- to late- September 2026.
Hear From Our Alumnae
„These courses provided an invaluable platform for informal exchange of ideas and experience and it widened my network and understanding of the European audiovisual industry considerably. I met fantatsic professionals who have deep knowledge about the audiovisual landscape in their own countries and it will be very valuable to have these connections in future collaborations. The coaches and lecturers were top-knotch and brought depth and knowledge to the conversations.“
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„It was amazing to be part of a female audiovisual community in which I could recognize myself, but even better: feel empowered through the workshops sessions (guided by excellent tutors) and through meaningfull discussions with the other participants. Thank you, EPI!“
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„SERIES WOMEN gave me the opportunity to connect with European professionals and exchange experiences about the European market. I gained valuable insights and understanding of the industry during my festival attendance at Gothenburg Film Festival and Series Mania in Lille. I most valued the 1:1 coaching sessions with leadership consultant Thea Mikkelsen. Through the programme I refined my role as a producer and specialized in future-oriented matters like change management and sustainability in workplaces.“
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Eligibility & Requirements
We expect our participants to have at least one producing credit in either film, short film, documentary or series. This is necessary since the programme does not serve as an introduction into producing, so we expect our participants to have basic knowledge of the processes.
Yes, you need to have an unfinished series project that you apply with to the programme. In your application, you need to provide some information about this project, so we can evaluate its quality during the selection process.
SERIES' WOMEN is not a project development programme, but a leadership programme. The focus is on how participants develop, position, and pitch their projects, which is why pitch training is a core component of the programme. The aim of SERIES' WOMEN is not to develop the project itself, but to help participants build the professional skills and strategic approaches needed to lead, communicate, and advance a project effectively.
The project can be in an early development stage. It is beneficial if you can show your project reflects interest from the industry / financiers. If your project is already in production, please explain in your application why you are submitting this project.
Module 5 is created for HR Manager or the person overseeing the hiring process respectively. If you as a participant in the programme are also filling this position or responsibility in your company, then of course you are invited to participate in this module as well. If this is not the case, you can also nominate a person in this role who you know would benefit from it for their respective field or company, even though they are not working in your company.
Fees and Scholarship
The fee covers all workshops as well as pitch coaching and mentoring sessions, all materials needed during the workshops, access to selected EPI online courses, and accommodation and catering during the on-site workshops. We also cover the accommodation during the market visits as well as the accreditations for the markets.
The fee does not include travel costs and meals during the market visits. Additionally, if you would like a second person staying in your hotel room with you, for example during a market visit, you will have to cover the additional costs yourself.
No. The module dates shown on our website refer only to the workshop days. Participants are expected to arrive one day before the workshop begins and depart the day after it ends.
No, scholarship applications to these organizations should be submitted through us. You can indicate your preferred scholarship option directly in the application form. If you have any questions regarding scholarships or require advice on financing options, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Discounts and scholarships are not combinable, but in specific cases applicants may be eligible for a separate travel grant.. Please contact us for further informatoin.
Selection
We are aiming to let you know if you have been selected within 3-4 weeks after the application deadline. Please note that we are expecting a large number of applications, so it might take a while to properly assess them.
We aim for a small group of 15 participants (not including the hiring managers) to create an intimate atmosphere with the possibility to interact as much as possible.
Others
No. The module dates shown on our website refer only to the workshop days. Participants are expected to arrive one day before the workshop begins and depart the day after it ends.
Yes, we always provide a certificate for our participants, which they will receive at the end of the programme upon completion of all modules. If you need any additional information to be included on the certificate, please feel free to contact us directly.
FAQs
In order to help guide you through your application, we have collected the most frequently asked questions.
Funders & Partners
Funder
Partners









Contact
Any questions? Please contact us!
Gabriela Seidel-Holländer
Project Manager
EPI International
gsh@epi.media
+49 (0) 331 76 99 15 45
Doris Ho
Project Coordinator
EPI International
dh@epi.media
+49 (0) 331 76 99 15 50

