Serial Eyes

Deadlines & fees

Dates and fees checked against the official site 12 Sept 2026.

Key facts

Formats

TV Pilot

Required materials

CV with work, training and filmography, with produced episodes outlined · Personal letter of motivation covering expectations and three to five year goals, maximum 3,800 characters · Tuition waiver letter if requesting one, specifying the financial reasons · Analysis of a recent scripted television drama series covering the main character emotional arc, arena, main conflicts and series structure, maximum 3,800 characters · Two original television series concept proposals of 2,200 to 2,500 characters each, one more market-oriented and one more passion-driven · A full-length screenplay in English, or in the original language with a 10-page translated excerpt, in standard industry format · A letter of recommendation in English from a producer or broadcaster

Applicants need at least three years of paid professional experience writing, directing or producing scripted content, and must own the credit for at least one produced episode of a serialised format for a television channel or platform, as a writer or development producer. Open to writers and to development or executive producers with writing experience. Applicants must hold a passport from an EU or associated country (Iceland, Norway, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine or Tunisia); up to three places a year are granted to applicants from outside that group. Fluent English, spoken and written, is required and all materials must be in English. Full-time attendance in Berlin is required for the whole programme. Story ideas do not have to be set in Europe, though the programme targets the European market. Visa support is offered but visa costs are not covered.

Prizes

No cash award, prize, stipend, bursary or living allowance of any kind. This is a cost, not an income: participants pay the programme fee and cover their own living costs in Berlin for the duration. Three tuition waivers are offered each year, awarded on the applicant's potential in the European audiovisual industry, financial circumstances, background and the state of their local film industry; thanks to Creative Europe MEDIA support the waiver fully covers tuition fees. No other scholarships or funding are available, and German federal student aid does not apply because this is a postgraduate programme.

Judging

Applications are screened by Serial Eyes readers, all industry professionals. Around 20 shortlisted candidates receive a creative brief and a short writing assignment taking two to three days, followed by a roughly 20 minute online interview with Head of Studies Katrin Merkel and a second tutor, with final decisions in early May. Selection also weighs the overall composition of the group by gender and country. Core tutors have included Frank Spotnitz, Sarah-Louise Hawkins, Donna Sharpe, Freya Stewart and Cyril Tysz. No written feedback is offered to applicants.

Frequently asked questions