Israeli-born, Berlin-based Danna Stern is a seasoned content executive whose career spans scripted and non-scripted production, commissioning, development and international distribution. As the founder of Tel Aviv-based yes Studios, she helped bring premium Israeli content to global audiences and has overseen numerous international series launches and format adaptations. Twice named among Variety’s “Top 500 Global Media Leaders”, she is now an expert for SERIES' WOMEN, the Erich Pommer Institut’s leadership programme for women producing high-end drama series in Europe. Ahead of the application deadline on 4 September 2026, Cineuropa spoke with Stern about confidence, leadership and the value of building a professional network across borders.

Cineuropa: SERIES' WOMEN focuses on leadership and visibility, rather than the mechanics of making a series. What do participants gain from that focus, and where do talented producers tend to hit a ceiling without it?
Danna Stern: A good producer is attentive, detail-orientated, responsible and on top of everything. But leadership requires us to zoom out and understand how all aspects of the business come together, and how they shift constantly. Senior producing means understanding the market, managing teams, clients and expectations, having business acumen and, very often, also being a psychologist. You need to understand how all of the moving parts affect one another, know your boundaries, but also put yourself out there and make sure your opinion is heard.

I think women can sometimes have a tendency to wait until they feel they have completely mastered something before speaking up or stepping into a new space. But often, we learn by doing. During my corporate career, I felt very secure in my professional expertise, but much less confident when conversations turned to financing and budgets. I eventually did an MBA, which gave me the vocabulary and confidence I needed to enter those conversations. We don’t all need an MBA, of course. Programmes like SERIES' WOMEN can provide that broader understanding and the confidence you need to jump in.

Producing drama in Europe means working across borders, languages and funding systems. What does the SERIES' WOMEN cohort offer that is hardest to learn on one’s own?
One of the most valuable things is the cohort itself. It brings together women at similar points in their careers, but with different areas of expertise and perspectives, and from different markets. Producing is communal, but it can also be surprisingly isolating. Our day-to-day work tends to focus on our own market, company and projects, and we often don’t have enough people to consult.

Having colleagues from different countries whom you can call, confer with, benchmark against and learn from is incredibly valuable. That network also extends to the speakers and experts who take part. I’ve stayed in touch with many former participants, and many are now colleagues. Those professional bonds are among the most valuable things that come out of a programme like this.

A year after taking part, how do you recognise real growth in an alumna as a leader?
Growth is absolutely not about having all the answers; it is about becoming more comfortable taking ownership, while also knowing who to ask and confer with. It means building a strong team and creating an environment in which people can do their best work.

When I look at alumnae, I see women who have become comfortable moving between the creative side, the business side, the market and the people. They are ready to take up space, confident in what they know but equally confident about seeking out what they don’t. They are also looking to master new technologies and face the changes in our industry realistically. That ability to combine confidence, curiosity and adaptability is what strong leadership looks like to me.

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Applications for SERIES' WOMEN close on 4 September 2026. Full programme details and information about how to apply are available here.