Words Across Europe has revealed the nine screenwriters chosen for its second edition, continuing its mission to foster diverse talent across the continent. The selected participants hail from Ireland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, and North Macedonia, while also bringing a wealth of cultural influences from Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. This unique mix of backgrounds underlines the programme’s dedication to promoting stories that reflect the richness and complexity of contemporary Europe.

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Over the next few months, these emerging writers will enter a fully immersive digital experience that replicates the fast-paced environment of a professional writers’ room. Guided by established industry mentors, they will work together to develop original television series concepts tailored for the international market.

Following the success of its inaugural edition, Words Across Europe continues to carve out space for new voices. One of last year’s teams is currently in talks with a major TV studio regarding the script they developed during the 2024 programme, highlighting the professional opportunities and lasting industry connections that can arise from the initiative.

A defining feature of the programme remains its use of virtual reality technology. Using personalised avatars, participants and mentors meet in real time inside a shared digital space designed for creative collaboration. This approach enables writers to break through geographical limitations while engaging in dynamic, interactive storytelling.

Nathalie Lichtenthaeler, founder of Words Across Europe and CEO of Ireland’s Wide Eye Films, shared her enthusiasm: "Once again, we’ve been blown away by the range, originality, and distinct voices in this year’s applications. Words Across Europe is about more than storytelling — it’s about building bridges between cultures and redefining how stories are told for a new generation of audiences. We can’t wait to see what this year’s writers will create together."

This year’s cohort includes writers with strong industry credentials and deeply personal storytelling roots: Nikolaus von Uthmann, an award-winning German screenwriter and filmmaker with a pan-European lens; Berfin Altinisik, a Turkish writer-filmmaker based in Paris, who merges TV development with camcorder documentaries; Mitra Kohnesheen, an Afghan refugee in the Netherlands, exploring themes of identity and belonging; Spanish writer Lidia Fraga, known for series such as Montecristo and Hierro [+leggi anche:
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scheda series]; Raoul Groothuizen, a Dutch screenwriter of Moluccan and Indonesian heritage behind Pulang and the forthcoming The Best Immigrant; Mia Nikoloska, a Macedonian writer active in both screen and stage; Irish storyteller Mike Heneghan, with over a decade of experience in genre-driven drama; Rafael Leal, a Berlin-based filmmaker and XR creator with credits on major platforms including Disney+ and NBC/Universal; and Gemma Creagh, an Irish writer-director crafting darkly comic, character-driven narratives across media.

Words Across Europe is co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe – MEDIA programme and produced by Dublin-based Wide Eye Films.