{"id":361216,"date":"2026-03-23T17:44:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T17:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/361216\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T17:44:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T17:44:11","slug":"hbo-max-wbd-access-writers-program-returns-to-series-mania-institute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/361216\/","title":{"rendered":"HBO Max, WBD Access Writers’ Program Returns to Series Mania Institute"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\tHBO Max<\/a> and WBD Access, the company\u2019s talent development division, have announced the return of their writers\u2019 program for a second year at Series Mania<\/a> Institute.<\/p>\n

\n\tNow titled Script Engine, the program is \u201cdesigned to\u00a0identify\u00a0and support the development\u00a0of mid\u2011level screenwriters to create original, locally rooted series,\u201d according to a press release. Following a successful inaugural program last year, its second run aims to \u201cfocus on\u00a0writers\u00a0with demonstrable\u00a0connection to\u00a0France, Spain,\u00a0Italy\u00a0and Germany, offering a structured development pathway aligned\u00a0with\u00a0HBO Max\u2019s strategic ambitions for original storytelling across Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThree writers from each aforementioned European territory will be selected for a four-month structured program, where they will work to develop an original series concept for HBO Max. The writers will undergo high-level training, regional-specific coaching and one-to-one mentoring in order to \u201crefine their creative voice, strengthen their professional\u00a0positioning\u00a0and develop projects that reflect the cultural specificity and storytelling priorities of their local markets,\u201d as the release states.<\/p>\n

\n\tScript Engine will culminate in a presentation with regional HBO Max execs where each writer will share their work and get feedback, followed by a six-month first-look period in their respective territories.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWBD Access\u00a0is\u00a0thrilled\u00a0to\u00a0work with HBO Max to\u00a0bring\u00a0the\u00a0writers\u2019\u00a0program\u00a0back \u2014 returning under\u00a0the new\u00a0name\u00a0of\u00a0Script Engine,\u201d Grace Moss, VP of inclusion pipeline programs, said in a statement. \u201cThe expansion of this program into new countries is a signal that our audiences are increasingly hungry for more locally relevant stories and, more than ever,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0curious to hear from the next generation of outstanding writers. This program is about creating a real pathway for mid-level talent to sharpen their voice, develop ambitious series concepts and help us find fresh new stories for local audiences across Europe and beyond \u2014 I can\u2019t wait to see what this year\u2019s edition of\u00a0Script Engine\u00a0will bring.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tAdded Pierre Ziemniak, Series Mania Institute\u2019s director of programs: \u201cSeries Mania Institute, as the training arm of Series Mania, draws on the Festival and Forum\u2019s international network and has\u00a0established\u00a0itself in just a few years as a major hub for professionals in the audiovisual sector, particularly screenwriters. Following the program\u2019s inaugural edition last year, we are delighted to continue our collaboration with WBD and HBO Max to connect Europe\u2019s best mid-level writers to\u00a0Script\u00a0Engine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n\tLast year\u2019s writers\u2019 program winner was French screenwriter Julie-Anna Grignon, who developed a pilot for her project \u201cThe Hum.\u201d Other shortlisted writers included Peter Furrer (Germany), Ciron Gruffydd (U.K.), Almudena\u00a0Monz\u00fa\u00a0(Spain), Isabella Oliveira Parise Kr\u00f6ger (Germany) and Kaamil Shah (U.K.). <\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThe program was excellent,\u201d Grignon said. \u201cIt gave me the opportunity to meet some\u00a0very talented\u00a0fellow European writers, to work with supportive and knowledgeable mentors,\u00a0and, above all, to\u00a0receive comprehensive guidance from HBO in developing my writing project. Throughout the program, my series\u00a0\u201cThe Hum\u201d\u00a0was able to evolve and take shape while\u00a0remaining\u00a0deeply personal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tApplications\u00a0for\u00a0Script Engine\u00a0will open\u00a0on April\u00a02 and close April 26.\u00a0Full eligibility criteria and application details will\u00a0soon\u00a0be\u00a0made\u00a0available\u00a0via\u00a0WBD Access.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HBO Max and WBD Access, the company\u2019s talent development division, have announced the return of their writers\u2019 program…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":361217,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[93,3286,61,60,140424,282],"class_list":["post-361216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-hbo-max","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-series-mania","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361216","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=361216"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/361216\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/361217"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=361216"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=361216"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=361216"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}