Participants have begun the four-month programme, developing original, locally rooted series concepts that they will present to HBO Max executives in November.
WBD Access, Warner Bros. Discovery’s talent development division, and HBO Max, in collaboration with Series Mania Institute, today announced the 12 writers selected for the 2026 edition of Script Engine, a European writers’ programme supporting mid-level screenwriters as they develop original, locally rooted series.
Three writers from each participating market -France, Germany, Italy and Spain- were selected following a competitive application process.
From France, the writers are Tolula Dada, Justine Gautier and Storm Sigal-Battesti. Germany’s selected writers are Tunde Aladese, Stefanie Ren and Ben Braeunlich. Italy’s cohort comprises Tommaso Matano, Emanuele Mochi and Simona Nobile. In Spain, the selected writers are Jesica Aran, Lidia Fraga and Miguel Mayorga Moscoso.
The programme began with a professional development week in London with a series of workshops, masterclasses and networking opportunities led by HBO Max executives including Joey Chavez, EVP, Drama, Clint LaVigne, SVP, Drama Programming and Jennifer Wessner, Drama and International Programming, alongside industry experts such as showrunner, writer and producer Dr. Neal Baer (Designated Survivor, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, ER).
Across the programme, writers will benefit from the expertise of HBO Max market advisors and a network of established industry mentors. The HBO Max advisors include Clémentine Bobin and Louise Le Puloch (France); Dirk Engelhardt and Philipp Walz (Germany); Elettra Canovi and Sara De Acetis (Italy); and Victoria Dal Vera (Spain). The market mentors include Mehdi Ouahab, writer, director and script consultant (France); Steve Matthews, Head of Scripted Creative at Banijay Entertainment (Germany); Giordana Mari, screenwriter (Italy); and Mariano Baselga, writer, executive producer, story editor and development executive (Spain).
Participants are now moving into a four-month structured development phase combining high-level training, regional coaching and one-to-one mentoring, with the aim of supporting their development of an original series concept. Early concept ideas range from thrillers, crime series and dramas, each locally rooted in their respective markets. The programme will culminate in the participants attending an in-person Project Presentation Day, where they will present to regional HBO Max executives.
The cohort is led by the lead facilitator Frank Spotnitz, award-winning series creator, writer (Leonardo, The X-Files, The Man in the High Castle, Medici, Ransom) and producer, and the founder and CEO of Big Light Productions, which is currently in production on The Trial of Louise Woodward starring Meghann Fahy. Spotnitz is well known for supporting writers, leading writers’ rooms on his productions, hosting an apprenticeship initiative at Big Light Productions and, since 2013, he has taught at the Serial Eyes postgraduate television training programme at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB), where Spotnitz is a founding tutor.
Frank Spotnitz, CEO, Big Light Productions, said: “European storytelling has never been in greater demand. Audiences around the world are looking for distinctive voices and stories that reflect different cultures and perspectives, and European writers are increasingly creating work that travels internationally. Script Engine is important because it doesn’t just help writers develop their craft, it introduces them to a collaborative way of working that empowers writers to do their best work. By encouraging creative ambition, intellectual rigor and the free exchange of ideas, the programme gives mid-level writers the confidence, skills and professional mindset to build sustainable international careers.”
Grace Moss, VP, Inclusion Pipeline Programs, said: “WBD Access exists to cultivate creative talent and create pathways into the WBD ecosystem. Script Engine brings that ambition to life through an expanded cohort, a multi-month curriculum, and close collaboration with the local HBO Max teams. The programme gives writers the creative development, industry insight and professional connections to take the next step in their careers within Europe’s growing television landscape.”
Pierre Ziemniak, Director of Programs, Series Mania Institute, said: “From the initial launch at Series Mania Forum to the organisation of a masterclass, Series Mania Institute is proud to support the Script Engine initiative. Drawing on our extensive European professional network, we worked with WBD Access to identify a cohort of 12 mid-level writers with strong, locally rooted concepts. What stands out to us is the richness of the storytelling, the creative ambition of the participants, and the way the programme empowers European writers to think collaboratively and globally.”
