Introducing the 2026 Cohort of the Words Across Europe VR Writing Program
Exclusive: Words Across Europe Announces 2026 Writing Cohort
Words Across Europe, a virtual reality-based writers’ room initiative, has announced its 2026 cohort, featuring nine talented writers from across the European continent. These individuals were selected from over 60 applicants and will participate in the program’s third edition.
The program, which runs from this month until July, aims to develop original series concepts within immersive VR writers’ rooms. Participants will engage in masterclasses, industry talks, and networking opportunities, culminating in presentations of their work to European television producers and commissioners.
Co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe Media and Dublin-based Wide Eye Films, the initiative has previously included contributions from respected industry figures such as Paramount UK commissioning editor Paul Testar, Fremantle acquisitions executive Hattie Burles, and Warner Bros. International TV Production Germany Managing Director René Jamm.
Created to bridge the gap between the working styles of European and U.S. writers, the program addresses the tendency of European writers to work alone, compared to the collaborative approach often seen in U.S. writing rooms.
Robert Franke, former VP of Drama at ZDF Studios, praised the program as “a genuinely valuable initiative for the European drama ecosystem.” Nathalie Lichtenthaeler from Wide Eye emphasized the goal of fostering collaborative storytelling. “European writers are often trained to work alone. Words Across Europe exists to change that. We want to give them the experience of creative collaboration and show them what becomes possible when you build a story together.”
The selected writers for the 2026 edition are as follows:
Sofia Rimskaya (Russia): A Riga-based screenwriter with an MA from the London Film School, known for her comedy series Honey, Bye! selected for Writers Campus at Series Mania 2026.
Ioana Bogdana (Romania): A scriptwriter and producer based in Berlin, involved in various international film festivals and CEE video-on-demand platforms.
Andrija Ilić Prša (Serbia): A Cologne-based screenwriter, director, and producer with a background in dramaturgy and serial storytelling.
Carlos Robisco Peña (Spain): A writer and director from Barcelona, with experience in theatre, film, and television.
Katie Murphy (Ireland): A screenwriter with a decade of experience in high-end TV and script development, recently attached to Netflix’s upcoming Grown Ups, based on the novel by Marian Keyes.
Maksim Nikiforovski (North Macedonia): A screenwriter focusing on contemporary Europe from an underrepresented perspective.
Hanna Stock (Germany): A filmmaker trained in screenwriting at HFF Munich, with extensive experience in documentary filmmaking.
Eve Tisler (Estonia): A screenwriter and creative producer with a background in journalism, communications, and marketing.
Jonathan Farrelly (Ireland): A writer skilled in audio drama, television, and film.
