ACE Producers is pleased to announce the call for applications for the ACE Series Special 7, with thanks to support from Creative Europe MEDIA and the Roma Lazio Film Commission.

A hands-on workshop for experienced producers who want to deepen their knowledge of developing and producing TV drama series for an international audience and/or integrate a series division into their companies. The workshop is open to members of the ACE Network or other producers of a similar level.

16-18 producers are selected for the workshop, each with a series in development. Focusing primarily on the creative and financial aspects of TV series production, the ACE Series Special will also offer sessions on packaging, working with broadcasters and streamers, marketing, audiences, international approaches and business strategies. The workshop gives producers a chance to work on their projects through interactive sessions and open discussions with experts and their peers.

The core of the 2025 workshop will be held in Rome, Italy thanks to the collaboration of the Roma Lazio Film Commission and Creative Europe MEDIA.

Topics covered include:
The financing scheme of series in an international context;
Discovering the market potential and finding an (international) audience;
Strategically integrating a series department into an existing (film-)production company;
Understanding the different production structures of series development;
Working with streamers and broadcasters.

Professionals from companies such as Fremantle, BETA, Banijay, Federation and Lionsgate regularly attend as consultants, along with producers and showrunners offering no-holds-barred case studies and discussions.

DEADLINE
3 June 2025

WORKSHOP DATES
3 November – 8 November 2025

LOCATION
Rome, Italy

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS
To be an owner, partner or associate of an independent film/TV production company;
To be an ACE member or producer with a similar level of experience;
To have a TV drama series in development that is at a relevant stage and suitable for co-production;
To be fluent in spoken English.

Producers from any country are welcome to apply, however, please note that the majority of spaces will be reserved for producers from MEDIA countries.

FEES
€2.500 (€2.250 for ACE Network Members).
The fee covers full board, accommodation and training during the workshops.
Travel costs are not included.

HOW TO APPLY
To request an application form please email specials@ace-producers.com

Gearing up for the fifth edition, ACE Producers has selected three upcoming producers based in the Netherlands and Overseas Territories to participate in the ACE Mentoring Programme NL 2025.

The programme aims to support emerging producers in reaching the next level of their careers and developing their international network. The selected participants have been matched to a mentor of the ACE Producers Network according to their specific personal needs. The mentorship includes meetings throughout the year at international festivals and events, and online.

The ACE Mentoring Programme NL has been set up in collaboration with the Netherlands Film Fund.

 

SELECTED PRODUCERS FOR ACE MENTORING PROGRAMME NL 2025:

Laura Bouwmeester, Labyrint Film – The Netherlands
Mentor: Martin Persson, Anagram Produktion – Sweden

Michel Drenthe, Caribbean Filmcom – Curaçao
Mentor: Lisa-Marie Russo, Fly Film Company – United Kingdom

Nicky Onstenk, IJswater Films – The Netherlands
Mentor: Marica Stocchi, Rosamont – Italy

 

Together with ACE Training Days, the ACE Mentoring Programme is part of ACE Springboard, a combination of programmes focusing on emerging independent producers to strengthen careers at an early stage. ACE Springboard provides participants with the tools needed to be adaptable and innovative in an ever-changing film industry – for a successful new generation of independent producers.

Please find more information on the ACE Springboard Programmes here, for more information please contact us: ace@ace-producers.com

Competition

THE SAFE HOUSE by Lionel Baier
Co-produced by Yaël Fogiel (ACE France)

HOT MILK by Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Produced by Giorgos Karnavas (ACE Greece)

MOTHER’S BABY by Johanna Moder
Produced by Oliver Neumann (ACE Austria)
Co-produced by Viola Fügen (ACE Germany)

THE BLUE TRAIL by Gabriel Mascaro
Co-produced by Marleen Slot (ACE The Netherlands)

REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND by Hélène Cattet & Bruno Forzani
Co-produced by Gilles Chanial (ACE Luxembourg) and Bart van Langendonck (ACE Belgium)

THE ICE TOWER by Lucile Hadžihalilović
Co-produced by Ingmar Trost (ACE Germany)

YUNAN by Ameer Fakher Eldin
Produced by Dorothe Beinemeier (ACE Germany)

Perspectives

HOW TO BE NORMAL AND THE ODDNESS OF THE OTHER WORLD by Florian Pochlatko
Produced by Arash T. Riahi (ACE Austria)

LITTLE TROUBLE GIRLS by Urška Đukić
Co-produced by Miha Cernec (ACE Slovenia), Dragana Jovovic (ACE Serbia) and Julie Paratian (ACE France)

PUNCHING THE WORLD by Constanze Klaue
Produced by Alexander Wadouh (ACE Germany)

Berlinale Special Gala

LATE SHIFT by Petra Volpe
Produced by Reto Schärli (ACE Switzerland)

KÖLN 75 by Ido Fluk
Co-produced by Erik Glijnis (ACE The Netherlands), Leontine Petit (ACE The Netherlands), Dries Phlypo (ACE Belgium)

Berlinale Special

NO BEAST. SO FIERCE by Burhan Qurbani
Produced by Fabian Maubach (ACE Germany)

Panorama

BEGINNINGS by Jeanette Nordahl
Produced by Eva Jakobsen (ACE Denmark)
Co-produced by Erik Glijnis (ACE The Netherlands), Leontine Petit (ACE The Netherlands) and Dries Phlypo (ACE Belgium)

DELICIOUS by Nele Mueller-Stöfen
Produced by Jonas Dornbach (ACE Germany) and Janine Jackowski (ACE Germany)

THE UGLY STEPSISTER by Emilie Blichfeldt
Co-produced by Ada Solomon (ACE Romania) and Mariusz Włodarski (ACE Poland)

DREAMERS by Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor
Produced by Emily Morgan (ACE United Kingdom)

PAUL by Denis Côté
Produced by Hany Ouichou (ACE Canada)

Generations

OUR WILDEST DAYS by Vasilis Kekatos
Co-produced by Jamila Wenske (ACE Germany)

PATERNAL LEAVE by Alissa Jung
Produced by Viola Fügen (ACE Germany)
Executive produced by Mario Gianani (ACE Italy)

SANDBAG DAM by Cejen Cernic
Produced by Ankica Juric Tilic (ACE Croatia)

Forum

SCARS OF A PUTSCH by Nathalie Borgers
Co-produced by Olivier Dubois (ACE Belgium)

Every year, ACE Producers accepts 18 experienced film producers into the renowned ACE Network after completing ACE’s Annual Programme of executive education. Interested producers are asked to submit a feature film project in development that is suitable for co-production and aimed at the international market along with their application.

Application deadline: 30 April 2025

Four events make up the core of the training programme, held in four different locations.

OCTOBER – CONTENT DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP
Through pitching practice training and sessions on leadership and core values, the producers learn more about themselves and each other, their own businesses and the types of projects they produce. Group sessions and walk & talk discussions provide insight into early development problems such as preparing intention notes, working with talents and maintaining good relationships with writers and directors. During group sessions led by consultants, producers are encouraged to offer each other script advice and analyse financing plans and marketing materials. Participants also benefit from individual consultancy meetings analysing the concepts, dramaturgy, financing plan, and target audiences of their projects.
12 – 18 October 2025 in Leiden, The Netherlands

NOVEMBER – FINANCING STRATEGIES WORKSHOP
Interactive sessions exploring international financing opportunities and strategies through detailed analysis of producers’ finance plans, with input provided by high-grade professionals from across the industry.  A uniquely open exchange of experience and ideas which sheds light on the evolution of co-production practices, public and private funding schemes, and the global marketplace in the digital age.
23 – 29 November 2025 (dates tbc) in Warsaw, Poland

APRIL – BUSINESS PROSPECTS WORKSHOP
Sessions on business growth, designed to provide producers with models of sustainable company management and ways to build businesses that have real value. Group sessions and panel discussions guide the producers through keener applications of marketing techniques and diversified commercial activities.
12 – 16 April 2026 (dates tbc), location to be announced.

APRIL – ACE PRODUCERS ANNUAL REUNION
Held in a different country every year over a long springtime weekend, and open to all members of the ACE Network, this event is an occasion for experienced producers to share news, knowledge, opinions and practical advice in an informal but confidential environment.  Warts-and-all case studies, production company showcases, insider-information sessions, and more.
17 – 19 April 2026 (dates tbc), location to be announced.

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

• Be an owner, partner or associate of an independent production company;
• Have been the delegate producer (i.e. the principal responsible producer) of at least one theatrically-released feature film;
• Have a fiction feature film project in development which is designed to attract international finance and distribution – ideally in the form of a first draft screenplay or long treatment;
• Be available and commit to attending a selection interview during the first week of September, the Content Development Workshop (October), the Financing Strategies Workshop (November), the Business Prospects Workshop and the Annual Reunion (both in April).

APPLY
If you are interested in applying, please contact ace@ace-producers.com or complete this pre-registration form to establish your eligibility and organise a meeting with the ACE team. For any questions, please contact us at ace@ace-producers.com.

Applications will primarily be evaluated on the producers’ track record and motivation, followed by the strength of the project and its co-production and collaborative potential.

Visit the workshop section of the ACE Producers website for more information on the Annual Programme and application process.

PARTNERS
The ACE 35 Annual Programme is supported by Creative Europe MEDIA, Netherlands Film Fund, Polish Film Institute, Procirep, German Films, Téléfilm Canada, Screen Ireland, Roma Lazio Film Commission, Focal and APA – Audiovisual Producers Association.

ACE Producers is very pleased to announce that the call for applications for the ACE Leadership Special 2025 is now open.

The ACE Leadership Special is aimed at experienced producers looking to develop their personal leadership and entrepreneurial skills and to establish sound business foundations for their companies. The workshop is made possible thanks to support from Creative Europe MEDIA, the Netherlands Film Fund, FOCAL and the Film Commission Lucerne and Central Switzerland.

Offering them a safe space, the ACE Leadership Special helps producers recognise and harness their capabilities and innate skills, raising their confidence to allow them to provide effective leadership for their production companies and teams.

Open to members of the ACE Network and other experienced, established producers of a similar level, the ACE Leadership Special takes place over two 3/4-day residential workshops with additional online sessions complementing them.

12 producers will be selected, each with their own experience of running a company and their own unique entrepreneurial capabilities, allowing the small group to benefit not only from the knowledge of the workshop consultants, but from each other’s lived experiences.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
4 March 2025

WORKSHOP DATES
17 – 20 June 2025
15 – 19 September 2025
Regular meetings with mentor group over summer, between the two workshops.

LOCATIONS
June: Vitznau, Switzerland
September: TBC

FOR FURTHER DETAILS
More information on eligibility, participation fees and how to apply can be found on the ACE Leadership Special page.