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

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.

The ACE Mentoring Programme aims to support producers from the Netherlands and Dutch Overseas Territories in managing their careers and developing their international network, by providing them with the opportunity to learn from established mentors actively working within the European film industry.

The goal is to help these emerging producers reach the next level of experience and help them in the development of their international network.

Each year three Dutch producers will be selected for the programme. After selection, each producer will be matched to a mentor according to their specific needs. Throughout the year the producer will have up to 4 meetings with their mentor, either at international festivals and events where both are present, or online. Participation in the Mentoring Programme NL is free of charge (all travel and accommodation expenses that may arise will not be covered by the organisation).

To best benefit from the programme, we ask producers to have a full-length project in development which can be fiction, animation or documentary.

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

PROGRAMME DATES
February – December 2025, up to 4 (online) meetings held throughout the year.

ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

• Emerging producers from the Netherlands and Dutch Overseas Territories with some experience in production, who are looking to expand their knowledge of international co-production, feature film financing, production, sales, distribution, marketing and business development;
• Producers should have at least one credit on a film or TV series, without necessarily having a full production credit;
• Producers need to have a full-length fiction, animation or documentary project in development;
• Producers would need to be committed to the programme for the entire duration.

PARTICIPATION DETAILS

• Up to 3 producers will be selected;
• Participation is free of charge;
• All travel and accommodation expenses that may arise will not be covered by the organisation.

APPLICATION DEADLINE
The deadline to apply was 10 December 2024, we no longer accept new applications.

HOW TO APPLY
All applicants will be asked to complete an application form comprising of:

• A motivational letter;
• Company profile;
• Producer’s biography;
• Producer’s filmography & current projects.

Before applying please read the eligibillity coinditions carefully.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For questions contact Springboard Manager Maegene Fabias:
maegenefabias@ace-producers.com.

Together with the ACE Training Days, the ACE Mentoring Programme, is part of ACE Springboard, a combination of programmes focusing on emerging independent producers to strengthen their 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!

More information on the ACE Springboard Programmes can be found here.
For questions, contact us at ace@ace-producers.com.