Participant profile: Daniel Schwarz

It’s another call in Germany to find out about screenwriter Daniel Schwarz. Daniel made his first film in 1989, a documentary short about the art of hunting with falcons in Northeastern Turkey, for German Television (ARD/BR). After studies in Turkology, Literature and Film in Florence and Istanbul, he obtained his M.A. at the University of [...]

Participant profile: David Kavanagh

We’re in Ireland for a late, last swift one with David Kavanagh. David Kavanagh is the Executive Officer of the Irish Playwrights and Screenwriters Guild. He has been Film Officer of the Irish Arts Council, Chief Executive of the Irish Film Institute, and General Secretary of the European Script Fund. David is also a board [...]

Organiser profile: Amélie Clément

Let us find out about one of the powerhouses behind the conference: Amélie Clement. Amélie studied History and History of Arts in Paris and Budapest. She worked for several years in Arts management in France and Belgium, focused mostly in the field of Performing Arts on behalf of European cultural networks. She now collaborates part-time [...]

Participant profile: Daniele Cesarano

We touch down in Italy, to meet screenwriter Daniele Cesarano. Daniele Cesarano began his career as a feature film screenwriter and director, but soon turned to working with television serials: for 6 years he was the head writer of Canale 5′s best-selling crime series Distretto di Polizia (seasons 3 – 5) and RIS Delitti Imperfetti [...]

Participant profile: Fred Breinersdorfer

We land in Germany now, and meet screenwriter and novelist Fred Breinersdorfer. Fred grew up in Mainz, and studied law and sociology at the universities of Mainz and Tübingen. In 1975 he finished his education with a Ph.D. from the University of Tübingen, and started to practice as an attorney-at-law, specialising in constitutional law and [...]

Participant profile: Lucinda Englehart

It’s over to the UK again, where we are introduced to Lucinda Englehart. Lucinda Englehart is Head of Production at Aramid Capital Partners, the film finance company based in London. Aramid has provided debt finance for more than 35 independent feature films in the last two years including W, In the Loop, How to Lose [...]

Participant profile: Peter Hedges

It’s our final visit to New York, to visit with screenwriter and director Peter Hedges. Peter Hedges is a novelist, playwright, screenwriter, and director.  He made his feature film directorial début with Pieces of April (2003) starring Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Oliver Platt, and Derek Luke.  The acclaimed film garnered numerous awards including an Academy [...]

Participant profile: László Czető Bernát

We continue the day early in Hungary, where we find screenwriter László Czető Bernát. Or, Czető Bernát László in the Hungarian order: Czető is his pen name, Bernát the family name and László is his first name. László was born in Budapest, and from 1972 he studied Hungarian Literature and Cultural Anthropology in Budapest University [...]

Participant profile: Cécile Despringre

It’s France’s turn now, where we find Cécile Despringre. Cécile studied International and European law at the University of Paris I (Panthéon-Sorbonne) and obtained a Masters in International Economic Law in 1996 (her thesis was on the audiovisual sector in WTO). After a first job as the permanent representative of European performers in Brussels and [...]

Participant profile: Stanislav Semerdjiev

It’s late in Bulgaria, but not too late to meet Prof. Dr. Stanislav Semerdjiev. Stanislav is Rector of the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) – Sofia, Bulgaria. He is also President of the Bulgarian Association of Film, TV and Radio Scriptwriters (BAFTRS), Vice-President of the World Association of Film and TV Schools [...]

Participant profile: Robert Staats

In Germany we can discover more about Dr. Robert Staats Robert conducted his law studies in Bonn and Freiburg, and was a Legal trainee in Berlin. His doctoral thesis is on copyright law. From 1994-2008 he was a judge and civil servant (Ministry of Justice) at the federal state of Brandenburg. Since January 1, 2009 [...]

Participant profile: Kelly Sweeney

Our next port of call is England, where we find screenwriter Kelly Sweeney. Kelly, as Bebo‘s Head of Original Productions, works to identify and commission new shows for the world’s leading social media network, Bebo, and develop this emergent medium with shows such as KateModern, Sofia’s Diary, The Gap Year and b-box Kelly ensures that [...]

Participant profile: Jan Dowjat

Poland is where we’ll find screenwriter and director Jan Dowjat: Jan is a graduate of New York University Film School, and the author of 15 short films. He’s a programming director for Script Forum – the professional screenwriters’ conference in Warsaw, and has been a participant of numerous training initiatives and workshops for screenwriters including [...]

Final agenda for the conference online

The final Agenda for the World Conference of Screenwriters has been released. It includes the programme of discussions, and the speakers assigned to them. You can read the Agenda on our site, download it, or download and/or embed it into your blogs from Scribd or .docstoc.

Participant profile: Ståle Stein Berg

We skim across to Norway and settle with Ståle Stein Berg. Ståle studied screenwriting at The Norwegian Film School, where he wrote the award-winning shorts ‘Himmelstormeren’ (best screenplay Munich International Festival of Film Schools and Grimstad International short film festival) and ‘Hormoner og andre demoner’ (best film Munich International Festival of Film Schools) He got [...]

Participant profile: Gino Ventriglia

Italy is our destination now, where we meet screenwriter Gino Ventriglia. Gino works as screenwriter and story editor for networks (Rai, Mediaset) and television, and cinema companies (Rai Cinema, Sintra, Istituto Luce, Tao2, Studio Canal Urania, Imago, Cattleya, Eagle Pictures, Filmmaster, Grundy, Luce, IIF, Bavaria Media Italia). He wrote the feature films Arrivederci, Amore Ciao [...]

Participant profilie: Robin Swicord

A long journey to California, USA brings us to screenwriter and director Robin Swicord. Robin is primarily known for her work as a screenwriter  for Memoirs Of A Geisha, Little Women, Matilda (co-written with Nicholas Kazan), and Shag (shared), The Perez Family, Practical Magic (shared). She has written two plays that were produced off-Broadway (Last [...]

Participant profile: Panos Iossifelis

We arrive in Greece to meet screenwriter Panos Iossifelis. Panos was born in Thessaloniki, and has a B.A in History (Ioannina University) and a diploma in Journalism (E.K.E.S school). He has written scripts for several award-winning short films. ‘Prostasia‘ (2005) won the 1st Greek State Award for Best Short Film and ‘Narkes‘ (2007) won Best [...]

Participant profile: Ulf Ryberg

We settle into Sweden, where we discover screenwriter Ulf Ryberg. Ulf began working as a radio reporter, and then progressed onto working as as a script editor on SVT (Swedish Television Drama). At that time his intention was to become a film director. Ulf had already written a number of short film screenplays when he [...]

Participant profile: Carolin Otto

We arrive in Germany early for an introduction to Carolin Otto. Carolin was born in Hamburg, studied philosophy, and began working for Cosmopolitan and other magazines. Later, she attended the Film School Munich, HFF, and the Script Academy Munich. Since 1995 she has worked as a script writer and director. Among her work she’s directed [...]