The Mediapro Studio & NFTS Join Forces to Promote Emerging Talent

The Mediapro Studio is funding the development of the winning project created by a final-year student in the screenwriting course at the National Film and Television School (NFTS) in the U.K.

Candidates had presented their original ideas for television programs to Ran Tellem, head of international content development at The Mediapro Studio; Mariano Baselga, senior development executive at The Mediapro Studio; and Stephen Johnstone, head of content at The Mediapro Studio UK. The Run, a crime-drama series about forbidden love, turf wars and ice cream by Ralph Mathers and Jamie MacDonald, was selected as the winner. The Mediapro Studio will finance the development of the idea, which will be presented to channels and co-production partners for future programs.

The Mediapro Studio and the NFTS have also reached a partnership agreement that will serve as an investment in training in international co-production. Per the partnership, students enrolled in The Mediapro Studio’s Master’s in Screenwriting in association with the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) will work together with students from the Screenwriting Master’s from the NFTS. During the 2019-2020 academic year, students from both Master’s degree programs will complete co-production projects that will be coordinated by tutors of the NFTS Master’s in Screenwriting, The Mediapro Studio Screenwriting Master’s and the UCM.

Tellem said: “The level of the projects has been exceptional. We asked students to surprise us with the originality of their ideas and there is no doubt that they have managed that. The variety and diversity translated into a journey to many different places with a very diverse mosaic of characters, colors and situations. It has been extremely difficult to select a winner.”

Laura Fernández Espeso, head of TV at The Mediapro Studio, said: “Talent is the most important factor when it comes to creating content; for us, being able to get involved in educational work, training the industry’s future talents, is a real honor.”

Johnstone added: “We want to help develop fresh and extraordinary talent amongst debuting screenwriters—but we also intend to produce a fantastic program, something new and different that sets The Mediapro Studio apart from the rest. It would be wonderful to turn one of these brilliant screenwriters into a star. We are very excited about our collaboration with the NFTS.”

Brian Ward, head of the NFTS screenwriting course, said: “[The competition has been] a fantastic opportunity for students to experience first-hand the reality of the profession and the industry. Presenting yourself and your ideas persuasively, effectively, with originality and passion is one of the most crucial lessons to learn. The collaboration with The Mediapro Studio offers students an opportunity to further develop their original ideas in a professional setting with a real chance of getting them funded and into production.”