Stories at Risk: Consultation Findings for an Ongoing Debate

in partnership with the Council of Europe - Pilot Programme for Series Co-productions

Over the past months, the “Stories at Risk - Cultural Diversity, Democracy and Debate on Screen” initiative has examined the pressures shaping which European series get developed, financed, commissioned and ultimately reach the screen. Initiated by Seriesly Berlin with the support of the Council of Europe’s Culture on Screen Programme and a network of European industry partners, the project combined a Europe-wide consultation with a series of online Think Tanks bringing together different parts of the audiovisual ecosystem.Finally the findings come into the room. They point to growing pressure on creative decisions, limited space for risk-taking and structural barriers that often take effect long before a camera starts rolling. At the same time, they identify where change could begin – from development funding and editorial independence to greater trust in creators and audiences.Representatives from different stakeholder groups respond to the findings from their own positions and interests, addressing where responsibility sits between writers, producers, commissioners, funders, platforms and policymakers. Rather than providing a final verdict, STORIES AT RISK is intended as a starting point for a wider industry discussion about the conditions European storytelling needs to remain diverse, ambitious and creatively free.