HELDINNEN IN SERIE 2019/2020
In November 2019, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs launched the screenplay competition Heroines in Series to improve the portrayal of female characters, strengthen the positioning of women in the industry and create an impetus for the development of series in Austria.
THE KICK-OFF
The kick-off event for Heldinnen in Serie took place as part of the ProPro TV Day.
After being welcomed by Federal Minister Elisabeth Udolf-Strobl, film journalist Julia Pühringer gave a lively panel on the subject of "Heroines from Business, Science and Technology", where the following experts and representatives from the TV industry gave inspiring insights into their experiences with stereotypes within their own professional domain and female role models gave:
- Christine Antlanger-Winter - Country Director Google Austria
- Tatjana Oppitz - Vice Rector Digitalization, WU
- Judith Angerbauer - Scriptwriter
- Kathrin Zechner - TV director ORF
Before moving on to the following program of the ProPro TV-Day and final networking, the eagerly awaited presentation of the competition announcement by Section Head Florian Frauscher followed.
THE AWARD WINNERS
- Die Alpen sind rot: Cornelia Travnicek
- Bionic: Regine Anour & Daniela Purer
- Die Entdeckung der Kernspaltung: Florian Geiger & Selina Kolland
- 800 Gramm Leben: Konstanze Breitebner
- The Invisible Sister: Stephanie Falkeis
- Nachtvolk: Stefan Wolner & Dietmar Zahn
After a fabulous 108 submissions and a virtual jury meeting in April 2020, we could congratulate the winners of Heldinnen in Serie, whose subjects cover a wide range of different genres, be it science thrillers, time travel, biopics, crime or mystery.
During six months of mentoring program, which was co-organized by the script forum Vienna, the award winners had the opportunity to take part in a master class with the British author Helen Jacey. At the end there was the great opportunity to pitch the materials to international partners and investors with the help of presentation videos during the series camp Munich.
THE JURY
The winners were selected by an independent jury consisting of top-class experts from the film industry as well as from the fields of business, science and technology:
- chairwoman: FBM Margarete Schramböck
- Judith Angerbauer
- Christine Antlanger-Winter
- Sabine Haag
- Ali Mahlodji
- Tatjana Oppitz
- Agnes Pluch
- Roland Zag
- Kathrin Zechner
GET TOGETHER
Federal Minister Margarete Schramböck invited to a get-together in September. The invited guests included the winners of the script competition Heldinnen in Serie as well as their mentors and several jury members.
The importance of role models in film and television, especially in the field of science and research, was discussed - moderated by section head Florian Frauscher.
Additional interesting impulses were provided by the experts from business, science and technology, such as Tatjana Oppitz, Ali Mahlodji and Norbert Vana, who called for complex scientific topics to be conveyed to a broad audience through more emotionality and aha-effects.
Represented at the podium were Federal Minister Margarete Schramböck (BMDW), Katharina Schenk (ORF), Uli Bree (screenwriter) and Danny Krausz (producer / professor film academy).
THE MASTERCLASS
After months of hard work and the dramaturgical accompaniment, the digital masterclass with the British scriptwriter, dramaturg and author Helen Jacey took place with the script forum Vienna. Under the aspect of "mini-series", our authors also had the opportunity to receive individual feedback on their work. Together, they worked on conception, dramaturgy, character development and differentiated female characters.
SERIENCAMP MUNICH - PITCH POOL
In November 2020, our authors had the opportunity to present their sophisticated treatments in front of an international audience at the Seriencamp Munich, where the digital pitch pool gave the opportunity to find investors and cooperation partners.
HELDINNEN X DIAGONALE
As part of the Diagonale, a Q&A with award winners from the first round of the script competition took place on June 9th, 2021. Konstanze Breitebner, Regine Anour and Stefan Wolner were present on site, while Stephanie Falkeis, Dietmar Zahn, Florian Geiger and Selina Kolland were connected via stream. Unfortunately, Dani Purer and Cornelia Travnicek could not take part due to scheduling reasons.
What about the scripts? Has anything changed in the ideas as a result of the COVID-19 crisis of last year, and if so, what? Are there already plans for implementation or new ideas? Those were questions that were of great interest to us before we start a second round of the competition in autumn.
The event was also broadcast via live stream.