From September 21 to 23, the second session of Ex Oriente Series 2025 will take place in Brno – marking the first time this workshop is held at the Serial Killer International Festival of TV and Web Series.
"Every meaningful collaboration is a reason for me to continue developing the idea that television in all its forms – from giant streaming services to Czech producers and broadcasters – can and must address and highlight the fundamental issues of today's world. Documentary filmmaking is the killer of ignorance, pettiness, and indifference. That's why I'm delighted that this prestigious workshop has found its way to us. The combination of Ex Oriente, IDF and Serial Killer makes sense in every way." – Kamila Zlatušková, founder & CEO of Serial Killer.
Five selected docuseries from this year’s edition – Hijacked Life, Grandpa was a genius, World Divided, Justice as legalised terror and When The Wind Blows – will continue working on their projects under the guidance of renowned tutors. The focus of this session is continuing the creative development work while aligning concretely with the production plan, budget, legal considerations, and financing plan. Participants should identify a production roadmap template, a proposed budget, financing plan and strategy.
Participants of Ex Oriente Series 2025. Photo: Tommy Delacuvellerie (Studio Pauleon)
Meet the tutors
Participants will again work under the guidance of the leading tutor Ruth Reid, a producer and consultant with over 20 years’ experience, including at HBO and Netflix, Mark Edwards, a 30-year industry veteran and former Director of Documentaries in Europe for Netflix, and Chris Westendorp, an award-winning Amsterdam-based screenwriter and documentary maker known for acclaimed TV series such as Penoza and Seven Little Criminals.
For the second session, the team of tutors will be enriched by László Józsa, Hungarian producer of acclaimed documentaries such as ULTRA (HBO Europe) and Ghetto Balboa, and founding president of MADOKE – the Hungarian Documentary Association, and Ivana Pauerová Miloševičová, Czech director and Head of Documentaries at Czech Television, as well as long-time tutor of the Ex Oriente Film workshop. Participants can also benefit from the expertise of Clémentine Trolong-Bailly, Senior Project Officer at the Council of Europe’s Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions.
About Serial Killer
The 8th year of the Serial Killer International Festival of TV and Web Series is scheduled to take place from September 23rd to 28th in Brno, Czech Republic. This “season” will feature, e.g., series from thriving Danish TV production, the traditional Primetime Killer competition of CEE titles, or a special programme section, iconically called Crazy Bitches. The industry programme, a TV Days conference scheduled for 24.-26.9., will bring together TV professionals for informal networking, serve showcases of new and upcoming series, case studies of recent hits, keynote speeches and panel discussions about topics the industry has been trying to wrap its head around.
Ex Oriente Film is possible thanks to our donors: Creative Europe MEDIA, Ministry of Culture Czech Republic and the Czech Audiovisual Fund.
