The first edition of the Full Moon Creative Lab, a project co-funded by the European Union and dedicated to screenwriters specialising in genre TV series – thriller, horror and fantasy –, comes to an end after 3 creative residencies in Transylvania, during which the participants were mentored by accomplished international professionals.  This program focuses on enhancing creators' collaborative series writing skills within a European context. This year, the jury selected three distinct projects: Aurora, a thriller by Romanian screenwriter Adina Istrate; ICU - Immortal Care Unit, a horror-fantasy project by Italian screenwriter Giulio Rizzo; and Negative Split, a thriller by Slovenian screenwriter Barbara Skubic. Additionally, nine other talented screenwriters - Barry Murphy (Ireland), Rosella di Campli (Italy), Richard Karpala (Poland), Sînziana Cojocărescu(Romania), Nadya Todorova (Bulgaria), Greg Simmons (Ireland), Cristina Iliescu (Romania), Attila Veres (Hungary), and Rafael Alberto Garciolo(Germany) -  were chosen from the open call and assigned to one of the three projects, forming three groups that embarked on a year-long creative collaboration. The 12 participants were guided in 3 writers’ room working from the rough idea of their scripts to a comprehensive bible document, including the first season outline and a breakdown of the pilot episode. This third residency also marks the finale of the first edition and will end with a pitching session at the Transilvania International Film Festival, in front of influential industry professionals, including producers, broadcasters, sales agents, TV and major streaming platforms representatives. In the evening of June 21, a project of the first edition will be awarded. Producer Eilon Ratzkovsky, screenwriter and director Geo Doba and screenwriter and producer Arnaud Louvet are the main facilitators of the program. The pitching session will be prepared in advance with the psychologist Agathe Berman and the Jury members Mirela Năstase (Director Drama at ZDF Studios), Anna Fukada (Drama Commissioning Editor ARTE France) and Simon Perry (director and producer) will select the winning project which will receive Full Moon Creative Lab Award for further development co-funded by the European Union – in the amount of 5,000 Eur.

"I believe that what has happened in this programme over the past year has exceeded all our expectations, from the selection of participants to the involvement of facilitators and the significant contribution of international experts who prepared masterclasses and practical feedback sessions. The groups are cohesive, their communication has been constant, and their connection is palpable. This programme brought the best out of the participants", stated Ileana Cecanu, the project manager of Full Moon Creative Lab.

Full Moon Creative Lab aims to improve the creative process by connecting European talents across all member states and cultivating high-standards co-writing practices, with the ultimate goal of delivering first-rate, innovative and competitive European content, focused on genre series.

A new edition will be announced soon.