Once again this year, we explored global trends in audiovisual storytelling. Here’s an overview of this year’s conferences.
European Series Day
How are Europe’s leading industry players navigating the rapidly changing world of series production? On October 9, 2025, the European Series Day offered high-level insights, debates, and case studies, showing how today’s strategies can shape tomorrow’s markets. With declining revenues from television and streaming, the focus was on financing high-end series, bundling attractive content packages, and engaging an increasingly demanding audience. The event was held in cooperation with ifs internationale filmschule köln, Creative Europe Desk NRW, and Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.
Netzwerktreffen Benelux Meets NRW
Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg — together with North Rhine-Westphalia — form a powerhouse region at the heart of Europe. On October 10, 2025, our networking event Benelux Meets NRW highlighted why cross-border co-productions for series and feature films are more important than ever. The event showcased current co-production case studies and new funding strategies that enable creative collaboration across borders.
MGZ Summit
The media industry is at a turning point. Under the theme “the future is now,” the MGZ Summit on October 13, 2025, brought together thought leaders from the media industry, technology, the creative sector, and academia to discuss key questions about the future: How are markets and platforms evolving? Which business models will thrive in the coming years? What stories and formats will shape the storytelling of tomorrow? And what irreversible changes will technological progress — especially AI — bring to the industry? An event by Mediengründerzentrum NRW.
Creator Economy
In recent years, the creator economy has become a key driving force for the film and television industry. On October 14, 2025, we discussed how workflows, storytelling formats, and marketing strategies from this field are increasingly being integrated into professional productions, transforming their processes in lasting ways. Through best-practice examples and talks, the event explored how creators are already involved in content development, promotion, and talent building — and what opportunities this offers for regional productions. At the same time, it examined the potential and challenges of transferring creator workflows into traditional film and television production.
Global Day. Stories for Change
How can films and moving-image content help make global crises understandable and inspire people to take action? The Global Day. Stories for Change on October 15, 2025, brought together leading figures from film, TV, campaigning, and development policy, creating a platform for exchange, inspiration, and new partnerships. The event concluded with the sixth presentation of the NRW Media Award for Development Policy Engagement. The conference was held in cooperation with the BRAWO Group.
Africa XChange Summit
The Africa XChange Summit brought outstanding voices from across the African continent to Cologne on October 16, 2025. Guests from the fields of film, games, technology, and finance joined stage interviews and panel discussions with leading German journalists and opinion leaders to strengthen transcontinental connections, foster lasting intercultural exchange, and build a market for creative and business collaboration. The Africa XChange Summit was held in cooperation with Rushlake Media and Die Gesellschaft DGS, with support from the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.
