Observed Signal · May 13, 2026 · Conference · Source: DWDL · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
Plot Next: New Cologne Conference on AI in TV/Film
Plot Next is a new two-day industry conference debuting on 11–12 June at the Cinenova in Cologne, organised by the Seriencamp team and funded by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. Held in English immediately after the Seriencamp Conference, the programme focuses on how artificial intelligence and technological innovation are changing production, development, distribution, marketing and creative collaboration across audiovisual media. The event’s lineup includes representatives from FFA, BBC R&D, btf, Virtual Production studio Hyperbowl, UFA Fiction, the Austrian Creative Industry Council and multiple start‑ups and creative professionals. Organiser Gerhard Maier says the format aims to provide practical orientation and concrete solutions. Plot Next panels will also appear as branded sessions at Karlovy Vary later in July.
A new industry conference focused on practical applications of AI and tech across production, distribution and marketing is relevant to media, content studios and marketers but does not represent a major platform policy change or large vendor technical release.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Plot Next premieres 11–12 June at the Cinenova in Cologne as a two-day English-language industry event.
- The conference is produced by the Seriencamp team and funded by the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW.
- Speakers and participants include FFA (Norina Lin-Hi), BBC R&D (Graeme Philipson; Hell Raymond-Hayling), btf (Julian Schleef & Matthias Murmann), Hyperbowl (Philipp Kreuzer), UFA Fiction (Guido Reinhardt) and others.
- Agenda topics centre on how AI and technological innovation affect production, development, distribution, marketing and creative workflows.
- Visitors of the Seriencamp Conference can attend Plot Next for free; Plot Next panels will also travel to Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in July.
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Seriencamp 2026 Highlights Micro Drama and AI in TV
The 12th Seriencamp (June 9–11, 2026, Cologne‑Ehrenfeld) will foreground early‑stage projects, creative craft and industry transformation. Organisers Gerhard Maier and Helena Paulina Reiche report record submissions (over 500 projects from 53 countries) and identify key content trends: growth in Micro Drama and comfort‑watching formats, a reduced post‑apocalyptic slate, a rise in historical and hybrid/identity narratives, and stronger feedback‑driven production practices tied to social platforms. The conference will emphasise pragmatic case studies of AI in production workflows rather than abstract debate. Seriencamp adds a new Plot Next module (11–12 June) to explore interdisciplinary storytelling and tech trends. Several world and Germany premieres are slated from Prime Video, HBO Max, ARD, ZDF and RTL+, and Deadline’s German Disruptor Award this year went to Anke Greifeneder.
Story Vision Europe: New Industry Forum Joins Seriencamp Week
DWDL reports that a new industry forum, "Story Vision Europe," will open the Seriencamp/Plot Next week in Cologne on Monday, 8 June 2026. Organized by bodies including the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW and the Film- und Medienverband NRW, the one-day program (11:00–19:00) at the Wolkenburg aims to foster strategic exchange and European networking across the audiovisual value chain. Speakers include senior figures from broadcasters, studios, festivals and politics; topics cover visibility of European stories, development, financing, distribution, the impact of new platforms and changing viewing habits, and Europe’s role vis‑à‑vis global players. Participation is free but requires prior registration due to limited places.
European Series Development Award to Be Presented at Seriencamp
The full program for the Seriencamp Conference (June 9–11, 2026, Cologne) is now published. For the first time the Council of Europe and the EBU Fiction Expert Group’s European Series Development Award will be presented at Seriencamp, offering up to €50,000 to one or multiple projects. The conference program includes the Producers' Vision Pitch with production companies such as Yellow Film & TV, Nordisk Film, Studio Zentral and Medias Res Studio; a Work in Progress session featuring the BBC/ZDFneo co-production "The Reluctant Vampire"; panels on games-to-series adaptations and on microdrama/vertical video; and a range of international speakers from industry agents, producers and showrunners.
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