FSE Recommendations to recognise creative responsibility in Europe
The ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln recently published an excellent report titled “Showrunning in Europe – Skills, Tasks, Responsibilities”. It provides extensive insights into the organisation of writing responsibilities and creative leadership in European audiovisual series, reflecting several years of research and engagement with the evolving role of the showrunner across contexts.
One of the purposes of this report is to develop a concept of a European Showrunner Model, different from the U.S. model. It is an essential step for establishing common standards and ensuring smooth collaboration in European series production.
However, what is the formal recognition of creative responsibility in writing in the audiovisual sector today? In Europe, this recognition starts first and foremost with credits. Is there a “showrunner” credit in Europe?
Why are credits so important
Credits are the place where a professional system makes visible both creative responsibility and actual writing work. They clarify who carries overall responsibility for the writing process, while also ensuring that the contributions of all screenwriters involved are properly recognised and not absorbed or erased.
In this sense, credits are essential not only for leadership roles, but for the entire writing community. They directly affect professional recognition, career continuity and bargaining power for all screenwriters.
FSE recommendations of screenwriters credits
This is precisely why the FSE has been working for several years with its member guilds on a collective set of recommendations for screenwriters’ credits in audiovisual series. This work was carried out by a dedicated FSE working group bringing together screenwriters, guild representatives and lawyers from several European countries, with discussions that closely mirror the ongoing deliberations on creative leadership in series today.
The result is a set of clear recommendations defining three key writing credits: “Created by”, “Lead Writer or Head Writer”, and “Written by”. These recommendations are designed to make writing responsibilities visible and recognisable within the diversity of European production practices, regardless of whether the term “showrunner” is formally used.
By clarifying both writing leadership and writing contributions, the FSE’s work offers a grounded European response to the issues raised by recent research on showrunning and creative leadership.
The FSE recommendations on screenwriters’ credits are available in several languages and are intended as a shared tool for guilds, authors, institutions and professionals across Europe