One Vision, Many Traditions: How History and Politics Shape the Showrunner Model

As the showrunner model spreads across Europe, its reception has varied considerably. National histories, political cultures, media traditions, and concepts of authorship continue to shape how creative leadership is understood and practised.Part of the European Showrunner Think Tank series, this panel explores how these factors have influenced the reception and evolution of the showrunner model across the continent. From public service broadcasting cultures and traditions of collective authorship to attitudes towards hierarchy, authority, and creative responsibility, the discussion examines how national and regional contexts shape the role of the showrunner. Bringing together perspectives from Eastern, Central, and Northern Europe, the panel compares how different regions have embraced, adapted, or challenged the model, and what these approaches reveal about creative leadership and the future of European series. Presented in cooperation with the Creative Europe MEDIA-funded European Showrunner Programme at ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln.