European Showrunner Think Tank

Showrunning in Europe – Spotlight on Katharina Eyssen

Date: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Time: 1:45 pm CET
Context: TV Drama Vision @ Göteborg Film Festival
Venue: Hotel Draken | Olof Palmes plats 2 | 41301 Gothenburg | Sweden 

Join us for the next edition of the European Showrunner Think Tank live at TV Drama Vision in Gothenburg, the leading Nordic conference and marketplace dedicated to drama series!
This year we are delighted to welcome Katharina Eyssen, the acclaimed German writer and showrunner behind the Emmy award-winning hit series »The Empress«, whose third season is currently in production.
Celebrated for her nuanced character work and rich, emotionally layered storytelling, Eyssen has reimagined one of Europe’s most iconic historical figures for a global audience. »The Empress« quickly became one of Netflix’s most successful German-language series, praised for its cinematic scope, contemporary sensibility, and compelling portrayal of Empress Elisabeth’s world.
In this year’s masterclass, Eyssen will explore the evolving craft of showrunning through the lens of historical drama. She will reflect on the creative and logistical challenges of bringing a period world to life, the collaborative processes behind large-scale productions, and how she maintains a clear artistic vision while steering a series across multiple seasons. Her insights will offer a rare behind-the-scenes look at the complex, high stakes role of showrunning in Europe today.

Presented in partnership with Göteborg Film Festival's »TV Drama Vision«.

Speaker: Katharina Eyssen | writer, showrunner | »The Empress« | Germany

Moderator: Marike Muselaers | VP International Financing & Coproductions at Nordisk Film Production (Denmark/Norway/Sweden) | Netherlands

Please note that an accreditation for TV Drama Vision is required.