Over 50,000 writers for film and TV were represented at the World Conference of Screenwriters (WCOS), which took place on 1-2 October 2014 in Warsaw.

A delegation from WGGB joined 29 other guilds and writers’ organisations from 19 European countries, plus North America, New Zealand, Israel, Mexico, South Africa and India.

The conference, the third of its kind, took as its theme the ‘golden age of TV’ and explored issues affecting creators in the audio-visual sector. These included writing for an international market, independent cinema, episodic television and children and young audiences.

It also brought together authors of globally renowned film and TV productions, Oscar winners and holders of other prestigious awards, including WGGB member Andrew Davies (House of Cards) and Israeli film and TV writer Hagai Levi (In Treatment).

BAFTA-nominee and WGGB President Olivia Hetreed was among the delegates, and took part in panel discussions on the lack of representation of women writers and the pros and cons of co-production.

WGGB General Secretary Bernie Corbett took part in panel discussions focusing on negotiation and copyright.

The international gathering of screenwriters’ guilds, unions and associations brought together the Federation of Screenwriters in Europe (FSE) and the International Affiliation of Writers Guilds (IAWG), of which the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain is a member.

Previous World Conferences of Screenwriters have been held in Barcelona (2012) and Athens (2009). They built on successful joint initiatives including the European Screenwriters’ Manifesto (2006) and an International Day of Solidarity in support of the Writers Guild of America high-profile strike in 2007/8.

Written Into the Picture, a report investigating screenwriters’ lack of visibility at film festivals, was published at the second conference in Barcelona in 2012 where it was resolved that the vital contribution of screenwriters needed to be more fully acknowledged.

“It is fantastic that writers and their guilds from many countries can gather to discuss the issues they face – and even better that WCOS is now genuinely global, with representatives from every continent,” said WGGB General Secretary Bernie Corbett. “TV, film and the other media are all now global – and we are also going global in our battle to preserve and improve writers’ pay, terms and rights. Power to us!”

You can read the two resolutions that were passed at the conference, plus closing remarks, here.