Programme

Courses

Industry courses for professionals in film, TV, games, literature and the wider creative industries — online and on-site internationally. Our programme spans short online courses, advanced online courses and on-site learning.

Anyone, anywhere in the world working in the creative industries is welcome to apply. Each course has its own focus and prerequisites, and we welcome perspectives from across industries.

Apply for free. If you're accepted, you'll receive a payment link to secure your place.

Live online

Writing for Mobile Games: For Screenwriters and Storytellers

A seven-week live online professional course with mobile narrative expert Rachel Darshan (FarmVille, Merge Mansion). Designed as an accessible way into the world of mobile games, the course shows how storytelling changes when the audience becomes the player — and how screenwriters can translate their existing skills into interactive writing.

→28 January – 11 March 2027
→Thursdays · 16:00–18:30 CET
→Led by mobile narrative expert Rachel Darshan (FarmVille, Merge Mansion)
→A practical introduction to writing for mobile games
→Player choice, branching narrative & interactive structure
→Approximately 16 hours of live teaching
→Practical assignments and portfolio-ready work
→No technical background required

From €850

Details Apply

Onsite

Dark Worlds: From Screenwriter to Video Game Writer

Enter a story world where the audience gets to act. This five-day narrative design retreat invites screenwriters and storytellers to explore player agency, branching structure, worldbuilding and interactive storytelling through darker genres such as horror, dystopia and speculative fiction. Learn by doing, collaborate with other creatives and develop new ways of thinking about story across games, screen and transmedia.

→Player agency and branching structure
→Worldbuilding and interactive storytelling
→Horror, dystopia and speculative fiction
→Learn by doing, collaborating with other creatives
→Small, hand-picked group
→On-site destination to be confirmed

The HFL archive

Past Programmes & Masterclasses

From live masterclasses to industry summits and accelerators — exploring stories across film, television and games.

Creative professionals collaborating at an HFL workshop — From the HFL community · Photo: Hera Choi

Accelerators · Multi-stage accelerator

Transmedia Game Jam Accelerator Programme

1 November 2025 – 28 February 2026

Animation studios and game developers form cross-industry teams to develop interactive games from existing storyworlds, combining expert-led learning with hands-on prototyping.

Animation IP pitching & creative sparring
Masterclasses, mentoring & an intensive game jam
Prototype pitches to investors & publishers

Explore programme Register interest

Speakers in conversation on an HFL summit panel — From the HFL event archive · Photo: Hera Choi

Summits · On-site summit

PGC Beyond Games: Transmedia Summit

7 October 2025 · Wanha Satama · Helsinki

An industry gathering connecting games with film, television, music and animation through talks, panels and curated cross-industry matchmaking.

Transmedia storytelling & collaboration
Cross-industry business models & technology
Talks, panels & curated matchmaking

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Kurt McClung, tutor of the live online Transmedia Strategy course — Course tutor · Kurt McClung

Masterclasses · Live online

Creating a Transmedia Strategy for Film Professionals

26 August–11 September 2025

With Kurt McClung

A live online course for filmmakers exploring creative vision, IP adaptation and community-driven audience engagement across media.

Creative signature, narrative voice & world focus
IP adaptation across platforms
Transmedia strategy & audience engagement

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Kurt McClung, tutor of the Transmedia Strategy masterclasses — Course tutor · Kurt McClung

Masterclasses · 3 days · On-site

Creating a Transmedia Strategy for Film Professionals

6–8 June 2025 · Gilda, Kulttuurikasarmi · Helsinki

With Kurt McClung

A three-day workshop exploring how to expand stories across film, television, games and other media. Participants worked on creative vision, IP adaptation and sustainable audience engagement.

Creative signature & world focus
From film or TV concept to game
Transmedia & community strategy

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Request the next edition

Interested in a future programme? Get in touch with HFL.

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In their words

Perspectives from past programmes

“We came away with a much better understanding of what to look for when assessing IP for transmedia, while also making valuable new industry connections.”

Valeriy NeznakhinSavukivi GamesTransmedia Game Jam Accelerator

“It was a really inspiring experience. Working with the game teams went well, everyone had a good time, and one of our team members came away saying, ‘I’ve found my people.’”

Krista HannulaProducer, Character HouseTransmedia Game Jam Accelerator

“The programme was well organised, and the masterclasses were genuinely useful and in-depth. It gave us a new way of thinking about how our IP could work with games.”

Juha FiilinFiilin Good FilmsTransmedia Game Jam Accelerator

“The programme was absolutely worthwhile. We had a great collaboration with Character House, learned a lot about transmedia, and came away discussing how we could continue working together in the future.”

Riikka-Lotta PehkonenMurmuring GroveTransmedia Game Jam Accelerator

“The tools we learned — especially the narrative loop and motor — were absolutely great. The course inspired me, but also gave me very concrete next steps for my current projects.”

Mia PalmgrenProducer, Character HouseCreating a Transmedia Strategy

“Meeting talented professionals from different creative fields, learning from a tutor with a stellar portfolio, and being guided by course organisers with a strong international perspective made the course really valuable.”

Sheila RiikonenBusiness Development / Gamification of EdTechCreating a Transmedia Strategy

“I’ll definitely be using the tools from the course in my own work. It was valuable to shift my perspective from traditional screenwriting towards thinking about multiple agencies, world holders and a much broader storyworld.”

Vilja AutiokyröScreenwriterCreating a Transmedia Strategy