These days the eyes of film and TV scene are set on HBO’s new series The Young Pope, whose broadcasting we waited with bated breaths for over a year. In association with the Screenwriters and Playwrights Guild (SPID), Zagreb Film Festival is announcing the arrival of one of the writers on the show, Tony Grisoni, the acclaimed British author best known to the broader public as the co-writer of a few of Monty Python’s Terry Gilliam’s films, including the iconic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

During his stay in Zagreb, on Saturday, 19 November, at 3pm, F22 – New Academic Scene (Frankopanska 22), Grisoni will be giving a masterclass as part of Industry, ZFF’s parallel event focusing on training and workshops. The award-winning filmmaker will share his experiences from over 25 years of professional activity, with a special accent on writing for TV – the British noir series Red Riding, the BAFTA-winning Southcliffe series (best actor award and another three nominations), and his most recent large-scale TV project, the already mentioned serial The Young Pope. Produced by the American broadcaster HBO, British Sky and French Canal Plus, this controversial series speaks about a fictional American cardinal, Lenny Belardo, who becomes pope Pius XIII. The conservative but prone to vice pope is portrayed by Jude Law, and the impressive cast also includes Diane Keaton. Directed by the Italian Oscar-winner Paolo Sorrentino, the series was, apart from Grisoni, also written by Umberto Contarello, Sorrentino’s frequent collaborator and the co-writer of The Great Beauty, and Stefano Rulli. The series runs in Italy and Germany from 221 October, in France from 24 October, the British premiere is set for 27 October and it will grace the Croatian TV screens on 28 October.

Interestingly, this year’s Industry section, among other things, includes a discussion with HBO representatives, executive producer for drama at HBO Europe Steve Matthews, and creative director at HBO Hungary Gabor Kriegler. The discussion, scheduled for Thursday, 17 November at 4pm, F22 – New Academic Scene, will be moderated by Croatian writer Jasmina Kallay and the two HBO representatives will reveal what kind of TV serials they will be developing and producing for HBO Adria.