Honoring Anke Griefender, HBO Max Programming Executive, with the German Television Innovation Award at Seriencamp
According to the CinemaDrame news agency, Anke Griefender will receive the 2026 “German Television Innovation Award.” Widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading programming executives, she will be honored at Seriencamp, Germany’s largest television industry gathering, held in Cologne.
Throughout her career in television, Griefender has built an outstanding track record and played a key role in the production of numerous successful series, including the acclaimed “4 Blocks” produced for TNT Germany. She currently serves as Vice President of Local Original Productions for Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and France at Warner Bros. Discovery, where she oversees the development and production of local content for HBO Max in German-speaking Europe and France.
Following a period as channel manager at Viacom, she joined Turner (now part of Warner Bros. Discovery) in 2007, taking on the role of Head of Programming. Since 2011, she has been responsible for local original productions—initially for Warner’s channels and now for HBO Max in German-speaking Europe. France has been added to her portfolio as of this year. Productions developed under her leadership have received numerous awards, including the German Television Awards, the Grimme Prize, and the Bavarian Television Award (Blauer Panther). She is currently shaping the direction of HBO Max’s local production strategy at a pivotal time.
The German Television Innovation Award is presented to an industry figure who is actively redefining and transforming the content business. Griefender will be the third recipient of the award, following Anette Hess in 2024 and independent producer Philipp Käßbohrer in 2025.
Stuart Clark, Senior Vice President of International Content, commented that the award recognizes Griefender’s ongoing influence in shaping both German television and the international industry. He noted that as the event enters its third year at Seriencamp, selecting a deserving recipient is particularly important, and that the conference remains an essential gathering in a rapidly evolving industry.
New details have also been released about the Seriencamp conference program, which focuses on the theme of “transformation.”
Organizers stated that change does not happen automatically—it must be shaped. The event, a major hub for serialized storytelling in Germany, will highlight transformative technologies expected to reshape television production in the long term, bringing together international decision-makers and creatives.
The highly anticipated remake of “Wallander” will be featured in the “Works in Progress” section, which offers an early analytical look at major projects in development. Other titles included in the program are “Cancelz” from BBC and ZDFneo, Netflix’s “Die Falle,” and ZDF’s “Inland.”
Additional speakers added to the lineup include Brian Elsley, Samuel Jefferson, and Luise Harderberg.
Previous announcements for Seriencamp 2026 confirmed a broad participation of writers, producers, broadcasters, streaming platforms, and talent. A segment titled “Plot Next” will also explore topics related to artificial intelligence and the intersection of storytelling and technology.
Seriencamp will take place from June 9 to June 11.
