How to Build a Network in International Media Markets (EMEA Focus)

Hook: Why your network matters now — and why EMEA media hubs are more reachable than you think

Breaking into international media is frustrating for students and early-career professionals: job listings are scattered, decision-makers seem distant, and application processes are often opaque. Yet 2026 has opened specific windows of opportunity across EMEA: streaming platforms are accelerating regional commissioning, exec teams are reshuffling, and in-person festivals are back at full strength after the pandemic recovery years. A recent move at Disney+ EMEA—with Angela Jain reorganising teams and promoting commissioners like Lee Mason and Sean Doyle—shows how leadership shifts create new pathways for entry-level talent if you know how to approach them.

The big picture in 2026: Trends that change how you should network

Before tactics, know the context. Use these trends to shape what you say and where you go.

• Regional commissioning is growing. Platforms including Disney+ are investing in locally-produced scripted and unscripted formats across EMEA, creating roles in development, production, operations and marketing.
• Leadership churn creates access. Promotions and new hires (like the recent Disney+ EMEA reshuffle) mean teams are forming new networks and often actively scouting junior talent who demonstrate initiative.
• Events and festivals are hiring grounds. MIPCOM/MIPTV (Cannes), Berlinale (Berlin), Series Mania (Lille), and smaller markets now run robust market programs where commissioners and execs attend panels and meet-and-greets.
• AI and localization drive openings. Demand for localization, metadata, and AI-assisted content workflows has created hybrid roles — ideal for candidates who combine media knowledge with technical curiosity.
• Remote-first and hybrid roles widen geography. You no longer must be physically present in London or Paris for every role — but being in a hub increases serendipitous contact and meeting opportunities.

How leadership changes like Disney+ EMEA’s are your networking advantage

When a platform promotes or reorganises, three immediate opportunities appear:

1. New decision-makers are visible. Promoted VPs and commissioners are often more public-facing as they shape strategy — they speak on panels, accept mailing-list introductions, and sometimes lead new talent initiatives.
2. Teams are recruiting for fresh skill sets. New content directions open junior roles like development coordinator, researcher, or production assistant.
3. Mentorship gaps appear. When teams evolve, leaders are often open to mentoring early-career staff as they build loyalty and a talent pipeline.

"If you want the job, get in front of the person planning it. When teams change, they're listening — not ignoring." — Practical networking insight for 2026 media markets

EMEA hubs and what to do in each (practical tactics)

Pick 2–3 hubs to prioritise based on language, genre strength, and festival calendar. Here’s a short playbook for the major EMEA media centres in 2026.

London

• Why: Major commissioning centres (streaming & broadcast), agency ecosystem, lots of alumni networks.
• Action: Attend smaller industry meetups (producer mixers, BAFTA New Talent events). Use the London Film Market calendar to spot panels where Disney+ EMEA execs might appear.
• Quick win: Volunteer at a festival or market desk for free access to badge-holder lists and mixers. Offer to run a social recap for festival organisers — it’s tangible and visible work.

Paris / Lille (Series Mania)

• Why: Strong market for high-end scripted, co-production financing.
• Action: Target series development meetups and French-language script labs. Show interest in adaptation and rights acquisition trends.
• Quick win: Submit as a reader or intern to a production company’s adaptation slate — many start with short-term script-reading gigs.

Berlin

• Why: Growth in factual and documentary markets; strong tech-media crossover.
• Action: Network at documentary festivals and tech-media meetups. Position yourself as someone who understands both storytelling and platform metrics — and explore edge AI and low-latency AV trends where production and tech overlap.

Amsterdam / MIP markets

• Why: International buyers and co-pro partners gather here.
• Action: Volunteer for market operations roles or take short courses that give you market credentials (e.g., commissioning workshops).

EMEA South & MENA (Dubai, Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town)

• Why: Rapid growth in local content, especially in Africa and the Middle East; rising streaming competition.
• Action: Build relationships with regional production companies. Offer to help local teams with subtitling/local metadata or research — low-barrier but high-visibility contributions.

Actionable networking tactics: Step-by-step playbook

Here are field-tested steps you can use in the next 90 days.

1. Build a tight target list (Day 1–7)

1. Identify 30 target contacts across 3 priority hubs: 10 commissioners/producers, 10 mid-level managers (development coordinators, producers), 10 recruiters or festival programmers.
2. Use LinkedIn, company staff pages, festival speaker lists, and Deadline/Variety articles (e.g., leadership moves at Disney+ EMEA) to populate names.
3. Note one personalised reason to reach each contact: shared alma mater, recent talk they gave, a show they commissioned you admired.

2. Warm outreach sequence (Day 8–30)

Use a short, polite, value-first contact series rather than a single cold message. Keep messages concise and specific.

Recommended sequence (email or LinkedIn):

1. Connection request (LinkedIn): 1–2 lines mentioning where you met them or why you follow their work.
2. Follow-up message with value: share a 1-page research note, event recap, or a specific question (avoid vague asks like "can we chat?").
3. Request a 15-minute informational chat with a precise agenda (3 bullets) and two optional times.
4. If no response after 10–14 days, send a one-sentence follow-up referencing a relevant public event or article.

Outreach templates

Use these and adapt for tone/language:

• LinkedIn connection (50–70 chars): "Hi [Name] — I loved your Series Mania panel on regional commissioning. Student at [School]. Would love to connect."
• Informational email (150–200 words):

  Subject: Quick question on EMEA scripted commissioning (15 mins?)

  Hi [Name],

  I’m [Your Name], a [final-year student/production coordinator] focused on EMEA scripted development. I enjoyed your recent interview about Disney+’s regional strategy — particularly your point about local language investment. I’m researching commissioning windows for my thesis and would value 15 minutes to ask two specific questions: 1) How do you prioritise co-pro partners for first-season orders? 2) What skills make a junior developer stand out on your team?

  If you’re available, I can do 15 mins next Tuesday 10–10:30 CET or Thursday 16–16:30 CET. If neither suits, happy to work around you.

  Thanks for considering — I’ll keep this tightly timed.

  Best,

  [Your Name] — [LinkedIn] — [University / Portfolio Link]

• Brief follow-up (one-liner): "Hi [Name], just checking in — I’d still value 15 minutes if your schedule allows. I’ll be at [festival] and free on [date]."

How to make every meeting count

Don’t treat informational chats as interviews. Treat them as targeted research sessions that create follow-up possibilities.

• Prepare a 7-minute opener. Who you are, what you’re working on, and why you respect their perspective.
• Bring three smart, specific questions. Ask about one portfolio decision, one hiring habit, and one practical next step for you.
• Offer something small in return. A relevant research nugget, a student film you can share, or a connection to someone in your local market can turn a meetup into a relationship.
• Agree on a follow-up action. Ask whether you can send a 1-paragraph summary of what you learned and a single question in two weeks.

Mentorship: turning conversations into sustained guidance

Mentorship in 2026 often starts informal. Here’s how to build and formalise it.

1. Seed a mentor relationship from a successful informational interview. After a helpful call, say: "Would you be open to a quarterly 20-min check-in? I’ll send a short agenda and updates each time."
2. Use a mentorship compact. Two sentences via email clarifying expectations (frequency, goals, and what you’ll bring). Example: "Can we meet quarterly for 20 mins so I can share progress and ask one strategic question? I’ll send an agenda upfront and stay within time."
3. Track progress publicly. Keep a one-page mentorship log showing topics discussed, actions taken, and results — mentors like to see ROI for their time.
4. Transition to sponsorship where possible. Sponsors actively recommend you for roles. Earn this by delivering on small tasks, sharing measurable results, and demonstrating reliability.

Events: how to network without being awkward

Plan for maximum return before you buy a ticket.

1. Pre-event prep: Build a short list of 6 people to meet. Research their recent talks and prepare a one-line icebreaker.
2. At the event:
   • Arrive early to meet panelists when they are still relaxed.
   • Use moderator questions as an opening: "I appreciated your point on X — how would you advise a junior who's trying to get a foot in the door?"
   • Collect business cards and take a 30-second note on your phone about what you discussed.
3. Post-event follow-up: Send personalised LinkedIn notes within 48 hours referencing a specific moment from your chat.

Metrics: what to track and why

Turn networking into measurable progress with a simple dashboard.

• Weekly outreach attempts (goal: 5–10)
• Conversations secured (goal: 2–4 per month)
• Mentor commitments (target: 1 in 6 months)
• Informal referrals or role leads received
• Applications triggered by conversations (applications + interviews ratio)

Special strategies for students

As a student you have unique advantages — use them deliberately.

• Leverage alumni networks. Alumni are more likely to help students; ask your career services for warm introductions.
• Use capstone projects as networking hooks. Offer to share early cuts with commissioning assistants or producers in exchange for feedback.
• Apply for market internships and fellowships. Short programs at festivals are high-impact springboards to full-time roles.
• Run a micro-research project. Send a 2-page insight on a niche topic (e.g., "Nordic-scripted formats for Disney+ EMEA") to an exec — it’s a concrete conversation starter.

Remote and hybrid applicants: how to convert virtual into local opportunity

Even remotely, you can act local. Here’s how:

• Time-zone alignment: Offer meeting times aligned to the hub’s working hours; it signals that you treat the region as a priority.
• Localised portfolio: Showcase relevant regional work or subtitled projects that demonstrate cultural awareness — and host a tight one-page portfolio using dedicated one-page hosting strategies.
• Short visits: Plan two-week hub visits tied to festivals or networking windows — announce them in outreach to increase meeting acceptances.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Too broad outreach: Blast messages don’t work. Personalise — even one line of customisation increases response rates.
• Vague asks: Ask for a specific time and agenda; don’t ask "Can we chat?"
• Lack of reciprocity: Offer something — research, contacts, or social recaps — even if small.
• Failing to follow up: Keep a 3-step follow-up rhythm and then move on if no reply; relationships take time but require persistence.

Case study: turning a Disney+ EMEA panel into a job lead (example)

Scenario: You attend a Series Mania panel where a newly promoted Disney+ VP speaks about local scripted initiatives.

1. Pre-event: Research the speaker’s recent commissions (look for shows they championed). Prepare a 30-second intro connecting your recent short film or research to their work.
2. At the event: Ask a concise question during Q&A that shows sector knowledge and mentions your availability to assist on research or reading slates.
3. Follow-up: Within 48 hours send a LinkedIn message referencing your question, attach a one-page CV and a 1-page research note on the market gap you discussed.
4. Outcome: You secure a 15-minute call, offer to do a 2-week paid or unpaid reading test, and then transition to a paid coordinator role when a short-term vacancy appears.

Advanced strategies for rapid impact

• Create niche content: Publish short industry briefs on LinkedIn about regional trends (e.g., "Why Sub-Saharan co-productions will double by 2028") — it builds credibility and makes you discoverable to execs hunting talent.
• Partner with student-run production houses: Co-produce a short to demonstrate production chops and international collaboration skills.
• Offer to pilot an intern-led localisation pilot: Small, high-impact projects (like a testing subtitle strategy) can secure a meeting with commissioning teams.

90-day networking sprint — checklist

1. Day 1–7: Build 30-contact target list across 3 hubs + 1 festival sign-up.
2. Day 8–30: Run outreach sequence to 15 contacts, secure 3 informational meetings.
3. Day 31–60: Attend 1 hub or festival (in-person or virtually), volunteer or pitch a micro-project.
4. Day 61–90: Convert one informational meeting into a sustained mentorship and apply to 5 targeted roles with tailored materials.

Final practical tips and tools

• Tools: Use Airtable or Google Sheets for a contact tracker. Calendly for booking. Otter.ai for short meeting notes and to capture action items.
• Portfolio: Keep a one-page "media CV" and a 3-minute reel. Link to subtitles or localisation examples if you’ve done them.
• Follow-through: After any help or meeting, send a short update within 30 days showing what you did with the advice — it’s the single best way to keep a contact engaged.

Actionable takeaways

• Target 3 hubs and 30 contacts; be specific in outreach.
• Use leadership changes (like the Disney+ EMEA reshuffle) as openings to reach out when teams are actively forming networks.
• Turn every meeting into a measurable next step: a small deliverable, a mentor compact, or a follow-up project.
• Track outcomes and iterate — networking is a skill you can improve with metrics.

Call to action

If you’re ready to act, start now: build your 30-contact list using this guide, and use the outreach templates above. Want a downloadable 90-day networking tracker or a customised outreach script for your target hub (London, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Johannesburg)? Sign up for our weekly career briefing to get templates tailored for students and early-career pros aiming at EMEA media markets.

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