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Tag: Series Mania Festival

  • Le Monde De Demain, Dark Heart, and Chair Tendre win at Series Mania Festival

    Le Monde De Demain, Dark Heart, and Chair Tendre win at Series Mania Festival

    PARIS & LILLE, FRANCE: Series Mania 2022 has come to an end. The international TV Series festivals that started on 18 March and concluded on 25 March garnered potential attention. The 2022 edition brought together 70,000 participants and 3,300 accredited persons from 64 different nations this year.

    In the previous years, there were 2,100 accredited persons on-site in 2021 and 2,700 accredited persons on-site in 2019. The visits to the Series Mania Website and Series Mania Digital Platform totalled 260,000 views.

    Speaking about the event, the founder and general director of Series Mania, Laurence Herszberg said, “As we close the doors to an incredibly successful edition, we would first like to thank the public and the professionals who attended in record numbers, but also want to thank the city of Lille and the Hauts-de-France Region for their unwavering support of Series Mania.” 

    She said, “We are delighted to be announcing our new dates for 2023, and in terms of final numbers, our numbers far exceeded our expectations for the Forum, and we could not be prouder.”

    “While the highlights are numerous from this year for the Festival, Forum, and Lille Dialogues, I certainly want to acknowledge our Jury President and my dear friend, Ukrainian producer film producer Julia Sinkevych, who was truly an inspiration to everyone who met her. I’d also like to congratulate all the Festival winners, as well as the team from Paradys, winner of the Forum’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions. We look forward to welcoming everyone to Series Mania 2023, ” she added.

    The Series Mania 2023 dates will be announced shortly. Herszberg also announced on Friday the winners of the Series Mania Festival and the final number of participants.

    We have listed below the Series Mania Winners:

    French show Le Monde De Demain bagged the grand prize in the International Competition, which was created by Katell Quillévéré, Hélier Cisterne, Vincent Poymiro and David Elkaïm. The jury was chaired by Ukrainian producer Julia Sinkevych. The production from Les films du Bélier and Arte France airs on Arte and Netflix.

    Michelle De Swarte was named best actress for The Baby (UK) broadcast on HBO and Sky, while for the Israeli show Fire Dance, Yehuda Levi won the best actor, which will be broadcasted on HBO and Sky.

    Sweden’s Dark Heart won the best series created by Oskar Söderlund and Gustav Möller in International Panorama and is broadcast on Discovery+ in Sweden with Reinvent International Sales on sales.

    Maria Von Heland’s Sunshine Eyes from Germany produced by Maze Pictures, Red Balloon Film GMBH and Tindra Film received the special jury prize. Another German show, Funeral For A Dog created by Hanno Hackfort, Bob Konrad and Thomas Pletzinge, bagged the best series that was awarded by the student jury. Sky Studios/NBCU represented international sales and Sky was the broadcaster. 

    Created by Yaël Langmann, the Chair Tendre won the best series honours in the French Competition. France TV airs it and sales are handled by France TV distribution. 

    The best actress was won by three actresses Inès Ouchaaou, Charlie Loiselier and Assa Sylla from Reusss. It is broadcasted by France. tv Slash and sold by France TV Distribution. 

    Moreover, Axel Granberger was named best actor for Les Papillons Noirs created by Bruno Merle and Olivier Abbou. Mediawan Rights handled the sales and represented it. Arte and Netflix are the broadcasters.

    The best original music was won by Clement Doumic, Antoine Wilson, Sebastien Wolf from the group Feu! Chatterson.

    Besides the above, in the Night of Comedies section, Kastina Communications’ High School Jury-Bloody Murray from Israel won the best series. The best series in short formats was won by Black Camel Pictures’ Float (UK) directed by Arabella Page Croft.

    The Audience Prize is awarded to the audience’s favourite series among all the titles in competition – except for Short Formats- voted on at the end of the screenings went to The Birth Of Daniel F. Harris (UK). It is created by Pete Jackson and directed by Alex Winckler and Alexandra Brodoski. The broadcast is on Channel 4 and BBC Studios handles sales.

  • Ukrainian producer Julia Sinkevych named jury president for Series Mania ’22

    Ukrainian producer Julia Sinkevych named jury president for Series Mania ’22

    Mumbai: Having previously announced four jury members, Series Mania president Rodolphe Belmer, and founder and general director Laurence Herszberg on Wednesday announced that Ukrainian film producer Julia Sinkevych has been selected as jury president for this year’s Series Mania Festival and its international competition. As her presence in Lille is not certain at this point in time, renowned French writer and director Marc Dugain has been appointed as vice-president of this year’s jury. 

    “We have chosen to give the presidency of the jury of the Series Mania International Competition to a Ukrainian woman, producer, and manager for several years of one of the most important film festivals in Eastern Europe: the Odesa International Film Festival (of which Series Mania has long been a partner of),” commented Belmer. “By proposing this presidency to Julia Sinkevych, who carries the colors of culture in a wounded country, we wish to show our support for the people of Ukraine and attest the importance of festivals in a world in crisis, as they create a place for people to come together to exchange ideas and celebrate our diversities.” 

    “We have always said that series are the mirror to a period of time that resonate through their stories, their characters, and their subjects. Series Mania has always been dedicated to reflecting this continuous and intimate dialogue between culture and society. This is why we feel it is essential today to turn our attention to the tragic situation that is shaking Ukraine and the entire world,” stated Herszberg.

    “By bringing together, under the presidency of a Ukrainian producer, a Turkish screenwriter, a German actor, a French writer and director, an Israeli actress and a French singer, the jury of the international competition, which embodies the core of Series Mania, demonstrates that culture knows no constraints or borders,” added Herszberg.

    In addition to being a producer, Sinkevych is co-founder of the Ukrainian Film Academy, and a member of the European Film Academy. She has always been committed to supporting Ukrainian artists and the culture of her country from Kyiv, where she lives. 

    Working previously for several years for distribution and production company Arthouse Traffic, she was in charge of festival promotion of the selection of short films “Angry Ukrainians” and feature films produced by the company as well as for promotion of young Ukrainian filmmakers and international cooperation between film industry professionals from Ukraine and abroad. Over the years, she established a network of professional contacts in cultural and audiovisual sectors in Ukraine and abroad. Sinkevych has also co-produced a documentary film “Close relations” by Vitaliy Mansky (2016) and “Heatsingers” (2019) by Nadia Parfan. Currently Julia is working on feature films “Lucky girl” by Marysia Nikitiuk and “Lesia” by Nana Janelidze. Julia Sinkevych graduated from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, faculty of law and holds an MA in film production of Kyiv University of Theatre, Film and Television. She was selected to take part in SOFA program (School of film agents, Poland-Germany), completed NIPKOW program.

    “At these times we know that culture is a powerful tool to stop the aggression and to bring to the world new talent. My country is part of that world cinema and now is fighting against all odds to demonstrate that it is the right of each human being to bring beauty, art, peace, and novelty to this world,” commented Sinkevych.

    Jury members previously announced include German actor Christian Berkel (“Downfall, Valkyrie”), Israeli actress Shira Haas (“Unorthodox”), Turkish creator and director Berkun Oya (“Bir Baskadir”) and French singer-songwriter and model Yseult.

  • Series Mania Festival, events cancelled due to coronavirus scare

    Series Mania Festival, events cancelled due to coronavirus scare

    MUMBAI: The 2020 Series Mania Festival (March 20-28), Series Mania Forum (March 25-27), and Lille Dialogues (March 26) have been cancelled in view of the coronavirus situation. The decision has been taken after meeting with the French government, health authorities, and city officials from Lille, said Series Mania president Rodolphe Belmer.  

    "Every year since its inaugural event in Lille, Series Mania has attracted 80,000 festival-goers, most of whom have already booked their event tickets, and more than 3,000 professionals. Due to the recent restriction from the French government banning gatherings of more than 1,000 people, coupled with the travel restrictions for many of our international participants, we have made the difficult decision to cancel Series Mania,” said Rodolphe Belmer.  “In this delicate period, we are very touched by the ongoing support of our French and international partners, and we want to express our warm thanks to everyone.”

    President of the Hauts-de-France region Xavier Bertrand added, “The Hauts-de-France region has had the honour of hosting Series Mania since 2018 and is already looking forward to welcoming the Festival, Forum and Lille Dialogues in an ambitious way in 2021, as well as its further development in future years.  Series Mania has our total support, as well as the people around the world during this difficult time.”

    Founder and general director of Series Mania Laurence Herszberg added, “This year’s Series Mania was an event not to be missed with an exceptional programme and amazing guest list. It is with great sadness that we have had to make this difficult decision.  However, our utmost concern is for the safety and well-being of our valued clients, guests, and staff who have invested so much time these past few months.  I would like to thank the city of Lille, Hauts-de-France region, and European audiences for their enthusiasm and passion. I would also like to thank every creator, talent, producer, and broadcaster who have trusted us since the beginning. To our audiences, professionals, politicians, and industry leaders, we will be back stronger than ever in 2021 with a new edition that will be, from the bottom of our hearts, even more ambitious and radiant.”