This invitation-only event, set for March 24, 2025, is designed specifically for buyers as a prelude to the Forum.
Series Mania Forum announced the launch of a new initiative, the Series Mania Buyers Upfront, a prelude to the Forum designed to provide buyers with exclusive access to highly anticipated series and facilitate networking opportunities with the major distributors behind these series.
This exclusive event will premiere on March 24, 2025, at the Chamber of Commerce (CCI), the Festival’s headquarters in the historic center of Lille. It marks a new chapter in the Forum’s evolution. Laurence Herszberg, founder and CEO of Series Mania, made the announcement.
The Series Mania Buyers Upfront is a buyers-only event featuring exclusive excerpts from 12 highly anticipated series with worldwide appeal.
The selection, curated by the Festival’s artistic team, will include a high-potential series about to premiere or still in post-production. It will be based on artistic merit and audience appeal.
The event will begin with an exclusive invitation-only brunch, followed by the series’ presentation. In addition, a distinguished jury of top buyers will present the Buyers Choice Award to the most promising series.
The jury, composed of Ghislain Barrois (Director of Film, Fiction, Sales, Rights Acquisition and Distribution – Grupo Audiovisual Mediaset España Comunicación), Katie Keenan (Group Head of Acquisitions, UK/ROI and Europe, Sky), Rubén Fernández Loa (Head of Series Acquisitions, Movistar Plus+, Spain), Johanna Gardare (Head of Drama, SVT, Sweden) and Virginie Padilla, (Commissioning Editor & Series Acquisitions, Arte, France / Germany) will evaluate the shortlisted series and announce the winner at the Series Mania Forum Welcome Drinks that evening, followed by a vibrant red carpet screening.
“Series Mania Buyers Upfront will serve as a bridge between industry professionals and the Series Mania Festival, offering a lineup of top-tier series selected by our Festival team. This new initiative offers buyers a unique opportunity to enjoy exclusive screenings, dedicated meetings and networking opportunities, as well as a complete festival experience. We are tailoring an experience just for buyers,” Herszberg commented.
“Given recent changes in the international marketplace, Series Mania is now perfectly positioned as Europe’s premier event for scripted content development and a key hub for distributors and buyers looking for content. With our new initiative, we will better connect these distributors and buyers while reinforcing the Series Mania Forum as the must-attend spring event for the scripted community,” added Francesco Capurro, director of the Series Mania Forum.
Originally created around its renowned international co-production pitch, Series Mania Forum has evolved into a premier destination for the entertainment industry, expanding its scope to include an intellectual property marketplace, exhibition venue, comprehensive conferences, and dynamic exhibits.
The Forum has become a must-visit destination each spring for significant broadcasters, streamers and script studios worldwide.
