The new writing training scheme meant to boost series with cinematic quality, will offer two of ten selected projects a €50,000 cash prize each.

On the eve of Lille’s hybrid Series Mania Forum (March 22-24), Series Mania organisers and the European content powerhouse Beta Film have launched ‘Seriesmakers’, a new initiative focusing on feature film directors, making the jump to TV series.

  • Seriesmakers is open to teams of director-producer and/or director-writer, credited for a first or second feature film that have screened in official selection at an A-list festival, eager to hone their skills in TV series.
  • Ten selected teams will be invited to take part in a training programme, under the mentorship of top directors, show runners, writers and producers, who will guide them on how to develop their idea into a series bible.
  • Two of the ten projects will be eligible for the Beta Development Grant of €50,000 each, to be handed out at Series Mania 2023.
    The two winning teams will have access to script consulting and packaging support from Beta’s Content Division, led by CCO Koby Gal Raday and will be invited to present their project to potential co-financiers and co-producers at Series Mania Forum 2023.

Details about Seriesmakers’ registration process and programme will be released this summer at https://seriesmania.com/

Series Mania’s General Director Laurence Herszberg, said: “Television series have become a desirable destination for feature filmmakers thanks to the dramatic evolvement of the industry which has witnessed an increase in the creative and production quality of programmes in recent years. We want to help filmmakers as they embark on this journey into a new realm of creative opportunities, and we are thrilled to be partnering with BETA who have always supported high-quality storytelling.”

Series Mania’s other writing training schemes include Writers Campus, an incubator open to 20 emerging international writers, who are invited to take part in a week-long writing workshop at the Creative Bazaar in Lille with top mentors. Among this year’s participants is Finland’s Ninni Saajola with her comedy State of Grace.

German group Beta Film is a strong backer of Nordic TV drama through its international distribution arm, and Beta Nordic Studios umbrella, encompassing the established production companies Fisher King in Finland, Cinenord in Norway, Sagafilm in Iceland, Dramacorp and Unlimited Stories in Sweden.
Fisher King’s anticipated political thriller Helsinki Syndrome handled internationally by Beta Film will be showcased at the Series Mania Forum Exclusives.

Over 3,000 international TV and streaming executives are expected at Series Mania Forum and Lille Dialogue Summit this week.