Series Mania Forum Leader Anticipates Growth Amid Industry Challenges: “People Seek Connection in Tough Times”
In an era defined by mega-media consolidation and the aftermath of peak television, the demand for collaboration and co-production in scripted content has intensified. Francesco Capurro, Director of the Series Mania Forum, anticipates a rise in attendance this year as industry professionals seek new partnerships.
“It’s a challenging time for our industry, but in difficult times, people need to connect and find new ways to cooperate, new financing opportunities, and new markets,” Capurro stated. “In a way, it’s positive for an event like ours, because we see more and more companies willing to attend the Series Mania Forum, and it is getting more and more global.”
The Forum is expected to welcome around 5,000 participants. Although fewer executives from the U.S. may attend this year, key representatives from major streaming platforms will be present. Angela Jain, Head of Content at Disney+ for the EMEA region, is set to deliver her first major public address in her new role. Other notable speakers include Monty Sarhan, CEO of NBCUniversal and Paramount-owned SkyShowtime, as well as Nicole Morganti, Prime Video’s Head of Originals for Southern Europe, and Thomas Dubois, Head of French Originals. Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Programming for HBO Max, is also among the attendees, along with Fremantle CEO Jennifer Mullin and COO Andrea Scrosati.
Capurro noted the growing international presence at the Forum, with increased attendance from Japan and delegations from Brazil, Canada, Singapore, and South Korea, which holds the distinction of being the first-ever country of honor. “The increase is mainly because the event is getting more and more global, and also because some newcomers are getting into the world of series; maybe some are coming from the film industry or smaller production companies diversifying their activities,” he explained. “So, despite the merging and the consolidation of big groups, there is still an ecosystem that’s growing and will come to Lille.”
As the drama industry evolves, Capurro emphasizes the concurrent opportunities. “Audiences are more and more willing to see shows in different languages. It’s time maybe for other parts of the world to emerge, and especially for Europe, because we have a lot of big companies able to deliver high-quality content that can travel worldwide. It’s an opportunity for Europe to emerge in this new global context.”
South Korea’s designation as the country of honor coincides with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. Capurro pointed out, “It is one of the leading countries in Asia and across the world in terms of content production, and they are expanding. In Europe, there is a huge fan base for Korean content, even if it’s still a bit niche, but we believe there is room to grow and an opportunity for more creative collaborations.”
Co-Pro Cornerstone
Central to the Forum is the Co-Pro Pitch, showcasing 16 selected projects from a pool of over 400 submissions. The winning project will receive a €50,000 ($57,700) prize. Previous winners include Keeping Faith (UK), Stella Blomkvist (Iceland), Tabula Rasa (Belgium), and La Palma (Norway).
This year’s lineup features entries from across Europe, with France and Spain each presenting two projects. Contributions also hail from Canada, Chile, Israel, South Africa, and for the first time, Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia.
Reflecting on emerging trends, Capurro noted a growing awareness of budgeting among producers. “People are more conscious about the budget because they know that commissioners are spending less,” he said. “There are fewer period, sci-fi, or very high-budget dramas. In terms of episodes, many are looking to produce four to eight at most. There’s a lot of cozy or light drama, and crime drama always works well—there’s a huge diversity and creativity.”
Over the years, the Series Mania Forum has transformed from a discussion platform into a comprehensive market. A key feature is the Buyers’ Upfront, an invitation-only event for acquisition executives held at the Lille Chamber of Commerce, where series are presented to buyers. A jury of top buyers awards a Buyers Choice Award, with the success of previous honoree The Deal highlighting its significance.
“We started as a co-production market, and that’s still very important and part of our DNA, but in recent years we’ve added many new initiatives,” Capurro remarked. “We will renew the Buyers’ Upfront this year, positioning ourselves in the sales and acquisition market.”
In a prelude to this year’s event, Series Mania Forum recognized Marianne Furevold-Boland, Head of Drama at NRK, with the 6th annual Woman in Series Award. Creative keynotes will feature notable figures Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat.
The conference program will include Innovation Talks focused on technology and artificial intelligence in the television drama sector, in addition to the annual Lille Dialogues, bringing together European policymakers and key industry leaders.
As the landscape of television events continues to shift, Northern France has established itself as a premier destination for the TV drama community, with anticipation building as March approaches.
