SERIESMAKERS reveals all ten projects of its 2nd edition.
SERIESMAKERS is a creative initiative which focuses on feature film directors who venture into the world of series created by Series Mania Forum & BETA Group.
After a successful first edition, SERIESMAKERS returns for a second one, with projects submitted from every continent! Out of them, ten TV series projects have participated in a tailor-made program for feature film directors who venture into the world of series.
The three winning projects will be announced on March 20th at Series Mania Forum. Two projects will each be awarded a €50,000 Beta Development Award working closely with Beta Group’s Content Division to develop the pilot script and a full package. Furthermore, they will be invited to Series Mania Forum 2024 to present their projects to the industry’s most influential decision-makers, broadcasters, platforms, co-producers, and financiers.
An additional award of €20,000, courtesy of the Kirch Foundation in collaboration with HFF (University of Television and Film Munich), will be given to a third project.
The following 10 projects have been selected:
BREACH – 4×50’ – The Netherlands
Directed by Mijke de Jong,
Written by Giancarlo Sanchez and Jan Eilander
Mijke de Jong’s LAYLA. M (2016) won several prizes at international film festivals and was the Dutch entry for the Oscars in 2018.
DOCTOR’S OATH – 4×52’ – Finland
Directed by Mikko Myllylahti
Produced Aleksi Hyvärinen and Taneli Mustonen
Mikko Myllylahti’s THE WOODCUTTER STORY (2022) won the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution and was nominated for Critics’ Week Grand Prize at Cannes Film Festival
ELEPHANT – 7×40’ – Hungary
Directed and co-writed by Hajni Kis and
Created by Dávid Csicskár
Hajni Kis’s WILD ROOTS (2021) was nominated at Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
FREEDOM ACADEMY – 8×45’ – France
Directed by Kaouther Ben Hania
Produced by Nadim Cheikhrouha
Kaouther Ben Hania’s Cannes Film Festival competition entry FOUR DAUGHTERS (2023) is currently nominated for an Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature Film. With THE MAN WHO SOLD HIS SKIN (2020), Ben Hania was nominated for an Oscar® for Best International Feature Film.
GEORGE BLAKE – 6×52’ – United Kingdom/The Netherlands
Directed by Kevin Macdonald
Produced by Femke Wolting
Kevin Macdonald’s THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND (2007) won an Oscar® in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and multiple BAFTA’s,among others. His documentary ONE DAY IN SEPTEMBER (1999) won an Oscar® for Best Documentary Feature.
PLAY – 8×52’ – Greece
Directed by Yorgos Zois
Produced by Stelios Cotionis
Yorgos Zois’s second feature film ARCADIA (2024) world premiered at 2024 Berlin International Film Festival’s section Encounters. His feature INTERRUPTION (2015) was nominated at Venice Film Festival, among others, and won the Best Newcomer director from the Greek Film Academy.
SLEEPING SWANS – 8×52’ – Germany
Directed by Barbara Albert
Written by Ulrike Tony Vahl
Produced by Martina Haubrich
Barbara Albert’s NORDRAND (1999) was nominated for the Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival. FREE RADICAL (2003) was nominated for the Golden Leopard at Locarno International Film Festival and MADEMOISELLE PARADIS (2017) was nominated at Toronto International Film Festival, among others.
THE SQUATTER – 8×52’ – The Philippines
Directed by Erik Matti
Produced by Ronald Monteverde
Erik Matti’s ON THE JOB 2: THE MISSING 8 (2021) was nominated for Best Film at Venice Film Festival and won in the category Best Actor at Venice Film Festival.
THE WILLOW SONG – 8×52’ – United Kingdom
Written by and directed by Guy Myhill
Written by Tony Phillips and Sophie Vaughan
Guy Myhill’s credits include THE GOOB (2014). It was nominated at the Venice Film Festival and won the British Independent Film Award, among others.
WILLZ – 10×40’ – Israel
Written by and directed by Amir Manor and Guy Raz
Amir Manor’s EPILOGUE (2012) was nominated at Venice Film Festival (Venice Days) in the category Best Film, among others.
The mentors
The eligible director/producer or director/writer teams from all over the world have been closely mentored and guided by experienced and awarded creatives while working on their series and developing a full pitch deck.
The prolific four mentors of the second edition are award-winning German producer Janine Jackowski (TONI ERDMANN, SKYLINES), Israeli writer and script doctor Ronit Weiss-Berkowitz (THE GIRL FROM OSLO, A TOUCH AWAY), the international development producer from France/Denmark Isabelle Lindberg Pechou (TROM, LAST LIGHT), and Brazilian producer, director, and showrunner Felipe Braga (SINTONIA, LOV3).
The speakers included showrunners, writers, and producers such as NARCOS creator Chris Brancato (GODFATHER OF HARLEM, PUSHING DAISIES), multiple award winner Frank Doelger (GAME OF THRONES, THE SWARM), showrunner
Bryan Elsley (SKINS), Hagai Levi (THE AFFAIR, OUR BOYS, SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, IN TREATMENT), Ron Leshem (EUPHORIA, NO MAN’S LAND), and Stefan Arndt (THE WHITE RIBBON, RUN LOLA RUN, BABYLON BERLIN, GOODBYE LENIN).
QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions, please consult the FAQ page or send an email to seriesmakers@seriesmania.com.
*Rules and regulations may be subject to change.