APOLLO SERIES

Watch the replay of our webinar to learn more about our new initiative.

Apollo Series is a program designed and developed by Series Mania Institute in partnership with MIA | Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo and Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision.

Dedicated to European producers, the program strengthens the packaging phase of series projects by deepening expertise of the legal, financial, and artistic aspects of European co-productions, while providing access to key industry events.

It will take place over three sessions, with additional online meetings organized in between:

• The first session in Rome (Italy) at MIA | Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo in October 2025
• The second session in Gothenburg (Sweden) at Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision in January 2026
• The final session in Lille (France) at Series Mania Forum in March 2026

Participants will be guided throughout the program by two professional mentors to supercharge their project to a European dimension. Additionaly, participants will connect with partners, international producers, and broadcasters during the three events.

This initiative is aimed at European producers, with experience in their country of origin and starting their journey on the international co-production stage. For certain online creative meetings, producers may be accompanied by the writer(s) of the project.

Objectives

• Mastering the deal-making of co-production
• Discover European financing systems
• Balance a local vision with the internationalization of a project
• Adapting to an ever-evolving co-production market
• Bridging specificities of Northern and Southern Europe
• Build connections with potential partners, local and international producers, and broadcasters

Method

• Two mentors to guide the participants throughout the program, through individual and group meetings
• Lectures, case studies and workshops with experienced series professionals
• Networking opportunities by participating at each market
• Monitoring of participants’ progress, overseen by mentors

Format

• Duration: 13 discontinuous days 
• Location: Italy (Rome), Sweden (Gothenburg), France (Lille) & Online
• Language: English

Detailed program

• Session 1:  from Monday, October 6 to Thursday, October 9 (4 days) at MIA | Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo in Rome

With two days of workshop, followed by two days at the market, this session introduces participants to the fundamentals of European co-production. It covers the current state of the co-production market, legal frameworks (including focuses on IP and IA), financial structures, local and regional opportunities such as tax shelters and other incentives, and European support mechanisms such as MEDIA and EURIMAGES fundings.

Through hands-on sessions and individual consultations, participants refine core elements of their creative packages (pitch deck, season outline, use of AI, etc.) and learn to give and receive constructive feedback.

• Session 2: from Sunday, January 25 to Wednesday, January 28 (4 days) at Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision

This session introduces participants to the Nordic co-financing model with meetings involving regional and national funds and highlights key success factors in sustainable and conscious-oriented storytelling. It explores up-to-date business models, explains how to adapt their projects for cross-border partnerships and facilitates encounters with Nordic producers interested in European collaboration.

• Session 3: from Tuesday, March 24 to Thursday, March 26 (3 days) at Series Mania Forum in Lille

The program concludes with a unique opportunity to participate in this key meeting place gathering 5 000 professionals from all around the world. Every year in March, decision-makers, producers, commissioners, buyers, authors, policymakers, and politicians come together in Lille for three days of networking, discovery and insights. Participants take part in a presentation session for some pre-selected Forum attendees  and have the opportunity to engage in one-to-one meetings in a dedicated area.

Between the three on-site sessions, participants will finalize the financial plan of their project and wrap up their creative package, with the guidance of the mentors through online one-to-one meetings.

• Serena Alfieri, Italy, Volos Films

• Anders Berg, Denmark, Fredo Pictures

• Estephania Bonnett, Spain, Playlab Films

• Evelin Penttilä, Estonia, Stellar Film

• Jimm Garbis, Sweden, SF Studios

• Steffen Gerdes, Germany, Red Balloon Films

• Anna Gonchar, Ukraine, 1+1 Media

• Karoline Kunz, Germany, Sommerhaus Serien

• Marcian Lazar, Romania, Axel Film

• Viktorija Rimkutė, Lithuania, Dansu Films

Up to 10 European producers carrying a fiction series project with European co-production potential.

The program is designed for producers with experience and expertise in their national production industry but are new players in the European co-production landscape. Eligible applicants must have a proven track record —whether in fiction, documentary, or feature films. It is not intended for students or companies without prior production experience.

Selection will be based on live action, fictional series projects. Each project must involve at least two European countries OR feature two main characters speaking different European languages.

Series projects adapted from existing IP (books, video games, etc.) are accepted on condition that the participant can prove that they hold the audio-visual adaptation rights to this IP.

The screenwriters attached to the project must have at least one professional experience on a broadcast TV/digital series, short or feature film. Or have an agreement with a broadcaster for a project soon to be aired.

The applicants must hold nationality or a long-term residence permit from one of the following countries:

Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine or the United Kingdom.

If you have special circumstances, such as a disability, please let us know so that we can discuss your needs. Contact: [email protected]

The call of applications for Apollo Series will be open from April 29 to June 30, 2025.

To participate in the selection process, an online application form must be submitted, with the following elements:

> 1 Pitch document of maximum 12 pages including :

• Title (international + local), Tagline (if any)
• Fact sheet: Format, Genre, Language(s), Country of origin, Involved countries, IP (if any)
• Development stage, budget (total and per episode)
• Editorial elements: Logline, Synopsis, Main characters’ arcs, Arena, Tone & style
• Creator’s & Producer’s intents
• If case the project is an adaptation of existing IP: option agreement and/or rights acquisition agreement

> Cover letter explaining with the applicant and their project would benefit from the Apollo Series program

> Filmography/biography of the producers

> Filmography/biography of the headwriter (if involved)

> Provisional financing plan 

> LOC (letter of commitment) of broadcasters involved (if any)