Series Mania, the pinnacle event for European television, has wrapped up its annual festivities in Lille, France, after a vibrant festival and forum that attracted leading figures from the television industry. The atmosphere was one of tempered hope, with creative minds and producers tackling industry challenges with enthusiasm. Here, Deadline guides you through the top five discussion highlights from the event.
American Divergence
The gap between the U.S. and Europe in the television sector seemed to widen, mirroring political tensions. Notably absent were American buyers, executives, and creatives. One European producer pointed out, “They’re just not here.” Netflix, for instance, replaced its usual commissioner meeting with a talk by European collaborators, which received lukewarm responses. Apple TV+ had a commissioning executive present, though reportedly not accepting pitches. Despite the presence of American stars like Amanda Seyfried and Christina Hendricks, the sense of a growing transatlantic rift was palpable, with fewer Americans attending than in previous years. This shift appears to be a reflection of a focus on local content and possibly influenced by past trade policies. It remains to be seen how many will cross the Atlantic for future events.
Financial Uncertainties
©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection
Despite the overall positive energy, this year’s Series Mania was underpinned by a significant concern: funding. The challenge of securing finances for new dramas was a central issue, varying by region but exacerbated by American withdrawal from co-productions. Achieving full funding has become increasingly difficult. Many producers indicated that finding financial partners was their primary reason for attending. Conversations were dominated by financial strategies, with European executives feeling the pinch of the American market’s inward turn. Discussions about new European co-productions and funding models were therefore a focal point, seen as crucial for the future of high-quality European dramas.
The Future Scale of Series Mania
With attendance at the business-centric Series Mania Forum up by 20% to approximately 4,800, the event’s success is evident. This increase in participation is partly due to the demise of MIPTV and a shift in the annual TV calendar, which has left a gap early in the year for a major international gathering, a slot Series Mania has effectively filled. Decision-makers now face a strategic choice: maintain the event’s status as Europe’s leading drama co-production and creative forum, or expand it into a comprehensive market for buying and selling content. The future direction they choose will significantly shape the event’s identity.
Safeguarding European Cultural Identity
Many discussions at Series Mania revolved around taking the reduction in U.S. co-production funding as an opportunity to emphasize and protect European cultural narratives. With a growing number of funding and commissioning bodies emerging across Europe, there is renewed confidence in telling compelling European stories. Romain Bessi, a key figure in the industry, expressed a strong commitment to preserving European culture through collaborative production efforts. This sentiment was echoed by others throughout the event, underscoring a collective move towards putting these ideals into action.
Spotlight on Young Adult Content – Challenges and Prospects
Young Adult (YA) content continues to be a hot topic, with recent successes driving significant interest. High-profile figures from the YA sector gathered to discuss the future of this genre. Despite the popularity, producing YA content faces hurdles, particularly when based on new or original intellectual properties. Patrick Walters, producer of the acclaimed Heartstopper, highlighted the complexities of navigating the current funding landscape and the uncertainty surrounding the continuation of such series. The importance of YA content was a recurring theme, with discussions about its global appeal and the potential for future projects in this space.
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