Berlin will introduce a major new cultural event this September: Seriesly Berlin, an international festival dedicated to series production across television, streaming and beyond. Scheduled to run from 16-18 September at Fotografiska Berlin and Hackesche Höfe cinemas, the festival will bring together professionals, creatives and fans to celebrate serial content. Seriesly Berlin offers a comprehensive programme featuring conferences, screenings, panels and master classes, all designed to address the evolving landscape of series production.

(El artículo continúa más abajo - Inf. publicitaria)

Seriesly Berlin aims to provide a multifaceted platform for both industry experts and general audiences. The event is split into two main components: the Seriesly Berlin Conference, designed for industry professionals, and the Seriesly Berlin Screenings, which are open to the public and showcase international series ahead of their official premieres. Funded by Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg and the Berlin Senate Department for Economic Affairs, the festival aspires to be a significant meeting point for creatives, producers, broadcasters and platforms to explore and discuss new trends in storytelling. Matija Dragojevic, head of programming, and Silvia Taha are responsible for the festival programme.

The conference will take place from 16-17 September, focusing on key issues currently shaping the industry. Panels and discussions will address topics such as storytelling in the era of artificial intelligence, the rise of international co-productions, and the challenges of adapting intellectual property (IP) for the screen. Alongside these discussions, a series of workshops will offer practical, hands-on experiences, while speed-dating pitches will provide emerging creators with the opportunity to present their projects to key industry decision-makers.

Kicking off the event, creative consultant Tatjana Samopjan will deliver the festival’s opening keynote, titled “Real Imagination”. This presentation will explore the importance of authenticity and creativity in storytelling, particularly in light of the rise of AI tools in audiovisual content creation. Following this, the panel “All Eyes On Me” will delve into the ongoing struggle for audience attention in a media-saturated world. Experts including Marc Lorber and Nataly Kudiabor will analyse current trends in content production and discuss strategies to stand out in the crowded market.

One of the more provocative panels, “Why Can’t She Be More Relatable?”, will focus on the evolution of female protagonists in series. Creators Ljubica Lukovic and Caroline Rosales will discuss the balance between portraying strong, empowered women while keeping them relatable and imperfect, challenging conventional storytelling norms. A significant portion of the programme will also highlight Berlin’s unique role as a hub for series production. The session “Created by Berlin” will feature industry insiders, including Henning Kamm, discussing how the city’s rich creative landscape shapes its storytelling, making it a breeding ground for innovative content.

Prime Video’s Country Director for Germany and Austria, Christoph Schneider, will participate in a fireside chat, sharing insights into Prime Video's content strategies. Another highly anticipated reveal will be the first teaser for Cocaine Cowboy, a four-part German documentary about the infamous Cali Cartel, as well as Black Sheep, a satirical Berlin-based series featuring an all-star cast, including Jella Haase and Frederick Lau.

The public will have the opportunity to engage with the Seriesly Berlin Screenings, which will feature six international series premieres. Among the most anticipated is Der Upir, a German vampire comedy produced by UFA Fiction, starring Fahri Yardim and Rocko Schamoni. The series offers a humorous spin on traditional vampire lore and is expected to draw significant attention from festival-goers. The French drama The Trigger, set in the high-stakes world of professional football, will also premiere at the festival. Created by Eric Benzekri, the mastermind behind Baron Noir, the six-part series delves into a media scandal that engulfs the sport.

Audiences will also get a chance to see Penelope, an American coming-of-age series that premiered at Sundance earlier this year, and the South African drama Spinners, which offers a gritty look into the world of high-speed motorsports in Soweto. In addition, the Dutch eight-part documentary series The Underground Railroad will explore the historical resistance network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom in 19th-century America. Rounding off the screenings will be Dressed in Blue, a Spanish drama that tells the story of transgender individuals living through the hostile environment of 1980s Spain.

Seriesly Berlin will also serve as a platform for emerging talent through its Seriesly Pitches session, where ten international series projects will be presented to industry professionals, including potential co-producers, financiers, and distribution partners. These projects, which push boundaries in storytelling, will compete for a €2,500 prize awarded by an international jury.

One standout project is Terminal Tales, developed at Netflix Germany’s Writer’s Academy. The series is co-produced by Pat Charles, known for his work on Sons of Anarchy and Bones, and will explore the darker side of human nature. Another highlight is Journeyman, a contemporary fairy tale limited series created by Emmy-winning directors Jesse Moss and Amanda McBaine, known for Boys State and The Overnighters. The project is being developed in collaboration with Fireglory Pictures and Mile End Films.

Also in the line-up is The Magic Wrap, developed through Cinelink Sarajevo 2024. Created by Ipek Ural Demirel and Ali Demirel, the series tells the story of a Turkish-German couple whose move to Berlin takes a strange and supernatural turn after eating a magical döner kebab.

Here is the complete line-up of the projects being pitched at the 1^st Seriesly Berlin:

2.000 Kalt (Germany)
Creators: Sofia Ayala, Sorina Gajewski, Livia Valensise, Ina Lene Dinse, Teresa Provin, Freya de L’Isle

Anti-Romantic (China/Germany)
Writer/Director: Popo Fan

Existence (Austria/Germany)
Creator: Michael Griessler

French-ish (France/Germany)
Creator/Writer/Producer: Prudence Kolong
Writer/Co-Producer: Ines Ben Zoubir
Associate Producer: Aminata Diop-Johnson

Journeyman (Germany/USA)
Creators: Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine
Writer: Nicki Bloom
Producers: Christine Guenther, Chevy Chen, Jesse Moss, Amanda McBaine (Fireglory Pictures, Mile End Films)

The Magic Wrap (Turkey/Germany)
Creators/Writers/Directors: Ipek Ural Demirel, Ali Demirel
Producers: Diloy Gulun, Beste Yamalioglu (Karma Films)

Medium (Germany)
Creator/Writer: Emre Mirza
Producers: Claudine Avetyan, Darja Pilz (Imirzive)
Story Editor/Executive Producer: Ben Hopkins

Terminal Tales (Germany/USA)
Creators: Daniel Y-Li Grove, Erdi Gülac
Producer: Pat Charles (Eat the Rich)

We’re Not Alone (Serbia/Germany)
Creator/Writer: Pasha Petrovic

Zoo Zajac (Germany)
Creators/Producers: Aenn-Sophie Siebert, Jordan Louis Ivey (Hinterhof Film & TV Productions)