Female strength conveyed by often radical, emancipated characters, major ethical and environmental questions, and a journey back in time to the ‘80s and ‘90s (seen as either a golden age or the root of all evil) are the major thematic tendencies distinguishing the selection of the 6th Lille-based Series Mania Festival, unspooling 17 – 24 March.

Insisting on the importance of diversifying stories in the context of a global series market tending towards a certain standardisation of storytelling approaches, the Series Mania team steered by Managing Director Laurence Herszberg and Artistic Director Frédéric Lavigne have selected 55 series hailing from 24 countries (out of 396 series submitted this year from 63 different countries), 33 of which are set to world premiere in the northern city, notably Greek Salad [+leggi anche:
intervista: Cédric Klapisch
scheda series] (created by Cédric Klapisch for Prime Video) in the opening slot and Transatlantic (created for Netflix by Anna Winger, whose recent works include Unorthodox [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda series]) which is set to close the event, whilst various names steal focus on the special guests list, including British showrunner Michael Hirst (The Tudors, Vikings), American actress Marcia Cross, Mathieu Kassovitz, Isabelle Nanty and Nathalie Baye.

For its part, the international competition jury (led by American Lisa Joy, who will be supported by French actress Emmanuelle Béart, Indian director Anurag Kashyap, English showrunner Chris Chibnall, Israeli actor Yehuda Levy and French-British singer-songwriter and actress Lou Doillon) will be tasked with deciding between nine series (eight in world premieres and one in an international premiere). Stealing focus amongst these is the French-Belgian series Haven of Grace (read our article), directed by Vincent Maël Cardona, the French-American-Japanese co-production Drops of God (an adaptation of the eponymous cult manga), Spanish show Fleeting Lies [+leggi anche:
recensione
intervista: Esther García
scheda series] (article – produced by El Deseo), Greek work Milky Way [+leggi anche:
intervista: Vasilis Kekatos
scheda series] and Norwegian movie The Fortress [+leggi anche:
intervista: John Kare Raake
scheda series] (article). The line-up will be rounded off by one series each from the UK, Israel, Iran and the USA.

The French competition will consist of six series screening in world premieres, including Bardot [+leggi anche:
intervista: Danièle e Christopher Thom…
intervista: Manuel Alduy
scheda series] (created, scripted and directed by Danièle and Christopher Thompson), Polar Park (steered by Gérald Hustache-Mathieu) and Under Control by Erwan Le Duc (notably starring Léa Drucker and Samir Guesmi).

And 12 titles will be battling it out in the International Panorama competition (whose jury will be led by French writer Hervé Le Tellier), including Swedish series Blackwater, Denmark’s Nordland, Germany’s A Thin Line, and Spanish works Offworld [+leggi anche:
trailer
intervista: Rodrigo Sorogoyen e Isabel…
scheda series] and La ruta.

Also worth a mention on this especially rich festival agenda are competitions for comedies and short formats, special screenings, the New Seasons Premieres section (notably featuring The Kingdom Exodus [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Asta Kamma August
intervista: Hubert Toint e Mark Denessen
scheda series]), masterclasses (courtesy of Cédric Klapisch, Lisa Joy, Cécile de France, Brian Cox and Philippine Leroy Beaulieu), conferences, a multitude of guests, and Series Mania’s copious and incredibly popular professional sidebar (alongside the Forum section and Lille Dialogues line-up), whose detailed programme will be unveiled at a later date.

The selection is as follows:

Opening Series

Greek Salad [+leggi anche:
intervista: Cédric Klapisch
scheda series] (France – Prime Video)

Closing Series

Transatlantic (Germany/USA – Netflix)

International Competition

Haven of Grace (France/Belgium - Arte)
Drops of God (France/USA/Japan - Apple TV+, France Télévisions, Hulu Japan)
Fleeting Lies [+leggi anche:
recensione
intervista: Esther García
scheda series] (Spain - Paramount +)
Milky Way [+leggi anche:
intervista: Vasilis Kekatos
scheda series] (Greece – Mega TV)
Red Skies (Israel – Reshet 13)
The Actor (Iran – Filimo, Manava)
The Fortress [+leggi anche:
intervista: John Kare Raake
scheda series] (Norway - Viaplay)
The Power (USA - Prime Video)
Best Interests (UK - BBC One)

French Competition

Aspergirl (France/Belgium - OCS)
Bardot [+leggi anche:
intervista: Danièle e Christopher Thom…
intervista: Manuel Alduy
scheda series] (France/Italy - France Télévisions)
Six Women (France – TF1)
Polar Park (France – Arte)
Under Control (France – Arte)
Split (France.tv slash)

International Panorama

A Body That Works (Israel – Keshet TV)
Offworld [+leggi anche:
trailer
intervista: Rodrigo Sorogoyen e Isabel…
scheda series] (Spain – Movistar+)
A Thin Line (Germany – Paramount+)
Limboland (India/Pakistan/UK)
Blackwater (Sweden – SVT)
Disobey (Canada – Crave)
Funny Woman (UK – Sky Max, OCS)
Innermost (Israel/Germany)
La ruta (Spain – Atresplayer Premium)
Little Bird (Canada- Crave, APTN lumi)
Nordland (Denmark – DR)
Tengo que morir todas las noches (Mexico – Paramount+)

Comedies Competition 

Rictus (France - OCS)
Love is All (France - OCS)
Call Me Dad [+leggi anche:
intervista: Christian Dyekjaer
scheda series] (Denmark - Viaplay)
Everyone Else Burns (UK - Channel 4)
Romantic Getaway (UK - Sky Max)
The Lovers (UK - Sky)

Short Format Competition

A Strange Summer (Finland - YLE)
Self Defense (Spain - Filmin)
Canis Familiaris (France - arte.tv)
The Universe Conspires (Uruguay - UN3)
Five Years (Czech Republic, Ceska televize)
Latecomers (Australia - SBS)
Nichole (Canada - Télé-Québec)
One of the Boys (Denmark – Viaplay)

Out of Competition Selection

Documentary

Les génériques de séries (France – Canal+)

Special Screenings

Black Santiago Club (Benin/Senegal/France - Canal+ Première)
Duty after School (South Korea - TVING)
Jusqu'ici tout va bien (France - Netflix)
Nolly (UK - ITVX)
Rabbit Hole (USA - Paramount+)
The Swarm [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Leonie Benesch
scheda series] (Germany/France/Italy/Belgium – ZDF, France Télévisions, Viaplay, RAI, Hulu Japon, ORF, SRF)

New Seasons Premieres

HPI, season 3 (France - TF1)
Jeune et Golri, season 2 (France - OCS)
Les bracelets rouges, nouvelle génération (France - TF1)
The Kingdom Exodus [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Asta Kamma August
intervista: Hubert Toint e Mark Denessen
scheda series] (Denmark - Canal+, Viaplay, DR)