The first ever session of the Pop Up Series Incubator (read our news) - a new development programme designed to help European producers and screenwriters inject energy into their series projects - is due to unfold in Reims between 11 and 15 March. Steered by Tatino Films (directed by Matthieu Darras with the help of Nadja Dumouchel and Marija Fridinovaite), the initiative is co-financed by the European Union (as part of the Writing European action) and supported by the Grand Est region and the Karlovy Vary Festival.

Standing tall among the five selected projects are The Three Burials of Irma by Greek director Elina Psykou (revealed in the 2013 Berlinale Forum via The Eternal Return of Antonis Paraskevas [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Elina Psykou
scheda film], triumphant in Tribeca 2017 via Son of Sofia [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Elina Psykou
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intervista: Elina Psykou
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intervista: Cristina Grosan
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intervista: Cristina Grosan
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scheda series] series), alongside a Lithuanian project (penned by playwright Birutė Kapustinskaitė) and two French works, one of which written by David Roux (revealed on Locarno’s Piazza Grande in 2018 via Breath of Life [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] and fresh off the set of La femme de – read our article).

The five selected teams will benefit from tailored support and financial support (a grant of 10,000 euros) during a three-stage programme, starting with an intensive five-day workshop in March and followed by an 18-day residency in April-May, before drawing to a close on 7 and 8 July at the Karlovy Vary Festival with a presentation on concepts for series delivered to a group of handpicked professionals.

The mentors in charge of the selected projects are Spaniard Mari Cervera (Cattleya Producciones - ITV Studios), French screenwriter Julien Lilti, German producer Naomi Levari (Black Sheep Film Productions) and British producer Johnathan Young (formerly of HBO Europe/Central Europe). Nine expert screenwriters will also be playing their part: Estonia’s Leana Jalukse, French talents Loïc Barrère and Ruddy-Williams Kabuiku, Bulgaria’s Nadya Todorova, Denmark’s Julie Budtz Sørensen, Germany’s Yaelle Kayam, the Netherlands’ Lemba de Miranda, Italy’s Fabrizio Muscia and Romania’s Ruxandra Ghitescu.

The selected projects are as follows:

Angelmaker (Romania)
Produced by Anda Ionescu (Tangaj Production)
Written by Cristina Grosan
Based on the true story of the murderous Angelmaker women of Nagyrév

Erotic Lives of the Superheroes (France)
Produced by Éric Dupont (Incognito Films)
Based on Marco Mancassola’s Italian novel Erotic Lives of the Superheroes

The Night of the Beguines (France)
Produced by Candice Zaccagnino (Eliane Antoinette)
Written by David Roux
Based on Aline Kiner’s novel The Mirror of Simple Souls

The Three Burials of Irma (Greece)
Produced by Fenia Cossovitsa (Blonde S.A.)
Written by Elina Psykou
Based on Vassilis Vassilikos’ Greek novel O iatrodikastis

Therapies (Lithuania)
Produced by Dagnė Vildžiūnaitė (Just a Moment)
Written by Birutė Kapustinskaitė based on his eponymous stage play