English
Series Mania 2026 opens: global co-pros, AI tools, and micro-dramas take focus on this edition
Once again, the global content industry converges on Lille since today until March 26th as Series Mania Forum --the dedicated three-day professional market of Series Mania Festival-- officially opens its doors. Despite a widely acknowledged contraction in the broader audiovisual sector, marked by budget restrictions and shorter formats, this year edition of the Forum is holdingts ground as Europe's premier TV marketplace. For this year, the event expects to welcome over 5,000 industry professionals from 75 countries, representing a slight but significant uptick in global footprint compared to last year’s 72 countries, proving that while production volumes may be adjusting, the appetite for international co-production is stronger than ever.
‘Series Mania Forum is taking place in a rather unexpected context, which, it must be said, is more fragile for our industry’, stated Laurence Herszberg, Managing Director of Series Mania, and Francesco Capurro, Director of the Forum. ‘Between mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, and geopolitical tensions... we are all going through a period of accelerated transformation. In this context, the role of Series Mania Forum is more essential than ever. At a time when international collaboration is key, the Forum provides a unique platform for industry professionals from around the world to connect, share perspectives, and shape new strategies’.
Also, Anne Bouverot, President of Series Mania, echoed this sentiment, framing the event as a ‘necessary sanctuary for creators and executives alike’. ‘At the heart of this upheaval, the festival asserts its central role as a place of respite and resistance’, she noted, adding that the event claims its place as ‘the beating heart of series creation, attentive to the world, open to others, and resolutely turned toward the future’.
Following yesterday’s highly exclusive Buyers’ Upfront --which gave top-tier acquisition executives a sneak peek at high-potential series in post-production, kicking off with the renowned BETA Brunch-- the market floor is already fully operational today.
Today’s program places a special emphasis on South Korea, this year's Country of Honor. Coinciding with the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and Korea, the delegation is led by KOCCA (Korea Creative Content Agency) alongside eight major local powerhouses, including CJ ENM, SLL Joongang, and KBS Media. The schedule features the highly anticipated “Coming Next From Korea” showcase, giving buyers an inside look at the next wave of K-dramas.
LC