Markets

Laurence Herszberg, Founder and General Director of Series Mania (Festival: March 20–27, 2026), confirms that the Series Mania Forum (Forum: March 24–26, 2026) will once again host the second edition of its Series Mania Buyers Upfront, a precursor to the Forum created to give buyers privileged access to highly awaited series and to encourage networking with the key distributors behind these projects. The submissions window for this upcoming edition will run from December 16 to February 10.

“The reaction we received last year to this new initiative was extraordinary. Our objective was to provide buyers with an exceptional chance for exclusive previews, tailored meetings, and meaningful networking opportunities, and based on the comments we collected, we achieved exactly that. We look forward to welcoming our new jury members to Lille and to offering our guests the delightful BETA brunch again next year,” stated Herszberg.

This select event will take place on March 23, 2026, at the Chamber of Commerce (CCI), beginning with the invitation-only BETA Brunch—an established highlight in the international TV landscape—followed by the presentation of the selected series.

The Series Mania Buyers Upfront is an exclusive event for buyers, spotlighting never-before-seen clips from up to 12 highly anticipated series with strong international potential. Curated by the Festival’s artistic team, the lineup will feature standout titles soon to premiere or currently in post-production. The selection will be guided by both artistic quality and wide audience appeal.

“Last year, our Series Mania Buyers Upfront represented a significant milestone in the Forum’s growth. We were thrilled to announce Gaumont’s The Deal as the inaugural recipient of the Buyers Choice Award. From development to worldwide distribution, we continue to reinforce our standing as a comprehensive hub and an essential spring gathering for the scripted industry,” added Francesco Capurro, Director of Series Mania Forum.