(Series Mania. Credit: Nathalie Prébende)
One of Europe's biggest international television festivals, Series Mania, is heading down under, with a four day local version to be held at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image this July.
Series Mania Melbourne will involve program highlights from the Paris-based event, including 40 screenings of premiere seasons. There will also be Q&As with key creatives, workshops, panel discussions and masterclasses for both the public and industry.
“We are experiencing a golden age of television around the world right now, as this medium rapidly expands into new platforms,” said ACMI CEO Katrina Sedgwick.
“Our audiences will preview some of the best series coming to our screens in the year to come – and discover stunning international TV that we might not ever see otherwise.”
Series Mania, held annually at Forum des Images, is known as a launch-pad for international TV, and hosts a four day co-production forum.
Aussie content has fared well in recent years, with The Kettering Incident winning the 2016 Special Jury Prize, and Cleverman, The Family Law, Gallipoli and Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries also showcased in recent years.
This year’s event, to be held in Paris in less than a fortnight, will include the world premiere of Matchbox Pictures’ Seven Types of Ambiguity.
"We’re very enthusiastic about this new partnership with ACMI and Film Victoria," said general director of Forum des Images Laurence Herszberg. "It will give Series Mania the opportunity to show the best international dramas to a passionate audience and develop professional relations with the very creative Australian industry."
Series Mania Melbourne takes place July 20-24. The full program and tickets will be available July 3 at acmi.net.au/seriesmania. Entry is free but audiences are encouraged to book early.