Series Mania Announces Winners and Reveals Dates for 2027

Why It Matters

The new co‑production convention creates a legal backbone for cross‑border series financing, while the award outcomes signal shifting creative power toward Eastern Europe and gender‑balanced productions, reshaping the global TV market.

Key Takeaways

• Attendance reached 112,000, up 4,000 year‑over‑year.
• Council of Europe co‑production convention signed by nine nations.
• Polish series “Proud” won Grand Prize, highlighting Eastern Europe.
• Female‑led teams won major awards, boosting gender parity.
• Forum hosted 5,200 professionals, 97 exhibitors from 75 countries.

Pulse Analysis

Series Mania has solidified its role as Europe’s premier series festival, drawing over one hundred thousand visitors and a record‑setting professional Forum. The surge in attendance reflects growing appetite for serialized storytelling, while the inclusion of 9,000 students underscores the event’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of creators. By convening producers, distributors, and talent under one roof, the festival accelerates deal‑making and showcases emerging formats that streaming platforms increasingly crave.

A landmark development this year was the signing of the Council of Europe Convention on co‑production of audiovisual works. With nine countries—France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Poland and Portugal—committing to a unified legal framework, producers can now navigate cross‑border financing, tax incentives, and rights management more efficiently. This harmonisation is expected to lower barriers for independent series, stimulate co‑production pipelines, and ultimately enrich the European content slate available to global audiences.

The awards spotlight shifting creative dynamics. Poland’s Proud captured the Grand Prize, signaling Eastern Europe’s rising production quality, while the UK and Quebec continued to dominate categories. Notably, two all‑female teams earned top honors, highlighting progress toward gender parity in a traditionally male‑led industry. These outcomes guide buyers and investors toward diverse, high‑quality series, reinforcing Series Mania’s influence as a barometer for future programming trends.