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Seriesly Berlin: A fresh take on TV and storytelling
A new festival on the horizon
Seriesly Berlin, a groundbreaking series festival, is set to debut with an exciting two-day conference from September 16 to 18 at Fotografiska Berlin. This event promises to be a melting pot of innovative ideas, diverse voices, and cutting-edge discussions, aimed at reshaping the landscape of television and storytelling.
Exploring the future of storytelling
The conference will delve into a variety of compelling topics, including storytelling in the age of AI, the use of genre as a Trojan horse, the portrayal of flawed female characters, and the concept of person as property. Additionally, it will cover the adaptation of literary works and podcasts into screenplays.
Screenings and public engagement
Over the course of three days, the festival will also feature screenings of new shows, open to the public. This offers a unique opportunity for attendees to experience fresh content and engage with the creators behind these innovative series.
Building a community of visionaries
Eike Faecks, the director of Seriesly Berlin, emphasizes the festival’s mission: “The industry doesn’t need another cookie-cutter TV event. We want to build a community of diverse, bold talent and visionary decision-makers, bridging culture and commerce. Real talks. Fresh voices and formats. No BS or algorithms dictating creativity.”
Keynote on authentic storytelling
Tatjana Samopjan, a creative consultant from Fractal Volcano in Stockholm, will kick off the event with her keynote titled “Real Imagination”. She will explore the essence of authentic and impactful storytelling, setting the tone for the discussions to follow.
The battle for attention
The opening panel, “All Eyes on Me”, will address the fierce competition for audience attention in the digital age. This session will begin with an overview by Ampere Analysis and will feature insights from industry experts like Marc Lorber of The Art of Coproduction and Nataly Kudiabor of UFA Fiction.
Evolving female leads
In another thought-provoking panel, Ljubica Lukovic, creator and writer of “Awake”, and Caroline Rosales, author and creator of “Miki Unchained”, will discuss the evolution of female leads. They will explore how to balance strength and vulnerability in characters without making them too perfect or flawless.
Person as property
The session titled “Person as Property” will feature Isaure Pisani-Ferry, co-creator of “Becoming Karl Lagerfeld”, and Christian Beetz of Beetz Brothers Filmproduction. They will delve into the challenges of using intellectual property based on real people, balancing fact with fiction.
Berlin’s creative potential
Seriesly Berlin will also shine a spotlight on stories born and produced in the city. The session “Created by Berlin” will explore the untapped potential of Berlin’s creative landscape, featuring insights from Henning Kamm of Real Film and other local creators.
Innovating conference programming
“Breaking the Cycle: Innovating Conference Programming” will bring together festival and event masterminds like Gaia Tridente of MIA in Rome, Francesco Capurro of Series Mania Forum in Lille, and Marge Liiske of Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event. They will share their secrets for keeping programming fresh and exciting.
Genre as a Trojan horse
The session “Genre as a Trojan Horse – Balancing Art and Mainstream” will challenge the notion that genre is a second-tier form. Featuring Spanish creator Alvaro Carmona (“Show Yourself”), writer and director Olivier Fox (“Nu”, “Osmosis”), and Anna Rhode-Seyfried of Beta Film, this panel will examine how creators can maintain their unique voice while achieving mainstream success.
Indie filmmaking’s rise
“Wild at Heart. Is indie filmmaking becoming the new mainstream?” will feature Lucas Ochoa, producer of “American Honey”, “The Witch”, and “Gangs of London”, alongside writer and producer Anthony Alleyne. They will explore whether the indie spirit can drive creativity and resilience in a market with fewer commissions and tighter budgets.
Adaptation alchemy
The session “Adaptation Alchemy: From Page and Sound to Screen” will feature Josie Cyrus of Ink Factory, known for handling John le Carré’s adaptations like “The Night Manager”, and Jorgo Narjes of X Filme Creative Pool, producer of the acclaimed series adaptation of the true crime podcast “Zeit Verbrechen”. They will discuss the art of translating stories from one medium to another while preserving the original’s essence.
Final thoughts
Seriesly Berlin promises to be a dynamic and thought-provoking event, bringing together some of the brightest minds in the industry. Whether you’re a cinema enthusiast, a TV series aficionado, or a music lover, this festival offers a unique opportunity to engage with the future of storytelling. Don’t miss out on this chance to be part of a community that values creativity, diversity, and innovation.
