Chase Infiniti, ‘Harry Potter,’ Duffy, ‘Proud
The 2026 Series Mania TV festival kicked off with a bang, featuring the world premiere of “The Testaments,” the highly anticipated sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” With over 5,200 delegates and 110,000 spectators, Series Mania once again solidified its position as Europe’s premier TV festival. However, the weather in Lille, where the festival took place, left much to be desired.
The event showcased a baker’s dozen of takeaways, including the breakout performance of Chase Infiniti in “The Testaments.” Disney+ announced plans to ramp up content investment in Europe, while HBO Max made waves with their ambitious projects, including a “Harry Potter” series. BBC’s “Waiting for the Out” and “Small Prophets” swept the awards at the festival, along with Poland’s ‘Proud.’
One of the highlights of the festival was a speech by Council of Europe’s Secretary General Alain Berset, emphasizing the importance of European storytelling. The industry is at a crossroads, with public broadcasters facing budget cuts and increased competition from global streamers. European alliances, such as Arte and New8, are being touted as a way to combat the dominance of U.S. platforms.
Despite the challenges, there was a renewed focus on originality at Series Mania, with a plethora of buzz titles captivating audiences. YouTube also made a strong presence at the festival, positioning itself as a key distribution partner for broadcasters and pay-TV players.
Deals were struck left and right at Series Mania, including adaptations of popular novels, global pre-sales for spy thrillers, and the production of new K-Dramas. The festival showcased a wide range of talent and creativity, from haunting Indonesian dramas to Swiss docuseries.
Overall, Series Mania 2026 was a testament to the resilience and innovation of the European TV industry. Despite the challenges posed by changing market dynamics, the festival proved that Europe’s storytellers are ready to rise to the occasion and continue producing groundbreaking content.
