Series Mania, Europe's largest festival for television series, has officially kicked off today (21) in Lille, France. To support Taiwanese TV series to enter the international market and attract more international buyers and investment for co-productions, the Taiwan Creative Content Agency (TAICCA) established a partnership with Series Mania in 2022. This year marks the fourth time TAICCA participates in the festival as a partner. TAICCA has also set up a Taiwan Pavilion at the market and joined hands with industry professionals to exhibit 76 works in search of business opportunities. In addition, the Taiwan-Belgium co-production NEST has been selected for official Co-Pro Pitching sessions this year at Series Mania, making it Taiwan's first entry into this program.
UNDERTAKER. (photo by Butt Mountain)
At the Series Mania Forum, opening on the 25th, the Taiwan Pavilion will showcase outstanding Taiwanese TV series through the online catalogue and physical exhibition. Works include the black comedy Undertaker, which received Taipei Golden Horse Film Project Promotion support in 2021; GG Precinct, nominated for Best OTT Original and Best Lead Actor at the 2024 Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards; the second season of Fragrance of the First Flower, the first season of which was nominated for the 2021 Series Mania Short Forms Competition; and Breeze by the Sea, starring Chen Bo-lin and Puff Kuo.
Fanteasia, an edgy feel-good comedy that celebrates Taiwan as a beacon of LGBTQ+ rights in Asia
In addition to the Taiwan Pavilion and official selection, TAICCA and Series Mania co-selected 5 projects that will be presented at the TAIWAN SPOTLIGHT Pitching Session on March 25: the crime drama Fly, an original IP by Taiwanese author Chang Kuo-Li and winner of the 2024 TCCF - Series Mania Award, set to be produced by the French Cinéfrance Studios and the Taiwanese Yoosonn Entertainment; H.A.H.A.H.A, the latest work of Sun Chieh-heng, director of Three Tears in Borneo, which was nominated for the International Panorama competition in Series Mania Festival 2024; Fanteasia, an edgy feel-good comedy that celebrates Taiwan as a beacon of LGBTQ+ rights in Asia; Cold War Hot Wax, which portrays the mainstream music revolution of 1960s Taiwan; and When the Tigers Come Out, which narrates the attempt of two mothers who have lost their children to expose the dark secrets behind an educational group. The five teams of the chosen projects will take turns going on stage to present their works and engage in direct exchange with international buyers, investors, and industry professionals to seek opportunities for international co-production and to enhance the visibility of Taiwanese TV series going forward.
H.A.H.A.H.A, the latest work of Sun Chieh-heng, director of Three Tears in Borneo.
As for talent development during the festival, the Serial Bridges Asia program, co-organized by TAICCA and Series Mania Institute, has selected six series projects in development to go through the 4-stage mentorship program and to participate in the Series Mania Institute Creative Bazaar. Backed by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture’s Bureau of Audiovisual and Music Industry Development, throughout the 8-month process, the Serial Bridges Asia program covers script writing, financing and production, marketing and distribution, and more, offering Taiwanese and Asian filmmakers the knowledge and know-how to better grasp international market trends through hands-on experience sharing and mentorship . Prior to the festival, the teams set to appear at the TAIWAN SPOTLIGHT Pitching Session have also undergone training and shared their experiences with international professionals in Taiwan and Lille.
TAICCA Chairperson Homme Tsai stated, Taiwan's outstanding talents and television series are a force to be reckoned with, and Taiwan has always maintained a close partnership with Series Mania. This year, Taiwan participated as a partner for the fourth time, demonstrating the high productivity and creative ambition of the Taiwanese series industry. He hopes that the teams showcasing their projects can learn from international professionals at the festival and exchange resources, so as to facilitate even more international co-productions.
Series Mania 2025 - Taiwan Pavilion ：https://pavilion.taicca.tw/2025-seriesmania