Four talented African writers from the AuthenticA Series Lab are gearing up to pitch their unique stories at Series Mania Forum in Lille, France this week. Series Mania is a major TV series market that attracts influential decision-makers from around the world.
Last year, all four writers from AuthenticA secured interest from broadcasters or production companies at Series Mania. This year, after a rigorous six-month development program, the hope is for similar success.
The writers presenting their work this year are:
Kelly-Eve Koopman (South Africa) with an urban fantasy titled “Facing the Mountain.”
Moreetsi Gabang (Botswana) with a crime drama called “Outreach.”
Tiah Beye (Senegal/Côte d’Ivoire) with a comedy-drama titled “Brouteure (The Yahoo Girl).”
Wanjiru Kairu (Kenya) with a political satire called “Serikali Saidia!”
The AuthenticA Series Lab, now in its third year, supports the development of creators who write serialized content. It’s a collaboration between the Realness Institute, the StoryBoard Collective, and several other organizations.
The program has sparked significant interest in authentic African stories with global appeal. This year, a formal South African delegation of producers and stakeholders will attend Series Mania for the first time.
There will also be an “African Talents & Industry Breakfast” on March 19th, followed by the writers’ pitches to industry representatives later that day.
“Our collaboration with Realness has been invaluable in bringing African voices to the international stage,” says Francesco Capurro, Director of Series Mania Forum. This year marks a record level of African representation at the Forum.
The strong bonds between Realness and France are bolstered by a new co-production agreement between South Africa and France. This agreement is seen as a valuable tool for fostering more projects like AuthenticA, which unite creators from both countries.
“The scriptwriters have been in residence at the StoryBoard House for the past two months,” says Laure de Peretti de la Rocca of the StoryBoard Collective. “We are confident their compelling narratives will captivate the audience at Series Mania.”