Berlinale Series Market 2023: series platform for three days at Potsdamer Platz

• Keynotes, panels, showcases, screenings and industry tables from 20-22 February
• "Up Next: Germany" including the new high-end series "Davos" and "Herrhausen"
• Film- und Medienstiftung NRW main partner for the ninth time

The Berlinale Series Market is returning to Potsdamer Platz from 20-22 February after two years as a virtual platform. The business platform, which is organised as part of the European Film Market (EFM), will again be offering a top-notch conference programme accompanied by screenings and showcases as well as industry tables. In line with the EFM Industry Sessions’ overarching theme of "Shift happens", the focus this year will also be on current trends in the industry and future-oriented issues in the world of series. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW is the official main partner for the ninth time.

"Prominent creatives and decision-makers, exclusive previews and select talk formats – we’re really pleased that the industry will be meeting again in person at the Berlinale Series Market and able to exchange views and ideas about the challenges, opportunities and strategies for the series market" says Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW. "The combination of the conference programme and market activities  gives professionals a comprehensive view of the global landscape for series and provides the impetus for pursuing artistic and productive work in the future."

Following a welcome address by EFM director Dennis Ruh, the conference programme will kick off with an overview of current developments in the international series market by Guy Bisson (Ampere Analysis). Representatives of sales companies will then speak in a panel entitled "Adapting to the Market" about how they are coping with the constant changes resulting from developments in the market and the current geopolitical situation. Beatrice Springborn (NBCUniversal), Rodolphe Buet (NEWEN Connect), Ruth Berry (ITV) and Robert Franke (ZDF STUDIOS) are among the speakers.

On 21 February, the Series Market will be focusing on the popular format of docu-series under the heading of "Quo Vadis Docu Series". Participants in the roundtable will include the Cologne-based producer Arne Birkenstock ("Capital B"), Felicity Morris („The Tindler Swindler“) and Georg Tschurtschenthaler ("A Perfect Crime"). Another highlight of the conference will be the visit of David Bernad, the producer of the globally successful HBO series "The White Lotus" which garnered 20 Emmy nominations and won 10 Emmys and two Golden Globes. Bernad will give an exclusive insight into his work on the hit series on Wednesday, 22 February.

"Up Next: Germany"
The "Up Next: Germany" showcase will be presenting some of the latest German projects, including the historical drama series "Davos" by Jan-Eric Mack and Anca Miruna Lăzărescu (Berlinale Co-Pro Series 2019, Letterbox Filmproduktion, Contrast Film Zürich, Amalia Film, ARD Degeto) and the four-part geo-political thriller "Herrhausen – Der Herr des Geldes" by Pia Strietmann (Sperl Film und Fernsehproduktion, X Filme Creative Pool, ARD Degeto, RBB, SWR, HR, Beside Productions and Avrio Film Thessaloniki), which are currently still shooting and were backed by the Filmstiftung.

Berlinale Series Award, Market Screenings and Series Market Selects
International series formats will have their world premieres in the Berlinale Series programme within the Berlinale Special sidebar, with the Berlinale Series Award being presented for the first time to the best series in the line-up. International series will be shown to potential buyers in the Market Screenings. Series highlights with high market potential will be showcased under the label Berlinale Series Market Selects. A total of 16 series from five continents will be presented here.

About the Berlinale Series Market
The Berlinale Series Market is a joint initiative of the European Film Market, the Berlinale Co-Production Market and Berlinale Talents. It is being organised in close cooperation with Berlinale Series. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW joined forces with the EFM in 2015 to launch the Berlinale Series Market as a platform for series. The European Film Market is one of the world’s most important markets for the international trade in film rights and audiovisual content.

The Berlinale Series Market conference programme is being held at the Documentation Centre for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation at Anhalter Bahnhof, screenings and showcases in Cinemaxx at Potsdamer Platz and Industry Tables at the nearby Gropius Bau.

The latest version of the programme can be found here:
https://www.efm-berlinale.de