Instagram
Film und Medien Stiftung NRW➝News➝Press➝Fifth edition of the Drama Series Days: more showcases and an expanded conference programme

Fifth edition of the Drama Series Days: more showcases and an expanded conference programme

  • Industry platform for international high-end series goes from success to success
  • Opening panel: Facing New Challenges and Opportunities: Streaming Services and TV
  • Showcases of NRW-backed series: „Bauhaus – A New Era“, „The Best Things in Life“, „Other Parents“
  • New series from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Turkey and Israel
  • Film- und Medienstiftung NRW Official Main Partner for five years

The Drama Series Days at the European Film Market (EFM) is further consolidating its position as a leading showcasing and marketing platform for international high-end series. The Drama Series Days are a joint initiative of the EFM, the Berlinale Co-Production Market and Berlinale Talents and are being held at the Zoo Palast from 11 – 13 February. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW is serving as the Official Main Partner for the fifth year running. This will also be the fifth year that the Berlinale Series sidebar is presenting the premieres of international series at the same time.

Programme

Opening and important panels

The Drama Series Days will open with the official welcome by the EFM Director Matthijs Wouter Knol and Petra Müller, CEO of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, and a keynote of director Edward Berger. The first panel „Facing New Challenges and Opportunities: Streaming Services and TV“, is to be held in cooperation with the Filmstiftung. The speakers are: David Kessler (General Director, Orange Studio), Sabine de Mardt (President, Gaumont), Nathalie Biancolli (SVP Acquisitions & Coproduction, France TV), Brian Pearson (Director, EMEA Co-Productions and Acquisitions, Netflix). John Hopewell (International Editor, Variety) will moderate the discussion. Ali May will serve as the main host for the day.

Following on from other panel discussions on Monday and Tuesday (see below), Wednesday’s programme will see the first public appearance by the international content team of Netflix, with responsibility for the development of new European series for the international market. Kelly Luegenbiehl (VP Creative International Originals Europe, Middle East and Africa), Rachel Eggebeen (Director Content International Originals, DACH), Kai Finke (Director Acquisitions & Co-productions, DACH), Damien Couvreur (Director International Originals, France), Diego Avalos (Director International Originals, Spain) and Kate Townsend (Director Original Documentary & Stand up content) will be talking about „From Idea to Screen: Developing European content for and with Netflix“.

Showcases

Exclusive excerpts from new international series will be presented in the showcases: 

  • German Showcase with three Filmstiftung-backed series:
    • Bauhaus – A New Era (Production company: zero one film in co-production with Constantin Television, Nadcon Film in association with broadcaster ZDF/Arte)
    • The Best Things in Life (Production company: Bantry Bay Productions in association with broadcaster Vox)
    • Other Parents (Production company: eitelsonnenschein Filmproduktion in association with TNT Comedy) 
  • Other showcases from Spain, Scandinavia and Turkey
  • Face to Face with German Films – Breaking Boundaries: German Acting Talent on German TV’s ‘Golden Age’ campaign for the presentation of German acting talent – held for the first time during the Drama Series Days

Other panels:

International series practitioners and experts will discuss the challenges and strategies of the market for serial content:

  • Talent Talk: From Box-Office to Binge Hits: TV writers share their experiences and challenges
  • Behind the Curtain: Platforms and their Strategies: Representatives of streaming platforms talk about strategies for the production of series as well as new business models
  • Writer Driven: The Showrunner Entrepreneur: Writers Anna Winger (Deutschland 83/86) und Adi Hasek (Shades of Blue) discuss writers setting up their own companies and possible collaborations with studios and streaming services
  • The DNA of Israeli Series: What is the key to the success of Israeli producers of series and how do they manage to create worldwide hit series?
  • Insights: Think Global – it’s all about Distribution: Projects with international potential have to be identified at an early stage – what is the strategy of the major distributors?
  • A Different Take: All3media presents its non-English language series
  • Hot Contenders: Presenting European Writing Talent: Presentation of emerging European screenwriting talent

On Stage Interview

– Variety editor Henry Chu in conversation with the actors from the series Hanna: Joel Kinnaman, Mireille Enos and Esmé Creed-Miles

Berlinale Series

The premieres of Berlinale Series will be held now for the second time from Monday to Wednesday at the Zoo Palast. The Berlinale is honoured to present:

  • Hanna (Great Britain)
  • M – A City Hunts A Murderer (Austria)
  • Twice Upon A Time (France)
  • Quicksand (Sweden)
  • 8 Days (Germany)
  • False Flag 2 (Israel)
  • Follow The Money III (Denmark)

All the information about the Drama Series Days can be found at www.dramaseriesdays.com and www.efm-berlinale.de