Forum des images

Founded by the Forum des images, the 3rd Séries Mania festival sets off with panache for one full week of excitement, where both the general public and film professionals can discover and analyze current international TV series productions. Premieres, screenings of not-yet-released series, interviews with their makers, conferences and debates with professionals provide the possibility for devoted fans and the simply curious to get the measure of this sector which is booming - both here and abroad. 

Once again, the Forum des Images pursues its objectives: select over thirty series that will soon make headlines, examine current trends, invite experienced show runners and actors such as Terence Winter, Gideon Raff and Dominic West, and tour the world via the small screen. Great Britain, Norway, South Korea, Israel, United States, Argentina, Belgium, Sweden, Australia, France, Canada and Spain are the destinations proposed by the festival. 

During one week, Séries Mania – Season 3, entirely free of admission, invites spectators to celebrate these fictions which have become a major influence on today's audiovisual scene and select their favorite TV series with a Public Prize. 

> Anglo-Saxon Series 

American series continue to attract big names from the cinema world. Laura Dern is the actress and co-author of Enlightened, while Michael Mann and Dustin Hoffman appear in Luck. This series, set within the confined world of horseracing, is presented in partnership with Orange Cinéma Séries. Smash, a dazzling musical comedy created by Theresa Rebeck and co-produced by Marc Sheiman and Steven Spielberg will close this 3rd ceremony. An increasing number of series from across the Atlantic are based on foreign series: Homeland is the successful adaptation of Israeli fiction Hatufim (Prisoners of War). This season is also marked by new creations by well-known show runners such as J.J. Abrahams with Alcatraz and Ryan Murphy with American Horror Story. British creativity and talent continues to shine in a wide variety of genres. From stylized detective series (The Shadow Line) to teenage fantasy (The Fades) to glamorous historic epics (The Hour) and the social drama shock series Top Boy, our selection confirms that Great Britain is the other major TV series player. 

> From Around the World 

In addition to the Anglo-Saxon anthology, the festival highlights countries that have shown real ambition and produced some outstanding fiction series. Israel continues to be a major actor with two leading shows: Ta Gordin / Mice, an espionage series that takes place within the Russian community, and Hatufim, about three soldiers who return home after being captured in Lebanon. Canada (Apparences) and Australia with The Slap, a caustic chronicle about middleclass life, and The Straits, a police series, have distinguished themselves as well. Northern Europe is particularly known for the Danish series Borgen (Season 2), however there are newcomers on the scene from Belgium (De Ronde), Sweden (Bron / The Bridge) and Norway (Lilyhammer). For the first time, Hispanic fictions will be programmed by the festival, with two Argentinean series (Maltratadas and Perfidia) and the Spanish TV hit, Gran Hotel. In this panorama, Asia has proved itself with an impressive action thriller, City Hunter, made in South Korea. 

> French Series 

Séries Mania has reserved a choice spot for French creations, which will be presented in an official competition under the critical eye of a jury of international journalists. Three prizes will be awarded: Best Series, Best Actor and Best Actress. This is the festival's way of supporting the growing ambition and risks taken by certain new series. Selected titles include a series about the commitment and uncertainties of young seminarians (Ainsi soient-ils), a high-energy detective series with an insolent, handicapped cop (Caïn), an endearing portrait of a group of young high school students (Clash), the comical adventures of young urban outcasts (Les Lascars), and the confrontation of pornography and philosophy in the comedy series Q.I. 

> Guests 

The festival is the perfect setting for spectators to encounter filmmakers and artists who share the secrets behind the making of their series. This year’s special guest is Terence Winter, show runner of Boardwalk Empire and Golden Globes winner for the Best Series in 2010. Screenwriter and executive producer of The Sopranos, Terence Winter will give a master class during which he will tell his own story and present the first episodes of Boardwalk Empire – Season 2. The festival is also pleased to welcome Israeli filmmaker Gideon Raff, the creator and director of Hatufim. An Israeli TV masterpiece, this fiction, which was immediately adapted in the United States as Homeland, is considered the best series of the season. Gideon Raff, who is also co-author of the American project, will share his unusual experience during an exceptional meeting and Séries Mania spectators can discover the complete seasons of Hatufim and the first episodes of Homeland in his presence. This year, Séries Mania hands over to the well-known and charismatic British actor Dominic West who first made a name for himself in theater and movie productions before achieving international fame as Detective Jimmy McNulty in the five seasons of The Wire. Since then, he has played roles in genre films and signed up with a new hit series, The Hour, the first episodes of which he will present at the festival. This 3rd festival has other surprises in store such as meetings with international representatives of programmed fictions and the presence of French crews - show runners, screenwriters, directors and actors - during the screenings of their series. 

> A New Rendez-vous for Film Professionals 

Séries Mania is also a place where a large number of TV professionals come to do business. This year the festival is providing a new service for them: an international showcase (in the Salle des Collections at the Forum des Images) where they can view their choice of a wide selection of series from around the world. Sellers and representatives from foreign TV channels will be there to promote their series in France. 

> Round Tables and Conferences 

Professional round tables open to the general public will discuss issues concerning this sector in France with two topics: "Mini-formats: a French talent?" and "Daytime series: a potential sector to explore?" Séries Mania will also host a number of conferences and debates led by academics, journalists and TV fiction specialists. Pacôme Thiellement will analyze the cult series Lost, Marjolaine Boutet will defend the little-known series Friday Night Lights, the French crew of the series Ainsi soient-ils, broadcast on ARTE, will share its behind-the-scenes secrets, while the editorial team of AlloCiné will discuss fiction series whose central theme is politics. 

> For the Pleasure of All 

In addition to the pleasure of discovering premiers of these TV series on a big screen, Séries Mania is planning several particularly festive moments for spectators. Three complete seasons are scheduled, including one night with Season 2 of The Walking Dead (in partnership with Orange Cinéma Séries), and the new French series Clash. Spectators are also invited to take part in a comedy marathon where they will discover delightfully sassy fictions like New Girl, Web Therapy and Episodes. Last but not least, the Public Prize and international Press Prizes will be awarded during the closing ceremony. 

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	Séries Mania 2011: Recap (40sec)		Séries Mania 2011: The creators speak (6min 42sec) partial subtitles