The Series Mania Festival kicked off on Friday, March 20, in the French city of Lille, where global tensions and their effects on the entertainment industry were highlighted. Although the festival has been held since 2018, this current edition comes at a critical time as many countries face the onset of crises and political groups that are influencing global events.
Iranian director Ida Panahandeh was invited to participate on the jury for the international competition but had to remain in Tehran under difficult circumstances due to bombings. The director expressed her hope that soldiers would stay in their countries while artists could travel freely worldwide.
For the first time, the Series Mania selection committee registered a decline in the number of series submitted for competition, which reached 375 compared to 450 series last year. This decline can be attributed to several factors, including the capital movements in the American entertainment industry, as well as the challenges faced by public services in Europe. This means that the number of series coming from the United States will be minimal this year.
Among the series showcased at the opening was “The Testaments,” adapted from Margaret Atwood’s sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale.” However, the platform Disney+ imposed strict restrictions on the media and the public, demanding they not discuss any details about the series before its airing. It seems that the positions of American platforms in this regard will not change easily due to festivals.