SeriesLab Europe 2020

TorinoFilmLab launches the fourth edition of SeriesLab, an annual programme aimed at developing innovative and high-profile international TV series projects.

The lab stands out for involving all the main players involved in TV series production – scriptwriters, producers and TV broadcasters – and for offering a close link between scriptwriting process and TV industry.

It is open to up to 9 projects, which will join an intensive course – from December 2019 to March 2020 – and foresees 3 residential workshops and 2 on-line sessions.

The lab follows the entire process of creation of a TV series concept, offering the support of highly qualified tutors and story editors in generating ideas and structuring the material, up to a final presentation in front of major key players of the international TV industry, during the Series Mania Forum (25-27 March 2020 in Lille, France).

The aim is to draft the treatment of the pilot and the concept presentation (mini-bible) of the project.

SeriesLab is realized thanks to the support of the Creative Europe - MEDIA Sub-programme of the European Union; main partner: Series Mania Forum; with the support of: Screen Ireland; in partnership with: SKY Italia and VAF - Flanders Audiovisual Fund. Thanks to these partnerships SeriesLab will welcome 1 project from each of the following territories: France, Ireland and the Flanders region of Belgium, whose participation in the programme will be supported by the above-mentioned institutions.

SeriesLab is open to professional European scriptwriters and directors. Each participant can submit only 1 project, individually or in a team of two members; in exceptional cases a third participant (co-writer or attached producer) can join by paying an additional fee.

The programme is open to both original concepts and adaptations; in this second case the team must have secured the rights for the book or other work on which the series is based.

Candidates have to send a concept for a long, multi-season fiction TV series (at least 6 episodes between 26’ and 59’ each). Concepts for mini-series (2 to 4 episodes) and documentaries or animation projects will not be accepted.

As Series Mania has signed the 50/50 pledge, gender balance between the selected teams will be a considered as a selection criteria.

The project can be presented together with a production company. However, it is not necessary to have a producer attached. The attached producer can join the workshops together with the team of authors.

Applicants must confirm their availability for the workshops and the final presentation.

The working language of all SeriesLab workshops, meetings and events is English; thus, a good knowledge of English is essential in order to participate.

Course participation fee: 3.000 Euro (+ VAT, if due) per team (1 or 2 participants)*. ?A third participant (co-writer or attached producer) can join in exceptional cases, with an additional cost of 2.000 Euro (+ VAT, if due).

^{* This amount covers workshop training, on-line sessions, accommodation and subsistence during the workshops. Participants must pay travel costs. In many countries scholarships are available for this training.}

A number of partial scholarships, covering tuition costs, will be assigned to participants coming from low audiovisual capacity countries**.

^{** Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Serbia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia.}

The requested materials – to be submitted all together in one PDF – are:
- logline (2 lines maximum)
- an updated CV for each participant (2 pages maximum)
- concept presentation (7.500 characters, spaces included)
- pilot outline structured in bullet points:
a) for 26’ to 50’ format 16-25 points and 7.500 characters (spaces included)
b) for 50’ to 59’ format 35-45 points and 10.000 characters (spaces included)
- audiovisual approach documents (moodboard, etc.), if available

The material must be redacted using font Courier, 12 points.
Submitted materials should be in English or have English subtitles/translation.

Please click on the "Apply Now!" button in the right-side column of this page to access the on-line application form and submit your project. Before starting the application process, you will need to create an account on the TFL Visitor Page.

Extended deadline for applications: July 16^th, 2019, 12:00 p.m. CET (noon)

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed via scheduled Skype meetings in October 2019.

For more information please contact:
angelica.cantisani@torinofilmlab.it

^{The selected projects of SeriesLab must indicate TorinoFilmLab and Series Mania support both in the opening and closing credits, by displaying the TorinoFilmLab and Series Mania logos and the caption “The project has been developed during SeriesLab”.}

In the light of the global crisis related to COVID-19, TorinoFilmLab has been adapting the original structure of its programmes to the new circumstances, in an open discussion with our tutors, partners & participants.
An updated calendar will be available as soon as possible.

Original dates

1^st residential workshop: 12-17 December 2019 (Dublin, Ireland)
2^nd residential workshop: 6-11 February 2020 (Turin, Italy)
3^rd residential workshop, final presentation and meetings: 21-27 March 2020 (Series Mania Forum - Lille, France).