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Series Mania 2023 announces ‘Call for Series’ and ‘Call for Projects’ for its forum
Mumbai: Following a hugely successful 2022 edition, the festival’s founder and general director, Laurence Herszberg, announced the ‘Call for Series’ for the 2023 edition, as well as the ‘Call for Projects’ for the festival’s industry arm, the Series Mania Forum (21-23 March, 2023).
The ‘Call for Series’ for the festival has a submission deadline of 6 January, 2023, while the ‘Call for Projects’ for the forum has a deadline of 16 December, 2022.
“Today I am delighted to be announcing our ‘Call for Series’ and ‘Call for Projects,’ marking the beginning of Series Mania 2023. Our 2022 edition brought together more than 70,000 participants for the festival and 3,300 accredited professionals on-site from 64 countries for the Forum,” commented Herszberg.
“Our festival continues to showcase top series from around the world, while the forum—including Lille Dialogues—is truly one of today’s premiere meeting places for showrunners, screenwriters, producers, broadcasters, key executives, and talent. I have no doubt Series Mania 2023 will be even larger,” added Herszberg.
More than 60 series will be chosen to participate in the Series Mania programme on the festival side.
During the closing event of the eight-day festival, 14 prizes will be given out by the various juries. The Baby (HBO/SKY), We Own This City (HBO), Kamikaze (HBO Max), Unorthodox (Netflix), The Virtues (Channel 4), The Rain(Netflix), The Split (BBC1), I Love Dick (Prime Video), I’m Dying Up Here (Showtime), and Ride Upon the Storm are just a few of the prestigious series that have debuted as a result of the Series Mania international competition (DR).
Visit here to submit online proposals
https://film.series-mania.festicine.fr/en
Producers can submit their proposals for the annual co-pro pitching sessions, the Series Mania Forum’s main event and the idea behind it in the first place. 15 concepts will be chosen from these entries to take part and present themselves to TV industry decision-makers.
The winning proposal will get a prize of 50,000 euros as chosen by a distinguished jury of top business leaders. The forum has served as the premiere location for a number of international television series, including No Man’s Land(France), Banking District (Switzerland), Eden (France), Keeping Faith (Great Britain), Manor House (Czech Republic), Stella Blomkvist (Iceland), Tabula Rasa (Belgium), Trepalium (France), Warrior (Denmark), Devils (Italy), The Head(Spain), Ever After (Italy), The Last Socialist Artefact (Slovenia, Finland), We Got This (Sweden), Des Gens Bien (Belgium), The Dreamers (Israel), Off Season (Switzerland) and Blackport (Iceland).
To submit online, please go to
https://seriesmania.com/forum/en/co-pro-pitching-sessions-2023/
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
