iWorld
Series Mania and Beta join forces to launch Seriesmakers
Mumbai: The international TV series industry event Series Mania Forum and European content powerhouse Beta Group have joined forces on Seriesmakers – a new creative initiative that will focus on feature film directors who venture into the world of series.
Eligible for this initiative are teams of director-producer and/or director-writer, who have a first or second feature film screened in an official selection of A-list film festivals and want to create a new series project.
Seriesmakers will allow ten selected teams with an idea for a TV series to participate in a tailor-made training programme focused on the development of a full pitch deck. Led by A-list directors, showrunners, writers, and producers, they will guide new series creators as they develop a series bible. “The objective is to support talents working on a new scripted series and will offer two of ten selected projects a €50,000 grant each,” said the statement.
“Television series has become a desirable destination for feature filmmakers thanks to the dramatic evolvement of the industry which has witnessed an increase in the creative and production quality of programmes in recent years,” commented Series Mania general director Laurence Herszberg. “We want to help filmmakers as they embark on this journey into a new realm of creative opportunities, and we are thrilled to be partnering with Beta who have always supported high-quality storytelling.”
At Series Mania Forum 2023, a special Jury will award two projects with a Beta Development grant of €50,000 each to further develop a pilot script and a full package. These two projects will also enjoy further support, such as script consulting and packaging offered by Beta’s content division, led by chief content officer Koby Gal Raday. The two winning teams will furthermore be invited to Series Mania’s prestigious Forum to present their projects to the industry’s most influential decision-makers, broadcasters, platforms, co-producers, and financiers.
“Beta was and is the independent European home for independent filmmakers who wish to realise their ambitious artistic visions,” stated Koby Gal Raday. “This initiative, focusing for the first time on feature film directors, will enable unique filmmakers to focus on the development of their new series in a supportive and encouraging environment.”
iWorld
Meta warns 200 users after fake Whatsapp spyware attack
Italy-targeted campaign used unofficial app to deploy surveillance spyware.
MUMBAI: It looked like a message, but it behaved like a mole. Meta has warned around 200 users most of them in Italy after uncovering a targeted spyware campaign that weaponised a fake version of WhatsApp to infiltrate devices. The attack, first reported by Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, relied on classic social engineering with a modern twist: persuading users to download an unofficial WhatsApp clone embedded with surveillance software. The malicious application, believed to be developed by Italian firm SIO through its subsidiary ASIGINT, was designed to mimic the real app closely enough to bypass suspicion.
Meta’s security teams identified roughly 200 individuals who may have installed the compromised version, triggering immediate countermeasures. Affected users were logged out of their accounts and issued alerts warning of potential privacy breaches, with the company describing the incident as a “targeted social engineering attempt” aimed at gaining device-level access.
The malicious app was not distributed via official app stores but circulated through third-party channels, where it was presented as a legitimate WhatsApp alternative. Once installed, it reportedly allowed external operators to access sensitive data stored on the device turning a simple download into a potential surveillance gateway.
According to Techcrunch, Meta is now preparing legal action against the spyware developers to curb further misuse. The company, however, has not disclosed details about the specific individuals targeted or the extent of data compromised.
A Whatsapp spokesperson reiterated that user safety remains the top priority, particularly for those misled into installing the fake iOS application. Meanwhile, reports from La Repubblica suggest the spyware may be linked to “Spyrtacus”, a strain previously associated with Android-based attacks that could intercept calls, activate microphones and even access cameras.
The episode underscores a growing reality in the digital age, the threat is no longer just what you download, but where you download it from. As unofficial apps become increasingly convincing, the line between communication tool and covert surveillance is getting harder to spot and far easier to exploit.
