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Series Mania: The French TV festival unveils its 2021 slate
Mumbai: Series Mania, the French television festival held in Lille, has announced its 2021 line-up ahead of the event set for 30 August. Series Mania’s president Rodolphe Belmer, founder and general director Laurence Herszberg recently unveiled details for the upcoming event.
Series Mania 2021 offers exclusive world premieres of the greatest international series from more than 20 countries. At the same time, the festival welcomes 3,000 international professionals from the television industry at Series Mania Forum and Lille Dialogues summit set for 30 August-1 September. Two key events for networking and business are now extended online with the creation in 2020 of Series Mania Digital Forum.
The 2021 international jury includes: Entertainment One, head of Drama, Polly Williams, producer and creator of “Masha” Maria Feldman, France Televisions’ VP-digital Sened Dhab, Indiana Productions’ film & TV head and partner Daniel Campos Pavoncelli.
The festival will open with the world premiere of British thriller “Vigil,” a World Production for BBC, in association with ITV Studios in partnership with ARTE, starring Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie.
The international competition jury will be chaired by screenwriter, director and producer Hagai Levi (BeTipul, The Affair, Our Boys) and contenders include “Kamikaze” (Denmark, HBO Max), “Anna” (Italy); “Blackport” (Iceland), “Furia” (Norway, Germany), “Germinal” (France, Italy), “Hamlet” (Turkey), and “Jerusalem” and “The Echo of Your Voice” (both Israel).
The festival will also see premieres of several American series, including the AMC dramedy “Kevin Can F**k Himself” starring Annie Murphy, and Peacock’s true-crime thriller “Dr. Death” starring Alec Baldwin, Christian Slater, Carrie Preston, and Joshua Jackson.
Other premieres include season five of Netflix’s hugely anticipated, “Money Heist”.
Series Mania ’21 will host guests of honor including “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan, “Dexter” showrunner Clyde Philipps, and “The Good Fight” actress Audra McDonald.
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.
