A unique European training programme for TV series producers
Series Mania Institute Kicks Off Apollo Series
Series Mania Institute announces the launch of Apollo Series – a unique programme aimed at European TV series producers seeking to co-produce projects on a continental scale. The programme is created in partnership with Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision and MIA International Audiovisual Market.
The first edition of Apollo Series is starts on October 6 at MIA and will bring together ten producers from across Europe (Italy, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Estonia, Ukraine, Romania, etc.). This training programme offers a unique opportunity to learn about different aspects of European co-production, covering topics such as intellectual property, artificial intelligence, new financing methods, local and regional opportunities, tax shelters and other incentives, MEDIA and EURIMAGES financing mechanisms, while also providing access to European-wide networks.
“With Apollo Series, we are taking a new step forward in our mission: to prepare European producers to meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive and globalised market, where artistic, financial, and legal aspects are more intertwined than ever before. Thanks to this unprecedented alliance with MIA and Göteborg Film Festival’s TV Drama Vision, we are creating a real space for meeting and collaboration to encourage the emergence of ambitious European projects ready to conquer audiences around the world,” says Pierre Ziemniak, Director of Programs at Series Mania Institute.
The programme consists of three intensive four-day sessions:
- Rome (Italy) at MIA (Mercato Internazionale Audiovisivo) in October 2025
- Göteborg (Sweden) at the Göteborg Film Festival's TV Drama Vision in January 2026
- Lille (France) at Series Mania Forum in March 2026, interspersed with online follow-up meetings.
Designed as a platform for cooperation, this training programme will be led by two mentors: Isabelle Lindberg Pechou, a development producer and co-production consultant who has held various senior positions at France Télévisions, TrustNordisk, and REinvent Studios; and Leona Connell, an expert consultant on the international market and financing channels, who has held senior positions at NBCUniversal, Sky, and TF1.
The programme aims to boost the European dimension of participants' projects, but also to create opportunities to meet with international partners, producers, and broadcasters during the three events. Speakers will share their experience on structuring projects and their circulation within the European market.
Cia Edström, the Head of TV Drama Vision at Göteborg Film Festival emphasizes, “This partnership is a unique opportunity to build bridges between different audiovisual traditions in Europe. Apollo Series will be a place of transmission, inspiration, and networking for a new generation of European producers.”
Gaia Tridente, Director of MIA, adds: “Apollo Series embodies the very spirit of European co-production. By pooling our expertise, we provide producers with concrete tools to navigate a constantly changing environment and enhance their ability to develop internationally competitive series. Beyond development tools, MIA provides Apollo Series participants with unparalleled access to a vibrant international network of decision-makers and creative talent, fostering long-term partnerships across Europe and beyond."