Séries Mania kicked off in Lille with a dreamlike tribute to David Lynch and a historic culinary series, Carême. With red carpets, premieres, and public acclaim, Europe’s top series festival is back in full swing.
Europe’s biggest event of its kind, the international Séries Mania festival, opened Friday evening in Lille (northern France) with a tribute to David Lynch and a deep dive into Napoleonic-era French gastronomy via the series Carême.
Before the screenings, numerous celebrities walked the purple carpet, including actress Mélanie Doutey, singer and actress Camélia Jordana, who chairs the short formats jury, as well as filmmaker Costa-Gavras, accompanied by journalist Edwy Plenel, who created a documentary series about him.
Broadcast live on Culturebox, the opening ceremony—hosted by Daphné Bürki—began with a dreamlike performance honoring Twin Peaks director David Lynch, who passed away in January, set to Angelo Badalamenti’s iconic score.
The host then called for audiences to "follow and celebrate the liberation of speech through the parliamentary inquiry" into abuse in cinema and television, earning a round of applause.
Next came the premiere of the French series Carême (Apple TV+), focused on Talleyrand’s pastry chef, kicking off the week’s exclusive screenings. Director Martin Bourboulon (The Three Musketeers), actors Benjamin Voisin, Lyna Khoudri, Jérémie Renier, and producer Dominique Farrugia were in attendance.
"A bit of food, a bit of history, and a bit of sex too," summarized producer Vanessa Van Zuylen on stage.
Over the next week, fans will get to explore nearly 50 series from about 20 countries, alongside panels and events. Proving its popularity, “we crashed our own servers,” said festival director Laurence Herszberg with a smile.
Already in high demand are the premiere of Astérix & Obélix: The Battle of the Chiefs, Alain Chabat’s anticipated animated series, and a masterclass with actor Jonathan Cohen (La Flamme), both set for this weekend.
Among the international stars expected: American actresses Christina Hendricks (Mad Men) and Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout).
Closing night will feature Audrey Fleurot unveiling the final season of HPI, filmed in the Hauts-de-France region, Séries Mania’s home since 2018 after eight years in Paris.
As part of the panels, former French president François Hollande will discuss how his former office is portrayed in TV shows.
The international competition jury is chaired by American actress Pamela Adlon (Better Things), alongside French actress Karin Viard and Victor Le Masne, composer of the Paris 2024 Olympics theme.
Nine series are vying for top honors, most with geopolitical themes, including Mussolini: Son of the Century and Kabul. Six series are also in the running in the French competition. Séries Mania welcomed nearly 100,000 attendees in 2024.
With AFP
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