Four African screenwriters are set to showcase their creative prowess at the 15th edition of Series Mania in Lille, France, variety.com reports.
These talented individuals will be pitching stories across various genres, promising an exciting lineup of new narratives.
Among the screenwriters participating are Kelly-Eve Koopman from South Africa, presenting the urban fantasy “Facing the Mountain,” Moreetsi Gabang from Botswana with the crime drama “Outreach,” Tiah Beye from Senegal/Côte d’Ivoire presenting the comedy-drama “Brouteure” (“The Yahoo Girl”), and Wanjiru Kairu from Kenya with the political satire “Serikali Saidia!”
From left: Kelly-Eve Koopman (South Africa), Moreetsi Gabang (Botswana), Tiah Beye (Senegal/ Côte d’Ivoire), Wanjiru Kairu (Kenya)These projects are part of the AuthenticA Series Lab, a programme by Realness Institute aimed at supporting African episodic screenwriters. This initiative, now in its third year, focuses on enhancing the professional development of creators in the serial content space. The collaboration between Realness Institute and partners like the StoryBoard Collective, Series Mania Forum, the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) has been instrumental in fostering these opportunities.
The success stories from the 2023 Series Mania edition are a testament to the impact of such programmes. All four AuthenticA Series Lab writers from the previous year had their stories picked up by broadcasters or leading production companies, showcasing the potential for growth and exposure that this platform offers.
