TorinoFilmLab confirms latest projects for SeriesLab screenwriting development programme
TorinoFilmLab (TFL) has confirmed the projects that will take part in the next edition of its SeriesLab screenwriting development programme, and unveiled details of a partnership with the European Writers Club (EWC).
From 91 applications from 44 countries, nine projects have been selected for TFL’s next SeriesLab.
They include adult animated science fiction comedy series Buffalo Johansson, by Lars Damoiseaux and David Vermander; Cockpit, a contemporary drama about a pilot struggling with mental issues, by Justine Riedl and Marion Cécinas; mystery Connection Lost, by Maja Costa and Melina Voss; Decibel, a post-apocalyptic YA story by Nicolás Britos, Eléna Weiss and Dirk Decker; and cozy crime Madre mía by Emmanuelle Kesch, Mauricio Cuffaro and Francisco Carrasco.
The line-up is completed by Merkin, a romantic comedy drama set in 1861 London, by Mia Nikoloska and Sofia Rimskaya; Tuscany-set Spring by Mattia Caprilli and Francesca Nozzolillo and Santiago Fondevila Sancet; Sweet Chef by Jure Pavlović and Ivan Knežević, based on the true story of a chef in the middle of an international drug trafficking ring; and a drama-comedy centred on a Korean popstar, The Tulip Era, by Ali Ercivan and Alexandra Burke.
Those chosen reflect current trends – from light crime to fresh comedy – while many open the door to potential European collaborations. With head of studies Eszter Angyalosy, the programme is curated by Eilon Ratzkovsky (Israel) with the support of three international tutors: Kirsten Ittershagen (Germany), Filip Kasperaszek (Poland) and Cyril Tysz (France). Anne Feinsilber, a French producer, director and screenwriter, is the mentor of the story editor trainees.
In addition, three aspiring story editors were chosen from 47 candidates in 31 countries to join the sessions – Benjamin Cantu, Lizzie Cater and Tiny Mungwe.
“At SeriesLab, we have always been looking for creators with strong, personal visions and the drive to turn those visions into series that can actually make it to the screen,” said Angyalosy. “We’re not here for ideas that live only on paper, we’re here to help shape stories that have a real shot in today’s fast-evolving TV landscape.”
Participants will now take part in three weeklong residential workshops in Leuven, Madrid and Turin between June and November, culminating in the TFL Meeting Event, where teams present their projects in front of an industry audience and compete for the SeriesLab Development Award.
The 18th TFL Meeting Event in November will also see, for the first time, TFL join with the EWC, which will also present the results of its third session, Bridging Generations, after eight months and three camps involving 16 writers from across Europe working together with producers and representatives from broadcasters including TV2 (Denmark), TV3 (Baltics), ERR (Estonia), Czech TV, Videoland (The Netherlands), SRF (Switzerland), RUV (Iceland), NDR and ZDF (Germany), SVT (Sweden) and NRK (Norway). Distributors Dynamic Television and Lumiere will also take part.
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