SeriesFest: Season 11 • April 30–May 4, 2025 • Denver, CO

About SeriesFest

OUR MISSION

SeriesFest is a non-profit organization dedicated to championing artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling. With year-round educational programs, initiatives supporting underserved voices, and professional development opportunities, SeriesFest inspires, educates, and connects a worldwide community of creators.

WE ARE

Passionate Opportunity Makers
connecting emerging and underserved episodic artists with established industry professionals and new audiences.

Industry Trailblazers
facilitating a pipeline that carries and supports independent creators and their stories from pitch through production.

Tastemakers & Curators
amplifying diverse voices and stories that represent a global worldview.

Community Builders
creating year-round opportunities for episodic artists and executives to connect and cultivate relationships with like-minded professionals.

INCLUSION & EQUITY STATEMENT

In order to better serve our stakeholders, SeriesFest is committed to leveling the playing field, with the goal of elevating the productions and content we promote to reflect the diversity in our communities. We have instituted a mandate for submission review that evaluates a production’s process for hiring and casting with the intention of expanding the candidate pools, encouraging employment of qualified cast and crew who have been traditionally underrepresented, and demonstrating accountability to advance progress. 

OUR YEAR-ROUND EDUCATION PROGRAMS

SeriesFest has created and administers education programs that strive to inspire and celebrate the voice inside of every student and break down barriers that limit access both in our community and throughout the country. Learn more.

Community Focused

85% of programs are in Colorado schools and community centers, bringing arts education to underserved areas.

Increased Access

Classes serve 2000+ students per year, across the country. Program access grows by over 40% each year.

Inclusive Curriculum

Our program is rooted in inclusivity to serve students from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities in a safe, educational environment.

Hands-On Experience

With an educator-student ratio of 1:10, students get the focused attention they deserve.


Watch the trailer

View more on YouTube.

OUR YEAR-ROUND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

At the heart of its mission, SeriesFest champions and empowers artists in episodic storytelling to share their stories on a global scale. SeriesFest proudly presents year-round opportunities for creators to connect, collaborate, hone their craft, and learn from established industry professionals to move their projects – and careers – forward. Learn more or view open submissions.

Corey Dashaun

As a mentee in our inaugural Executive Elevation Mentorship, Corey connected with mentor Chiké Okonkwo. Following this, he won our Storytellers Initiative with his project F*ck Summer’s Over. Corey is a screenwriter in LA.

Learn more about Corey.

Driadonna Roland

In 2021, Driadonna was matched with Executive Producer Ming Lee Howell as part of our Executive Elevation Mentorship. Driadonna is a development coordinator at Comedy Central.

Learn more about Driadonna.

Tamika Miller

Tamika won cycle 2 of the Women Directing Mentorship in 2020 affording her the opportunity to direct 2 episodes of the Shondaland original series Station 19. Read the press release. Tamika is a director and writer.

Learn more about Tamika.


Watch

View more on YouTube.

OUR ANNUAL FESTIVAL

Since 2015, SeriesFest has been an international resource and destination festival for the television industry to come together in celebration of episodic storytelling. Each spring we gather independent artists, industry leaders, and fans to connect and celebrate in Denver, CO. Experience exclusive panels, independent screenings, network premieres, and more. It’s the place to be for episodic artists, thought leaders, and decision-makers.

Coming up next…

SeriesFest: Season 11
April 30–May 4, 2025
Denver, CO

Showcasing Independent Artists

SeriesFest invites 45+ independent projects selected from our open call for submissions. Official Selections are eligible for exclusive funds and awards to help move their projects—and careers—forward.

Featuring Diverse, Global Series

Our vision is to ensure everyone sees themselves in television—both onscreen and behind-the-camera. We evaluate every production on their commitment to hiring and casting, focusing on those that fight for progress.

TV Industry Thought Leaders

From our signature State of the Industry panel, to artist-focused discussions, to TV series reunions, we host 40+ thought leaders on 10+ exclusive in-person panels.

Industry Professional Audience

SeriesFest attendees are 95% TV industry professionals, offering a networking experience like nowhere else. Find your future collaborators, access funding, and join a supportive, resilient community at SeriesFest.


Watch

View more on YouTube.

Timeline

January 2015

SeriesFest was Born!

SeriesFest was founded by Randi Kleiner and Kaily Smith to champion artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling. In announcing Denver, CO, as its home, SeriesFest ushered this historic birthplace of cable television into a new era.

Read the article.

March 2015

The Storytellers Initiative Began

Foundational to SeriesFest’s mission, the Storytellers Initiative is a screenwriting competition built to connect emerging creatives with industry executives.

Each year, we partner with trailblazing organizations—including Janelle Monáe’s Wondaland, Propagate Content, Ed Helms’ Pacific Electric Picture Company, and Green Pastures Studios—to amplify bold, new voices with trajectory-shifting opportunities.

June 18–21, 2015

A collage of participants in SeriesFest: Season 9.

SeriesFest: Season 1

For the first time ever, SeriesFest brought independent episodic creators and industry professionals together in Denver, CO, to celebrate the power of television.

Watch the recap.

November 2018

Women Directing Mentorship with Shondaland

The Women Directing Mentorship with Shondaland Launched

Known for bringing dynamic female characters to the small screen, Shondaland was a perfect match for SeriesFest’s women-focused directing initiative.

Since it’s first winner in 2019, this competition has provided a launchpad for female directors by affording them the opportunity to shadow a director on a Shondaland original series.

Read the press release.

April 2020

The Executive Elevation Mentorship Program Accepts its First Applicants

Recognizing the need to diversify the landscape of televisions top decision makers, SeriesFest founded the Executive Elevation Mentorship Program to match aspiring executives with influential executives of color.

Read the press release.

November 2021

The Mobile Cinema Lab Welcomes its First Students

Recognizing that young filmmakers often find it difficult to access arts education, SeriesFest built a traveling film education program from the ground up! Since 2021, SeriesFest’s Mobile Cinema Lab has brought trained educators and industry-standard equipment into classrooms and community centers across Colorado—expanding nationally in 2022.