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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Join us for SeriesFest: Season 11 from April 30 to May 4, 2025, as we gather independent artists, industry leaders, and fans to celebrate en masse in Denver, Colorado, at the Sie FilmCenter and other special venues throughout the city. View the festival homepage or open submissions.
Stay in touch
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
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
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.
Watch
View more on YouTube.
