SeriesFest

A Celebration of Episodic Storytelling

International Spotlight Competition

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Request Application

Email info@seriesfest.com to request an application.

Learn More

Dates & Fees
Entry Materials
Awards & Prizes

Previous Selections
Previous Jury Members

Submission FAQs

All Festival Submissions:

Storytelling is universal — and with that, borders disappear. SeriesFest’s annual International Spotlight invites audiences to discover some of today’s most compelling television from around the globe. Eligible pilots (18–60 minutes) in this category must not have been released on any home video platform or broadcast on television in the United States. If you are submitting an independently produced pilot, please refer to our Independent Pilot Competition instead:

Independent Pilot Competition: Comedy
Independent Pilot Competition: Drama
Unscripted Series Competition

Submit pilots in the following categories:
Drama
Comedy

“To be here and be boots on the ground and feel the energy and see the creativity is mind-blowing—and it’s the future of our industry.“

Annie Laks
SVP, Creative Content Shondaland

Submission Timeline

April 22: Open Submissions with Announcement
June 3: Regular Deadline 
July 14 : Late Deadline
July – Aug 30: Review Period
Sept 1: Finalist scripts to Next50 Foundation for review
W/o Sept 20: Virtual Interviews with top finalists
Oct 3: Notify Writers of Selection Status
October/November (Fall) : Writers Retreat in Colorado

AWARD

  • Audience Award

ENTRY MATERIALS

An application form is available upon request during the open submissions period by emailing info@seriesfest.com.

  • Submit 1-2 episodes
  • English subtitles required
  • All genres will be considered
  • Series must have been completed after December, 2024.
  • Recurring seasons are acceptable, if season can stand alone
  • Send Press Kit (if available)
  • Co-Productions are acceptable

Entry Fee
(see above)

Please note, entry materials will not be returned

Pilots selected do not need to retain any sort of premiere status, however, programmers do consider premiere status, previous festival screenings, and awards when deciding on official competition selections. Submissions are welcome from around the world, but submissions must be in English or include English subtitles.

Previous Selections

C*A*U*G*H*T

SeriesFest: Season 10, 2024

Audience Award: Best International

ZORRO

SeriesFest: Season 10, 2024

BONES OF CROWS

SeriesFest: Season 9, 2023

GOMORRAH

SeriesFest: Season 2, 2016

Previous Jury Members

Kim Cattrall

Actor

Nina Dobrev

Actor

Mark Linsey

Managing Director, Scripted BBC Studios

Mikael Moore is a Black man, and this is a black and white portrait. He has on a black hat and large rectangular tortoise glasses, a black long sleeve shirt, and a dog tag. He has some facial hair, and is smiling in the photo.

Mikael Moore

Managing Partner Wondaland

Ashley Calloway

Literary Manager ColorCreative

Patrick Macmanus

President Littleton Road Productions

Travis Tammero is a brown man with light facial hair. He has gelled back dark hair and a black suit with a white collared shirt and black tie on. He's posing for a professional headshot in front of a gray background.

Travis Tammero

Agent UTA

Allison Wasserman

VP, Original Programming HBO

C. Brett Marottoli is a woman with long straight brown hair. She has on makeup and a smile, and is posing for a professional headshot. The background of the image is a light blue.

C. Brett Marottoli

Head of Program Acquisitions Starz

Thank you to our partner

Liberty Global

Liberty Global is a dynamic team of operators and investors generating and delivering shareholder value through the strategic management of three platforms — Liberty Telecom, Liberty Growth and Liberty Services.

SeriesFest: Season 12 Community Partners