Canneseries

Canneseries is an international television festival established in 2018 in Cannes, France, presenting competition and out-of-competition series from around the world. The festival takes place in parallel with the Festival de Cannes ecosystem and attracts creatives, broadcasters, platforms, distributors, and press from United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and beyond. It functions as a marketplace and showcase linking series creators with institutions such as Canal+, HBO, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and BBC.

History

The festival was inaugurated in 2018 to capitalize on the rising prominence of serialized storytelling exemplified by works from HBO's Game of Thrones, AMC's Breaking Bad, Netflix's House of Cards and Channel 4's Utopia. Early editions featured entries from influential producers and showrunners associated with Sky Atlantic, FX, Hulu and Arte. Founding organizers included stakeholders from the Festival de Cannes administration and representatives from the City of Cannes and the French Ministry of Culture. Over successive editions the programme expanded to include international delegations from South Korea, Japan, Canada, Australia and Brazil, responding to rising prestige of series such as Squid Game, Dark, Money Heist and Narcos. Political and industry discussions at the festival have referenced regulatory frameworks in the European Union, co-production treaties like those between France and Germany, and funding agencies including the CNC.

Organization and Format

The festival's schedule has comprised competitive strands, non-competitive screenings, masterclasses, and industry events organized with partners such as MIPTV, Sundance Institute, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Screen International. Venues have included civic spaces in Cannes and screening sites associated with the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès. The event's accreditation attracts delegations from broadcasters like TF1, LRA, Rai, TV Tokyo and streaming services such as Paramount+ and Apple TV+. Programming formats encompass world premieres, series pilots, and episode marathons; panels and masterclasses have featured showrunners linked to properties like The Handmaid's Tale, The Crown, Killing Eve and Fleabag. Industry activities include market meetings, co-production pitches, and distribution negotiations involving firms such as Endemol Shine Group, Banijay, Lagardère Studios and Gaumont Television.

Awards and Jury

Competitive awards presented at the festival have included a Grand Jury Prize, Best Series, Best Performance, and special jury recognitions adjudicated by juries composed of actors, directors, writers and producers. Jury presidents and members have represented institutions such as Cannes Film Festival, Emmy Awards veterans, and practitioners associated with Palme d'Or laureates and award-winning series creators from Channel 4, BBC Studios, Showtime, Canal+ and ZDF. Past jurors have included notable performers and auteurs who also have credits tied to César Awards, BAFTA, Golden Globe Awards and Primetime Emmy Awards. Awards have elevated series in international markets and facilitated festival laureates securing distribution deals from platforms including Netflix, HBO Max and Prime Video.

Notable Screenings and Premieres

The festival has hosted premieres and out-of-competition presentations from auteurs and showrunners affiliated with celebrated works such as Lupin-adjacent creators, collaborators of David Fincher, and teams behind Narcos: Mexico and True Detective. Screenings have included series with casts featuring names linked to Marion Cotillard, Julianne Moore, Pedro Almodóvar collaborators, and directors associated with Luc Besson and Olivier Assayas. International selections have showcased content from production centers in South Korea, featuring creators who previously worked with CJ ENM and tvN, as well as Latin American series from teams connected to Globo and TelevisaUnivision. Special tributes and restored-era presentations have involved archives and institutions such as the Cinémathèque Française.

Impact and Reception

Industry observers from trade outlets like Variety, The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline have credited the festival with consolidating Cannes as a hub for serialized storytelling alongside cinematic showcases like the Festival de Cannes and market events such as Cannes Lions and MIPCOM. Critics and commentators from publications including Le Monde, Libération, The Guardian and The New York Times have noted its role in promoting co-production across Europe and amplifying non-English-language series that later gained traction on platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. Cultural institutions including the CNC and broadcasters like ARTE have used festival visibility to justify funding and commissioning strategies. The festival has faced commentary about programming balance between established networks (e.g., HBO Max, Showtime) and emerging platforms (e.g., Shudder, Binge), while scholars citing departments at universities such as Sorbonne University and King's College London have studied its influence on transnational television flows.

Category:Television festivals