Three new initiatives for the conference programme
This year, three major new initiatives will be included in the conference programme: Stories at Risk, a European think tank on creative freedom and democratic dialogue; Beyond the East-West Co-Production Myth, a new collaboration with the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival exploring the potential of creative series co-productions between Western European companies and producers from Central and Eastern Europe; and Seriesly Creators, a conference track dedicated to the business of creator IP, platform entertainment and new series models.
“Seriesly Berlin was created as a place where conversations can happen that are often missing elsewhere in the industry,” says Festival Director Dennis Ruh. “At a time when the audiovisual sector is undergoing profound transformation – driven by rapid technological change, shifting political and economic conditions, and increasingly fragmented international collaboration – it is more important than ever to create spaces for exchange, alignment and new ideas. Traditional structures and formats are being redefined in real time, and we see a clear need to actively respond to these developments rather than follow them. This year’s programme, including the launch of new initiatives, is a direct response to this moment of disruption and opportunity.”
Stories at Risk: Exploring the Democratic Power of Storytelling
One of the central new initiatives of this year’s edition is Stories at Risk: Cultural Diversity, Democracy and Debate on Screen, a European think tank project developed by Seriesly Berlin and co-funded by the Council of Europe’s Pilot Programme for Series Co-Productions and its Culture on Screen programme.
At a time when economic pressures, political polarisation and changing platform dynamics increasingly influence which stories are financed, commissioned and ultimately seen by audiences, Stories at Risk creates a space for critical reflection and international dialogue. Bringing together writers, producers, broadcasters, festivals and market representatives from across Europe, the initiative examines how audiovisual storytelling contributes to democratic discourse and cultural diversity while addressing the challenges facing creative freedom and editorial independence.
The project will unfold through a survey, a series of curated discussions and industry exchanges before culminating in a public presentation and a report designed to contribute to broader European conversations about the future of audiovisual storytelling.
Seriesly Berlin is developing the initiative, whose implementation will be supported by a growing network of international partners, including the European Writers Club, Series Mania Forum, Iberseries & Platino Industria, Göteborg Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival’s CineLink, Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, the German Producers Alliance (Produktionsallianz), the European Writers Desk and Creative Europe MEDIA Desks Germany, with additional partners to be announced.
Beyond the East-West Co-Production Myth
International collaboration remains a defining theme of this year’s conference programme. In partnership with the KVIFF Film Industry of Karlovy Vary International Film Festival will be launched a new two-part industry conversation under the title Beyond the East-West Co-Production Myth.
For many years, discussions about collaboration in series production between Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have often been framed through the lens of production services and cost efficiency. The new initiative seeks to challenge these assumptions and instead explore the creative, financial and strategic opportunities emerging from increasingly interconnected European production ecosystems.
The conversation starts at this year’s Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (3–11 July 2026) on July 8 as part of the Screen Focus Sessions under the headline “Understanding CEE’s Hidden Production Ecosystems” focusing on reframing how Central & Eastern Europe is understood within the European series landscape. Building on themes explored in Karlovy Vary the discussion continues at Seriesly Berlin, shifting the focus to exploring how CEE’s production ecosystems can be activated creatively and strategically.
Introducing Seriesly Creators
Reflecting the rapidly evolving relationship between creators, platforms and audiences, Seriesly Creators will be introduced, a new conference track dedicated to creator-driven storytelling, platform-native future of serial entertainment, vertical series and how communities are formed around new narrative formats. It brings together creators, platforms, production companies, brands and technology providers to explore new forms of storytelling, audience building and IP development. Seriesly Creators positions itself not as a conventional creator conference, but as a focused conversation on how serial storytelling is being fundamentally reshaped.