Canneseries Festival Names Artistic Director

Canneseries, a new festival dedicated to international drama series that will run alongside MIPTV, has tapped former iTunes exec Albin Lewi as its artistic director.

Founded by David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes, and presided by former French Culture Minister Fleur Pellerin, Canneseries will take place April 4 to 11, 2018. Lewi, the former head of the European iTunes editorial TV and independent movie team, will be in charge of the competition selection as well as the appointment of an international jury.

A short-format competition will also be held with awards handed out by a separate jury. The festival will also feature programming open to the public, including free screenings, master classes, panel discussions and more, taking place at venues throughout the city of Cannes. In addition, a Co-Production Forum will be set up.

Pellerin commented: “Canneseries aims to become the worldwide anchor event for series. I trust that Albin Lewi, our new artistic director, will put all his talent and passion to deliver a great selection for the first edition in 2018.”

Managing Director Benoît Louvet said: “Canneseries is on its way! We’re starting off the autumn season with a team of professionals ready to create a fabulous event. Canneseries has set its sights on becoming the international brand reference celebrating the culture and true art of series.”

Lewi remarked: “I’m absolutely thrilled to join a fantastic team for such an ambitious and challenging project. Over the past ten years at iTunes, I witnessed the revolution of series. In this period of what is commonly called Peak TV, festivals are necessary to highlight the best content, bring together talents, showrunners, producers, journalists and the widest possible audience.”

Lisnard concluded: “Canneseries will represent the worldwide event for series! Artistic, glamorous and mainstream. The arrival of Albin Lewi enriches this event that Cannes will host starting in April 2018.”