South African Drama Wins Series Mania Co-Pro Pitching Sessions

The South African drama Paradys has won Series Mania Forum’s Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, earning the Best Project Award.

Paradys sees two Black cops drawn into a racist, whites-only enclave in South Africa after the horrific murder of one of the town’s sons. Creator and writer Darrel Bristow-Bovey and Quizzical Pictures producer Nimrod Geva were awarded €50,000 ($55,000) to continue developing the series.

The winner of the Co-Pro Pitching Sessions was selected by a jury chaired by Antony Root, executive VP and head of original production at WarnerMedia EMEA. The jury also included Noel Hedges, executive VP of acquisitions at Entertainment One (Germany); Yaël Fogiel, producer, co-founder and co-director of Films du Poisson (France); Daniele Cesarano, head of drama at RTI Mediaset Group (Italy); and Susanne Frank, director ZDFE.drama at ZDF Enterprises (Germany).

“The jurors were impressed by the wide range and high quality of the 15 pitches they watched from 56 different countries,” said Root. “There were some comedies, some dramas, some crime series, some horror series and some futuristic fantasy. Each project was considered for its own intrinsic qualities, for its originality for audiences and for its potential to travel outside its country of origin.”

Root continued, “The jury’s final decision was unanimous that the award should be given to Paradys from South Africa. The project was presented with passion and precision, and we hope the Series Mania award will allow it to be developed further and start the journey toward production. Although the setting is local, we believe the story, its themes and its characters will also resonate for audiences outside South Africa. The country is well known for the high quality of the international productions that shoot there. To see the same standards applied to a distinctive and ambitious local project will be very exciting.”

“The Co-Pro Pitching Sessions are one of the most anticipated part of the Series Mania Forum,” noted Laurence Herszberg, founder and general director of Series Mania. “We are delighted to be giving the €50,000 prize to Nimrod and Darrel for their drama Paradys. This is the first time a South African drama has won the Best Project Award, and we are delighted to be honoring this series which encompasses intriguing locations, complex characters and timely and relevant issues. I have no doubt this series will soon find the perfect partners.”