AceShowbiz - The international television festival Series Mania Forum 2026, held in Lille, France, has recognized outstanding projects from France, the former Soviet Union, and Canada as its major winners this year.

At the heart of this year’s awards is the French production R91, which won the top prize at the Series Mania Buyers Upfront as the most promising series for international buyers. This gripping six-part action thriller, distributed worldwide by SND Groupe M6, follows a chilling storyline set aboard France's nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91). The plot unfolds when a crew member is found dead and another disappears, prompting military investigators to board the vessel with its 2,000 crew members and nuclear arsenal. Their mission is to uncover the truth before the murder escalates into a global security crisis.

Meanwhile, the Series Mania prize for best project at the Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, accompanied by a €50,000 ($58,000) development grant, was awarded to Red Pants, a pitch originating from Kyrgyzstan. Created by Erke Dzhumakmatova of Studio Oymo alongside Pavel Feldman and Alexander Seliverstov of Human Films, this ten-part action drama is set in 1970s Soviet Kyrgyzstan. It centers on Aisha, the daughter of a military officer, who, after her father’s death, forms the infamous all-female criminal gang known as the "Red Pants" to oppose the oppressive regime of the time.

Adding a North American flavor to the awards, the Canadian series Chachachá! received the SeriesMakers award, which supports filmmakers transitioning from theatrical films to television fiction. This eight-part dramedy, created by writer/director Alison Fairweather Murray and producer Jennifer Weiss of Toronto's Nice Picture!, explores the life of a Generation X woman who takes up Latin dancing to manage her high blood pressure. However, this lifestyle change stirs unexpected turmoil within her family.

Ferdinand Dohna, head of content and co-production at Beta Film, the sponsor of the SeriesMakers award, praised Chachachá! for its “lighthearted, authentic, and sincere tone.” He emphasized that the series “tackles important universal themes of society with humor” and expressed confidence that it “is exactly the kind of story international audiences need right now.”

The winners of the SeriesMakers award will receive €50,000 ($58,000) to further develop their pitches into pilot scripts and complete production packages, providing essential support for their transition to small-screen storytelling.

With these recognitions, Series Mania Forum 2026 continues to spotlight diverse international voices and innovative storytelling, highlighting projects with strong potential to resonate with global audiences.