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Danish actress Trine Dyrholm (Beginnings, The Girl With the Needle, The Celebration, Poison) has made a reputation for herself as someone who always gives her all and brings multiple layers to her portrayals.

To Series Mania in Lille, France, which kicks off on Friday, she is bringing her new series The Danish Woman, which is getting its world premiere in the festival’s International Panorama section on Sunday.

Dyrholm stars as Ditte Jensen, who retires from the Danish Secret Service to live a quiet life in Reykjavik, Iceland. But she can’t stop being the elite soldier and warrior she was trained to be. In her new surroundings, she therefore decides to help her neighbors.

International sales for the six-episode series from director Benedikt Erlingsson (Woman at War, Of Horses and Men) are being handled by The Party Film Sales.

Dyrholm tells THR that she is “so grateful that I...

Series Mania has unveiled the selection of 10 series for its inaugural buyers upfront event, scheduled for March 24, 2025, in Lille.

The invitation-only gathering aims to link top-tier buyers with exclusive previews of upcoming international series, serving as a prelude to the Series Mania Forum, the festival’s industry section, which runs March 25-27.

The event kicks off with the Beta Brunch, a market presentation from the veteran German outfit, followed by 12-minute presentations of each selected series. The lineup, curated by the festival’s artistic team based on artistic merit and broad audience appeal, includes:

Dangerous Truth (Germany) a thriller sold by OneGate Media that follows Alex Jaromin, who has spent 20 years in witness protection in Athens, believing his father was killed by Serbian nationalists. When his mother dies, he discovers the truth behind his family’s past, uncovering a secret government operation linked to Baghdad.

Escaping Bolivia (Norway) – a drama/thriller from REinvent International Sales.

Erik Barmack’s “Fusion,” Sally Wainwright’s “Riot Women” and epic fantasy “War of the Kingdoms” feature as potential highlights at the Series Mania Forum’s first Buyers Upfront, whose lineup was announced Tuesday by Series Mania founder and director general Laurence Herszberg.

Kicking off with a Beta Brunch on March 24, the Buyers Upfront also features latest series from Ard, Zdf Studios, Mediawan, Sidus, Beta Film, Slot Machine, REinvent and Bande à Part Films – making for a mouthwatering prospect.

The Upfront also underscores two trends: a move into English-language production which has larger U.S. streamer sales prospects; an increasingly attractive financing model, at least for selectively produced foreign-language shows, based on tying down partners and pre-sales among local broadcasters in Europe rather than waiting for currently highly challenging U.S. deal with a streamer.

Part of producer-distributor Erik Barmack’s drive at Wild Sheep Content into “top talent from smaller countries,...

Unifrance has unveiled its extensive lineup for the 15th edition of Series Mania, set for March 21 to 28. This year, the festival will showcase a selection of 48 series from 20 countries, including 22 French shows, promising a feast for the eyes of TV enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

The Series Mania Forum, the festival’s industry component, will run March 25 to 27, welcoming over 4,200 professionals from more than 70 countries. In this context, Unifrance will host the tenth Coming Next from France on March 25, spotlighting five new French series poised to make waves on the international market. These series, including France TV’s “Kitchen Hustle,” Have a Good One’s “Fake,” Mediawan Rights’ “Don’t Know,” Newen Connect’s “Montmartre” and Oble’s “Jailbreakers,” have been selected to demonstrate the diversity and innovation of French scripted TV.

Produced by CG Cinema, “Kitchen Hustle” turns on three women who dream of working in high-end dining but encounter an elitist,...

Buzzy Trine Dyrholm series “The Danish Woman” will be making its international debut at Series Mania’s International Panorama section in March.

Dyrholm, currently in the midst of the Oscar campaign for “The Girl with the Needle,” plays Ditte Jensen, who retires with honors from the Danish Secret Service. She wants to live a quiet life in Reykjavik, but Ditte can’t just stop being who she is: an elite soldier and a warrior. Now, she will try to help her neighbors. Whether they want it or not.

Directed by award-winning Benedikt Erlingsson, also behind “Woman at War” and “Of Horses and Men,” the six-episode show will premiere in January 2026. International sales are handled by The Party Film Sales.

“After ‘Woman at War’ I wanted to continue with this concept of ‘end justifying the means’ and look at it from a different angle. Ditte Jensen is the result,” Erlingsson told Variety.

French festival Series Mania has revealed its lineup, featuring Joe Wright’s “Mussolini: Son of the Century,” “Querer,” a huge hit at San Sebastián, “Empathy” and “Hal & Harper.”

Amanda Seyfried will present “Long Bright River,” while Pamela Adlon is set to deliver a masterclass. Adlon will also preside over the International Competition jury.

Denmark’s “Generations” will celebrate its world premiere at the fest, as well as “Kabul,” “The Deal” and “The German.”

In the International Panorama Competition, Trine Dyrholm will introduce “The Danish Woman.” She’ll be joined by other world premieres “A Life’s Worth,” “Raul Seixas: Let Me Sing” and “Reunion”. “Requiem for Selina,” “At the End of the Night,” “Celeste,” “Family Matters” and “Putain” will also be shown, as well as “What it Feels Like for a Girl.”

Among other highlights, “Carême” (Apple TV+) starring Jérémie Rénier and Lyna Khoudri, will open the festival. “Hpi” will close it,...