Serial Killer is a three-day long conference offering program for film and TV professionals, journalists, and students of audio-visual fields of studies. It provides the audience with an overview and reflection of European and world TV drama trends, showcases of the new series both from local and foreign broadcasters, inspirational presentations and lectures from successful creators and know-how of representatives from various European televisions and key market players.
Even this year, Serial Killer brings a three-day TV Days conference (September 25th to 27th 2024) back to the Orlí Street Theatre of the Janáček Academy of Music and Performing Arts (JAMU).
All the TV Days conference sessions, panels, presentations and showcases are in English.
The conference programme may be subject to change.
Wednesday 25. 9. 2024 Thursday 26. 9. 2024 Friday 27. 9. 2024
09.30—10.00 MIDPOINT Institute | Smash Cut | Open Lecture How to Create Content for and with the Young Adults |
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For young adults, a good story isn’t enough — it must also carry social significance. Yle Drama´s Executive Producer Hyppe Salmi presents the concept of Areena Stories and its genre-defining, low-budget content commissions from young media professionals. |
10.00—10.10 A Warm Welcome from Serial Killer |
10.10—10.30 Killer among Us: ARTE France |
Session on the ARTE Drama unit as a European public broadcaster and free VOD platform. Who are they? How do they commission and coproduce their drama series projects? What kind of scripted content do they acquire? Let’s find out! |
10.30—10.50 Killer Masterclass: Hervé Jakubowicz |
Exploring the casting process from different types of casting to the distinctions between television & film, and the unique challenges of working in France and internationally. A deeper dive into the experience of the casting director who collaborated with directors such as Thomas Vinterberg, Alejandro G. Iñárritu or Steven Spielberg. |
10.50—11.05 Killer Study: Misty |
Join creators Vladimír Skórka and Matěj Jankovský on a journey into the unknown with an intriguing sci-fi series set in the heart of Europe. |
11.05—11.25 Damn Fine Coffee Break |
11.25—11.45 Cutting Edge: New Series Unveiled – Czech It Out |
Director of Content Tereza Polachová presents upcoming series from the Czech public broadcaster Czech Television. |
11.45—12.00 In the Crosshairs: Series Thrills in Development – Gold War |
Creator and writer Teodora Markova on Gold War, a sports drama unfolding between two of the most absurd events of the Cold War – the boycotts of the Olympics in Moscow ’80 and Los Angeles ’84. The Bulgarian Golden Girls of rhythmic gymnastics become the gentle weapon of the Socialist Bloc. |
12.00—13.00 Lunch Break |
13.00—13.20 Cutting Edge: New Series Unveiled – Coming from Spain |
Programme Manager at Conecta FICTION & ENTERTAINMENT Alba Pérez gives an overview of the Spanish audiovisual industry and showcases the freshest and upcoming Spanish series throughout 2024. |
13.20—13.35 In the Crosshairs: Series Thrills in Development – G.O.A.T. |
A group of aerobics girls struggle with the challenges of adolescence, desire to be the greatest of all time, and getting a taste of the ephemeral nature of life. |
13.35—13.55 Killer Showcase: Audience Appeal, Theme & Quality |
Let’s take a look at the most significant projects on the Czech VOD platform VOYO in the last year, as well as those that are still in the pipeline. |
13.55—14.15 Damn Fine Coffee Break |
14.15—14.35 Disruption in Production: Solutions for the Series Crisis |
As production budgets are being slashed and funding becomes scarce, new technology, including a production system developed with Apple, offer strategies and solutions that allow producers to do more with less, innovate and compete successfully with better-funded rivals – and significantly reduce their carbon footprint in the bargain. |
14.35—14.55 Dark Riviera Presents War Room Content II |
An innovative and flexible approach to creating European TV series with impact by focusing on IP development, working with investigative journalists, videogame designers, podcast creators and graphic novel artists. A multiplatform and multi-cultural method. |
14.55—15.15 Killer Study: Operation Sabre |
Creators Goran Stanković and Vladimir Tagić on the decision to work on a true crime story that nobody wanted to work on. |
15.15—15.35 Damn Fine Coffee Break |
15.35—15.55 Empowering Voices: European Women’s Audiovisual Network |
Alexia Muiños Ruiz on pan-European organisation advocating for gender equality in the European audiovisual sector. At the core of EWA Network’s strategy is the fight for greater gender balance with the approaches of inclusiveness and intersectionality in the audiovisual industry. |
15.55—16.15 Cutting Edge: New Series Unveiled – CANAL+ |
A look back at the first year of CANAL+ on the Czech and Slovak market, upcoming news 2025 & presentation of the upcoming miniseries Moloch. |
16.15—16.30 In the Crosshairs: Series Thrills in Development – The Last Goddess |
Screenwriting duo Hana Neničková and Sára Zeithammerová present The Last Goddess, a Czech folk horror miniseries in progress based on Kateřina Tučková’s eponymous bestseller. |
19.30—00.00 Progressive Killer Award Ceremony & Networking |
Granting the Progressive Killer Recognition to an outstanding personality from the Central and Eastern European region. Venue: PARQ Espresso Bar (park Moravské náměstí) |
09.30—10.00 MIDPOINT Institute | Smash Cut | Open Lecture | Generative AI & Film: Between Hype, Hysteria & Reality |
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Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Seriencamp Conference & Festival Gerhard Maier shares an overview of the current state of generative AI based on collected findings from think tank sessions and discussions, and offers a comprehensive outlook on possible future scenarios. |
10.00—10.25 Deadly Dialogues: AI Practitioners and Experts |
Gerhard Maier with director Petr Salaba and experimental filmmaker Tomáš Rampula spotlight techniques and mindset at the cutting edge of the new technology. |
10.25—10.55 In Conversation with Carrie Holt de Lama |
Producer of the awarded series The Bear on her favourite projects and scenes. Session hosted by TV & Film producer and entrepreneur Anna Różalska. |
10.55—11.10 Damn Fine Coffee Break |
11.10—11.30 Changing the Script: New Models for Series Writing |
As streamers and broadcasters adopt the FAST and AVOD models for broadcast, the way series will be written and structured will change. Knowing what this model will be and how to adapt to it is the key to creating series that can succeed in this new environment. |
11.30—11.45 Investigative texts can be boring. But the stories of how they were made are not |
On the hunt for new series ideas? Watch out! All the fails, challenges, drama, and absurdities behind some of the biggest European investigative reporting in the new podcast series Protagonista presented by investigative journalist Pavla Holcová. |
11.45—12.00 In the Crosshairs: Series Thrills in Development – Gerta Schnirch |
Executive Producer Kateřina Ondřejková from Czech Television and producer Pavel Strnad from Negativ on a two-part television drama based on the novel by Kateřina Tučková, directed by Tomáš Mašín. A story of a young girl from a German-Czech family in Brno whose life was shattered by WW II and the atrocities that followed. |
12.00—13.00 Lunch break |
13.00—13.20 K7 presents scripted TV insights from Los Angeles, Edinburgh and Seoul to Brno! |
After a tough couple of years for scripted TV, research consultancy K7 Media has been travelling the world to uncover the next step. Join Richard O’Meara as he reveals the secrets and industry insights he and his colleagues have learned this year at the LA Screenings, Edinburgh TV Festival and BCWW in Seoul. |
13.20—13.40 Killer Speech: Gub Neal – Why Success Still Relies on Risk and Provocation |
It’s hard to think of drama series these days that manage to cut through the colossal mass of programmes that don’t take a risk or provoke. To do this requires courage and to flirt bravely with the reality of failure. But if the venture is not a risky gambit for the filmmaker, why should the audience bother tuning in? |
13.40—13.55 Parenthood in Czech Audiovisual Industry: Key Insights from a Brief Survey |
Research professional Hana Voleková on study providing a critical look at the intersection of family life and professional commitment in a fast-paced, highly demanding sector. |
13.55—14.10 Damn Fine Coffee Break |
14.10—14.40 In Conversation with Gillian Rose |
Producer, entrepreneur and lecturer Anna Różalska interviews the former Senior Vice President in TV & Film Distribution from NBCUniversal and SKY about her experience with US and European markets and vision for the CEE region. |
14.40—14.55 Beta Film in CEE: Creating, Financing, and Distributing Local Content for the Global Market |
Veronika Kovacova, EVP International Sales & Acquisitions, talks about Beta’s activities and strategy in CEE. |
14.55—15.15 K7 Media: From One Global Trend to Another |
A round-up of what’s going on right now in the wonderful world of unscripted television. |
15.15—15.30 Damn Fine Coffee Break |
15.30—15.50 Cutting Edge: New Series Unveiled – Girls, Mothers & Detectives |
Petri Kempinen from TV Beats Forum of Tallinn presents up-and-coming projects from the Baltic countries. |
15.50—16.10 What We Watched: The Streaming Data about the Most Popular Genres in Europe |
Cliche or fact? Spain loves romantic drama, Britain’s got talent for reality shows, and France and Germany share the same taste or not? And do Czechs really just love romantic comedies? Let’s dive deep into the most popular genres on streaming in 2024! |
16.10—16.30 Killer Study: Welcome to the World of Drag |
Creators from TVN and Endemol Shine Polska on secrets of producing the Drag Me Out format in Poland and how it aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion strategy. |
09.30—10.00 MIDPOINT Institute | Smash Cut | Showcase | Short-Form Series Ideas That Slay! |
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The creators of four short-form series present their projects developed through the Smash Cut workshop. |
10.00—10.15 Creating Powerful & Entertaining Social Impact TV |
US writer and producer Adam Sigel and Polish producer Olga Zhurzhenko explore the legacy of social impact television in Hollywood and how creators learned to successfully make series that were entertaining and thought-provoking. |
10.15—10.30 Magic of Small Screen Sound Design |
Sound design is one of the key creative instruments in storytelling. What are the challenges, obstacles and opportunities in small-screen narration? The newest trends and best practise presented by sound designer and European Film Academy member Kryštof Blabla. |
10.30—10.45 AVOD Trends in 2025 |
The upcoming development of the AVOD platform Stream.cz and its connection to a broader TV world. |
10.45—11.00 In the Crosshairs: Series Thrills in Development – Spectrum |
The series Spectrum follows the story of two boys with a different upbringing falling in love. David comes from a conservative Slovak religious family and Viktor from a liberal Czech background. The story portrays how different upbringings take part in the coming out process – rural versus urban setting, gnostic and agnostic family… |
11.00—11.25 The Human Side of International Collaboration: Communicating across Borders |
As the industry increasingly embraces international co-productions, we find ourselves navigating a landscape rich with opportunities for funding and creative realization. Join the insightful panel discussion hosted by Bonnie Williams. |
11.25—11.45 Damn Fine Coffee Break |
11.45—12.05 Killer Introduction: Czech Platform for Sustainable Audiovision |
The main players of the Czech audiovisual industry came together to discuss the basic principles of sustainable production. |
12.05—12.20 In the Crosshairs: Series Thrills in Development – Fake News Factory |
In a decaying Balkan factory town, a tenacious group of teenagers stitched together a colossal fake news empire around Trump, swaying the outcome of the 2016 US Presidential Election. |
12.20—12.40 Animation as a Technique to Narrate Any Kind of Story |
The Vice Chairman of the federation Animation in Europe talks about how the blooming animation series sector can foster the whole audiovisual industry due to its capacity to reach audiences and narrate any kind of story. |
12.40—12.55 In the Crosshairs: Series Thrills in Development – Happily Never After |
An animated mockumentary series about the true personal stories of fairytale creatures in the 21st century. Captured by nerdy documentarist Felix and sarcastic camerawoman Maryam. |
12.55—13.15 Association of Czech Film Directors, Screenwriters and Script Editors Presents: No Big Deal |
A case study of the upcoming Czech TV series exploring the theme of young adults’ intimate lives under the influence of the massive presence of communication platforms. This drama with satirical and comedic elements will be released on September 29th and presented by screenwriter Darja Miková, director Jan Vejnar and producer Jakub Mahler. |
14.00—15.00 TV Days Killer Bonus: Televizní publicistika na mušce (in Czech & Slovak language) |
Daniela Brzobohatá o současných podobách české a slovenské investigativní žurnalistiky v rozhovoru se třemi nejvýraznějšími českými a slovenskými osobnostmi tohoto žánru: Kristinou Kövešovou z TV Markíza, Jiřím Kubíkem ze Seznam Zprávy a Norou Fridrichovou, která byla ještě donedávna tváří České televize. |
15.00—16.00 TV Days Killer Bonus: Televizní publicistika na mušce (in Czech & Slovak language) |
Michal Kovačič, slovenský televizní moderátor a novinář, uváděl v TV Markíza od roku 2018 politický diskusní pořad Na tělo, který byl ale letos za dramatických okolností zrušen a Michal Kovačič vyhozen. V rámci mimořádně úspěšné crowdfundingové kampaně nyní získal na rozjezd své nové novinářské platformy 360° téměř 15 milionů korun. V rozhovoru s Jindřichem Šídlem společně proberou nejen podrobnosti chystaného projektu, ale i současnou politickou situaci na Slovensku a její dopad na slovenská média. |