Spanish productions win twice at Series Mania festival

 A family drama, a surprising tax thriller and the rise of fascism attract record audiences. 

Although there is talk about a dip in production, Series Mania - Europe’s biggest TV festival - is on a roll. The event, that just closed in the French town of Lille, had a bumper year with nearly 110,000 visitors in 2025. Series Mania Forum, the industry zone, saw almost 20% more visitors, topping 5,000 delegates. This makes it not only Europe’s premier co-production forum but also its biggest TV market, challenging more established events in Cannes.

A festival is nothing without an awards ceremony. This year, Spain’s solid production reputation was confirmed by a historic double, with the top Grand Prize in the main competition going to Alauda Ruiz de Azua’s gripping family drama “Querer” (Want) and best series going to Diego San José’s “Celeste,” a surprising tax thriller co-produced with The Mediapro Studio.

Other notable winners include Lili Reinhart as best actress for “Hal & Harper”, veteran Israeli writers Moshe Zonder and Ronit Weiss Berkowitz for the screenplay of “The German” and Luca Marinelli for his role as Benito Mussolini in Joe Wright’s “M: Son of The Century” – a fresh but powerful look at the rise of fascism in Italy. Variety called it a “tearaway” performance.

The festival also confirmed its 2026 dates of March 20-27, with the industry Forum taking place March 24-26. 

SERIES MANIA PRIZES 2025:

Audience Award

“Empathy,” (CRAVE (BELL Medias), Canada)

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION

Grand Prize 

“Querer,” (Spain, Movistar Plus)

Best Writing

Moshe Zonder, Ronit Weiss Berkowitz (“The German,” Israel, U.S.)

Special Mention 

“The Deal,”(RTS – Radio Télévision Suisse, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg)

Best Actress

Lili Reinhart, (“Hal & Harper, U.S)

Best Actor  

Luca MarinellI, (“Mussolini: Son of The Century,” France, Italy)

FRENCH COMPETITION

Series

“37 Seconds,” (ARTE, France, Germany)

Best Actress

Elsa Guedj, (“Reformed”)

Best Actor

Arthur Dupont, (“The Rose Family”)

Best Original Score

Anthony D’Amario, Edouard RIGAUDIÈRE, (“Log Out”)

INTERNATIONAL PANORAMA

Best Series

“Celeste,” (Spain, Movistar Plus+)

Special Mention 

“Putain,” (Belgium, Streamz)

Best Directing 

Ida Panahandeh, (“At the End of The Night,” Iran)

Best Actress

Carmen Machi, (“Celeste,” Spain)

Best Actor 

Matthew Gurney, (“Reunion,” U.K.)

Student Jury Prize

“Requiem for Selina,” (Norway, NRK)

SHORT FORMS COMPETITION

Best Series

“One of us is Trembling,” (Denmark)

Special Mention

“El’Sardines,” (Algeria, France)

Student Jury Prize

“Wingspan,” (Germany) 

(Michael Leahy. Source: Variety et al. Photo: © Arnaud Loots)