Series Mania Institute in Tallinn: New Baltic Drama Series

The Series Mania Institute has officially launched its “Serial Bridges Baltics” initiative, an intensive workshop designed to foster and elevate serialized drama from the Baltic region. Staged in collaboration with the Institut Français and Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event, this new program aims to connect Baltic screenwriters and producers with the broader European market. The inaugural session, held in Tallinn from November 13 to 17, 2025, showcases promising new projects from acclaimed talents like Raitis Abele, Gabija Siurbytė, and Raoul Suvi, among others.

Fostering Baltic-European Connections

Serial Bridges Baltics is a strategic expansion of the Series Mania Institute’s international workshop series, spearheaded by Pierre Ziemniak, the Director of Programs. The core objective is to bridge the gap between Baltic series creators and the European co-production and distribution market. Ziemniak noted the growing international recognition for Baltic series, citing Latvia’s “Soviet Jeans” (presented at Series Mania in 2024) as an example of the dynamic the institute aims to support.

The initiative seeks to provide Baltic professionals with a comprehensive understanding of the international series market, offering practical advice on navigating European co-production and co-financing landscapes. Petri Kemppinen, co-head of TV Beats Forum, emphasized that the workshop format, which includes expert guidance and a final pitch, is designed to cultivate new skills and open doors for future international collaborations.

An Intensive Workshop in Tallinn

The five-day workshop in Tallinn brought together six writer/producer duos from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Participants received personalized mentorship from industry veterans such as Hungarian writer/producer Gabor Krigler (former HBO Europe creative executive) and Finnish writer Jemina Jokisalo (“Money Shot”). Further expertise was provided by Emmanuelle Guilbart, co-CEO of About Premium Content, Emmanuel Eckert, former deputy director of acquisitions at Mediawan Rights, and French-Swedish producer Patrick Nebout (“Whiskey on the Rocks”).

The program includes presentations on the European co-production market, personalized mentoring sessions, and exclusive masterclasses led by European experts. A crucial component of the workshop is pitch preparation, culminating in a final presentation to a professional jury. The winning project will secure an entry ticket to the Series Mania Forum 2026, offering a significant platform for international exposure.

Diverse Narratives from the Baltic Region

The submitted projects for Serial Bridges Baltics demonstrated a notable diversity in genre and theme. Pierre Ziemniak highlighted that while thrillers and dramas reflecting the geopolitical situation were well-represented, the selection also included comedies, fantasy stories, and horror narratives. This variety underscores the creative depth within the Baltic storytelling landscape. The projects were praised for their ingenuity in connecting local stories with international market potential, adhering to the “Serial Bridges” philosophy of respecting local DNA while aiming for universality.

Spotlight on New Projects

The inaugural Serial Bridges Baltics workshop showcased six distinct projects, each presenting a unique narrative vision:

• “Aurora Newsroom” (6×52’, Latvia, Estonia, Finland)

  This contemporary spy thriller, created by Gints Grūbe and directed by Juris Kursietis, involves journalist Guna Vilka investigating an explosion at a wind farm. The series delves into the intricate world of politics, intelligence services, and media within the context of hybrid warfare, exploring how these forces can be influenced at a political level.

• “Codename: Lighthouse” (6×42’, Estonia)

  From the creators of the acclaimed “Traitor,” including writer Raoul Suvi, this project is a thriller set during the fall of the Soviet Union. Producer Jaan Laugamõts promises an “entertaining roller-coaster” by intertwining the historical period with the mystery of a nuclear device briefcase.

• “Midnight Stories” (8×25’, Lithuania)

  Created and written by Gabija Siurbytė and Ernestas Jankauskas, this young adult-oriented thriller explores a seemingly idyllic youth scout farm that conceals a sinister secret. The project blends psychological horror with Lithuanian folklore, offering a fresh anthology for a teenage audience.

• “Shadows of the Swamp” (6×52’, Latvia)

  This crime and supernatural drama by Raitis Abele and Zanda Zeidaka tells a story where people vanish into a misty Baltic swamp annually. A detective and a psychic uncover a World War II Nazi atrocity, revealing dark village secrets and an ancient, unseen force drawing people into the bog. The series aims to balance rational investigation with uncanny myth.

• “The Outskirts” (8×50’, Latvia)

  A thriller and mystery drama created by Lelde and Vlads Kovalovi, “The Outskirts” follows a family vacationing at a remote hotel who soon discover that checking out requires crossing a deadly moral line. Inspired by shows like “Squid Game” and “The White Lotus,” the series combines survival drama with psychological and moral depth, exploring the illusion of freedom and humanity’s essence when certainties vanish.

• “Therapies” (7×30’, Lithuania)

  Created and written by Birutė Kapustinskaitė, this drama centers on a sharp-tongued professor undergoing chemotherapy in a remote hospital. She finds herself in a six-bed cancer ward filled with other women, including an old colleague. The series tackles the sensitive subject of cancer with a combination of warm humor and irony, making it accessible and poignant.

Support and Future Outlook

The Serial Bridges Baltics initiative receives vital backing from several key organizations, including the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Estonian Film Institute, the platform Elisa Eesti in Estonia, and the Latvian public broadcaster LRT. This collaborative support highlights a shared commitment to developing and promoting Baltic series on an international stage.

By providing a structured program for skill development, mentorship, and international networking, Serial Bridges Baltics is poised to significantly impact the visibility and co-production potential of television series originating from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This initiative not only celebrates the unique voices and stories of the Baltics but also strategically integrates them into the broader European content ecosystem, promising a richer and more diverse landscape for global audiences.