Three African writers will present their projects at the AuthenticA African Series Pitch at the Series Mania Forum, the largest event dedicated to television series in Europe, that takes place in Lille, France. The Pitch which takes place on 25 March at 3pm is an industry endeavour to showcase African screenwriters and their unique storytelling voices to the global television sector.
Cape Town-based, Realness Institute, in partnership with The StoryBoard Collective, and with the support of the Series Mania Forum, and Canada Media Fund have been working with the three writers for the past six months in the AuthenticA Series Lab, a training programme for African screenwriters that combines online workshops, masterclasses with industry professionals, and residencies in South Africa and Switzerland.
The writers have been working with a mentoring team of creative producer Mehret Mandefro and script consultant Selina Ukwuoma who also co-designed the program. “Creating dedicated spaces where African screenwriters can explore their voice and refine their craft, supported and uninterrupted is not just valuable – it’s essential for Africa to determine her future,” said Acting Managing Director at the Realness Institute, Mehret Mandefro.
Mentor Selina Ukwuoma added, “Through AuthenticA, the writers have had the time and support to nurture both their creative and professional development. They come to Series Mania with a strong sense of who they are and what they have to offer the international market. And it’s fire. They will set the world alight!”
“After seeing their stories develop from Cape Town to Geneva, we are excited to see the three scriptwriters on stage. Each of these stories, in its own way, truly embodies what AuthenticA stands for—bringing authentic stories to life,” added David Rimer, Founder of The StoryBoard Collective
“Series Mania Forum provides an international platform for talented voices from Africa. I’m thrilled that, through this partnership with Realness, we can help them connect with partners and bring their projects to life,” said Francesco Capurro, Series Mania Forum Director.
The writers are Mlilo Mpondo (South Africa) with a comedy drama project – Women from the 13th Floor, Talemwa Pius (Uganda) with his Western – Mad Bounty and The Midnight Gun and Tony Koros (Kenya/USA) with a comedy – Money Town.
South African Mlilo Mpondo has had her work published by major media outlets such as Daily Maverick, ELLE Magazine, Marie Claire, and The Guardian (UK). Her fearless storytelling tackles, with intense energy, themes of identity, heritage, and being a woman. Her debut novel, Things My Mother Left Me (Blackbird Books), has solidified her reputation as a bold and authentic voice in African literature.
Talemwa Pius is a Ugandan screenwriter and director whose short film Engaito (2021) was awarded at the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) in Lagos, Nigeria. A graduate of the Multichoice Talent Factory Academy and the New York Film Academy’s Short Form Storytelling Workshops, he holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial and Fine Arts from Makerere University Kampala. In his work, he explores different genres to break and challenge African stereotypes.
LA-based Kenyan Tony Koros is a 2021 Sundance Screenwriters & Directors Lab Fellow, and a recipient of a number of film grants including from the Tribeca Film Institute, and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. His latest short film, Tithes & Offerings premiered in competition at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2019 and was distributed by CANAL+. His previous short films have screened at over seventy international film festivals where he has won numerous awards. He holds an MFA in Filmmaking from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts (2018).
The AuthenticA Pitch is part of a broader African presence at Series Mania Forum 2025, which includes the African Talents & Industry Breakfast, a networking event that focuses on African talent and aims to develop collaboration between African and international industry experts. This breakfast is hosted by Maison des Mondes Africains, Institut Français, The Realness Institute, and the StoryBoard Collective.
For more information about AuthenticA Series Lab and other Realness Institute industry development programmes go to: https://www.realness.institute/authentica-series-lab