Four African screenwriters will pitch their original television projects to industry guests at the 17th Series Mania in Lille, France, on Tuesday.
This quartet is the newest participant in the Realness Institute’s AuthenticA series of labs. The Lab is an episodic writing program run in partnership with The StoryBoard Collective and supported by the Canada Media Fund and the Series Mania Forum.
Taking to the stage at the AuthenticA Africa Series Pitch on March 24 will be Reem Morsi (Egypt/Canada) pitching his dark comedy “Humanitarians!” Gamel Apalain (Ghana), mystery drama series “The Gospel According to Charlotte Nelson.” Mona Ombogo (Kenya) plans to promote romantic thriller series “Kanaan”. Jolade Olusanya (Nigeria/UK) will present the sports blockbuster “The Kid: The Hogan Bassey Story.”
Now in its fourth edition, the AuthenticA Series Lab supports and guides African authors to develop globally competitive television series, enabling them to pitch and connect with international partners, investors and producers. The pitching session at Lille followed six months of intensive development with the four screenwriters, who benefited from practical guidance and support.
“Giving African writers a safe space to develop the stories they want to tell and the resources they need to tell them remains a rare intervention,” said Mehret Mandefro, Managing Director and Creative Producer at Reality Institute. “These four writers are proof of what is possible when that space actually exists.”
“Each year, AuthenticA writers are encouraged to tell the stories they’ve kept hidden – stories that are bold, difficult, and complex,” added Selina Ukwoma, scriptwriting consultant and director of the scriptwriting program at the institute. “With the support the lab provides, our writers are constantly pushing the boundaries. They find ways to tell these groundbreaking stories, and in doing so, redefine the narrative about Africa.”
Mr. Morsi is an award-winning writer, director, and multi-genre filmmaker with a background in professional scuba diving and human rights advocacy. Her feature film “Banned” just started a festival tour, and she directed the film “Queen Tut” and an episode of the CBC Gem series “Virgins!” Her series “Fish” won a Canadian national genre competition with WIFTV and is currently in development along with two other scripted projects.
Apalayine is a storyteller who works in film, television, theater, and music. He was the head writer for 560 episodes of the hit Ghanaian series “Dede” and two seasons of the Showmax original drama series “Eno.” He is developing a series of film, television and theater projects through his creative company Whistling Rocks.
Ombogo is an award-winning screenwriter and best-selling author whose credits include the Netflix original musical drama series Volume, for which she won the 2024 Women’s Film Award for Best Screenplay and the Africa Magic Audience Choice Award for Best Writing for a Series. She was the head writer for M-Net’s “Salem and Shanga” and also contributed to Showmax’s “Single Kiasi.”
Olusanya is a poet, filmmaker, and photographer who tells intimate stories that combine lyrical writing with cinematic visuals. He has exhibited his work internationally, receiving commissions from the BBC and the Barbican. Through his company By the Kin, he develops short films and original television series while building community-driven projects.
Series Mania Forum Director Francesco Capullo said: “At Series Mania Forum, we are thrilled to be able to showcase four extraordinary talents from Africa on a global stage, whose rich and diverse stories have the potential to captivate the international industry.” “We are proud to champion their voices and look forward to the impact they will have around the world.”
“The Authentic A-Series Lab is not only a long-term creative development program, but also provides writers with the city support they need to protect their voices,” said Storyboard Collective Executive Director Laure de Peretti de la Rocca. We provide platform literacy and industry access. We support storytellers whose perspectives deserve greater attention on screen and create pathways to international partners ready to bring those stories to life.”
Pictured (left to right): Mona Ombogo, Gamel Apalain, Jolade Olusanya, Reem Morsi
