The global spotlight of the 2026 Series Mania Forum is set to shine brightly on a formidable contingent of Canadian talent, as 11 innovative producers prepare to pitch six compelling digital short-form and web series at the prestigious "Canada’s Producers to Watch" showcase. This significant presence is more than just a testament to Canada’s burgeoning television industry; it underscores a profound and energetic commitment to diversity, not merely as a buzzword but as a fundamental ethos shaping the future of storytelling. A striking seven of these 11 producers are women, a clear indicator of the leadership and creative vision that female professionals are bringing to the fore in Canadian television, influencing high-quality series both domestically and on the international stage.
Series Mania, held annually in Lille, France, has cemented its reputation as one of the most important international festivals dedicated solely to television series. It serves as a vital marketplace for creators, producers, and distributors to connect, pitch new projects, and forge crucial co-production partnerships. For Canada, its robust participation is no surprise. The nation’s deep-rooted cultural ties with France, particularly through its Francophone province of Quebec, naturally foster a strong connection with a festival hosted in a French-speaking country. Many of the Canadian producers attending are based in Quebec, creating series in French, which finds a receptive audience and industry network in Lille. Beyond linguistic synergy, Canada has long been recognized as an inveterate leader in international co-production, a practice central to the economic and creative fabric of its television industry. This expertise makes Canadian producers highly sought-after partners, aligning perfectly with Series Mania’s industry essence. Ania Jamila, one of the featured producers, eloquently captures this collaborative spirit for Variety, stating, "Co-production is central to my approach, because storytelling naturally crosses borders. Someone very poetic and smart said: ‘Alone we go fast; together we go far.’" This philosophy of shared endeavor and expanded reach resonates deeply within the Canadian production landscape.
The emphasis on diversity extends far beyond gender representation. The selection for "Canada’s Producers to Watch" notably includes at least three Indigenous production companies, signaling a powerful movement towards narrative sovereignty. This critical shift empowers Indigenous creators to tell their own stories, in their own voices, and on their own terms. Julie O’Bomsawin, a producer behind one of the showcased projects, "Nish," articulates this transformative vision, explaining, "’Nish’ is an act of narrative sovereignty, created by an Indigenous production company. It brings our voices to the screen on our own terms, telling our stories in our own ways, grounded in our values." This commitment to authentic representation is not just a moral imperative but a creative one, enriching the global tapestry of stories with unique perspectives previously marginalized or misrepresented. Canada’s public broadcasting system and cultural funding bodies have increasingly prioritized support for Indigenous content, recognizing its vital cultural importance and the need to foster a new generation of Indigenous filmmakers and storytellers.
Beyond the "Producers to Watch" showcase, the broader Series Mania program also features Canadian innovation. Neegan Sioui Trudel’s "Saturnids," for instance, is slated to screen in Series Mania’s 2026 Short Form Competition. This sci-fi tale of mass insomnia is described as delivering a haunting sense of dislocation, a thematic thread that unexpectedly weaves through several other Canadian projects at the festival.
Indeed, a closer examination reveals that at least four other pitched series ("Hotel Beirut," "Citiots," "Cows Come Home," and "Malgré Moi") delve into tales of relocation, whether to Canada itself or to smaller cities and rural communities within the vast nation. This thematic consistency speaks volumes about the Canadian experience, which is often shaped by migration, settlement, and the search for belonging in new or unfamiliar environments. This narrative archetype offers rich ground for exploration, ranging from "fish-out-of-water" comedies like "Citiots" and "Cows Come Home" to heartwarming romances such as "Malgré Moi." These stories, if their synopses and early glimpses are any indication, often culminate in a poignant embrace of a new identity or a second chance at forging connections, reflecting the resilience and adaptability inherent in the human spirit when faced with change.
A Closer Look at Canada’s Producers to Watch, Their Companies, and Their Projects:
The "Canada’s Producers to Watch" showcase at Series Mania 2026 offers an intimate glimpse into the creative minds and innovative projects poised to make a significant impact. These producers represent the vibrant diversity and entrepreneurial spirit driving Canadian television forward.
Julie O’Bomsawin, Kassiwi Média, "Nish"
Julie O’Bomsawin leads Kassiwi Média, an Indigenous media production company committed to reflecting the multifaceted experiences of Indigenous peoples across both urban and community settings in Quebec. Kassiwi Média’s previous successes include the 2025 feature film "Captain" and the acclaimed docuseries "From the Front Line," which has already run for three seasons, demonstrating their strong track record in compelling storytelling. O’Bomsawin arrives at Series Mania with "Nish," a youth fiction series currently in post-production. Shot in both French and Innu, "Nish" follows the lives of twin teenagers navigating their existence in a remote Northern Quebec community, with a strong emphasis on family and cultural values. This series is a powerful example of Indigenous-led content, offering authentic narratives to a broader audience. "Nish" is scheduled to premiere on Canada’s Ice Tou.TV in Fall 2026, followed by broadcasts on Radio-Canada and the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) in Winter 2027, marking a significant moment for Indigenous representation on national platforms.
Annie Bourdeau and Alexandre Gauthier, Urbania Media, "Be Pretty" ("Sois Belle")
Urbania Media, renowned for its innovative and often provocative content across various platforms, brings "Be Pretty" (original title "Sois Belle") to the forum. This emotionally charged miniseries, created by Alexandre Gauthier and penned by acclaimed comedian Kim Lévesque-Lizotte, draws inspiration from the true story of supermodel Eve Salvail. It is framed as a modern cautionary tale, delving into the intoxicating allure and inherent perils of chasing instant fame. Annie Bourdeau highlights the series’ contemporary relevance, telling Variety, "The series shines a light on the struggles facing women today, offering a lens through which to reflect on our own era. Long before influencers and filters, the runway was already the original feed." "Be Pretty" promises a bold exploration of ambition, identity, and the timeless pressures faced by women in the public eye, resonating particularly with a women-focused audience interested in critical social commentary through entertainment.
Rebecca and Natalie Davey, Ceres Productions, "Citiots"
The sister duo, Rebecca and Natalie Davey, lead Ceres Productions, a company praised by poet Canisia Lubrin as "badass and tender." Their diverse slate of projects showcases a commitment to impactful storytelling across genres. Ceres is currently developing an intriguing six-part prestige limited series adapting a short story by Oscar-nominated novelist Emma Donoghue ("Room"), set to star Supinder Wraich ("Allegiance"). Additionally, they are producing "The Nothing Club," a disability-forward kids show supported by the Shaw Rocket Fund and CMF, slated to begin production next month, underscoring their dedication to inclusive narratives. At Series Mania, the Daveys will present "Citiots," a digital short-format, fish-out-of-water comedy starring Brandon Ash-Mohammed. The series follows a yoga-trained wannabe pastor and his reality television-producing husband who are unexpectedly forced to manage a dwindling country congregation and launch an independent candle business and brewery from their barn. "Citiots" promises a fresh, humorous take on rural-urban culture clashes and the challenges of reinventing oneself.
Ania Jamila, Kavalo Productions, "Hotel Beirut" Season 2
Ania Jamila’s Kavalo Productions is firmly rooted in Canada’s Francophone landscape, yet boasts an inherently international outlook, focusing on intimate stories that possess global resonance. "Hotel Beirut" exemplifies this vision. Co-written, directed, and produced by Jamila, Season 1 was set in late-1980s Canada, chronicling the struggles of two siblings adapting to a new life after fleeing Lebanon. Jamila returns to Lille to pitch Season 2, which picks up three years after their initial exile. In this new chapter, a teenage photographer meticulously chronicles his family’s life in Canada, as the powerful pull of returning home begins to disrupt the fragile balance they have painstakingly built between two distinct worlds. Jamila, a polyglot who has lived across three continents, explains her approach: "As a polyglot who lived on three continents, I work across languages and cultures and I’m drawn to stories where the personal reflects something larger." Her work offers a nuanced exploration of diaspora, identity, and the enduring connection to one’s roots, themes that resonate globally.
Neegan Sioui Trudel, Oraquan Media, "Shamanic Nightmare"
Neegan Sioui Trudel, a dynamic producer and director, is already making waves at Series Mania with "Saturnids," a glossy horror thriller he directed, which is screening in the 2026 Short Form Competition. "Saturnids" plunges Montreal into mass insomnia, charting a descent into mental collapse. Building on this success, Trudel is set to pitch "Shamanic Nightmare," a psychological folk horror project co-produced with Julie Prieur, which unfolds within the unsettling confines of a shamanic retreat. Trudel’s artistic philosophy delves into the core of human experience, regardless of cultural context. "While many of my projects are rooted in Indigenous realities, what truly interests me is the visceral core of the human experience," he states. "I want to create emotions that act as a kind of cement for communication, allowing the message to connect more deeply and stay with people." His work aims to evoke profound emotional responses, using genre storytelling to explore universal fears and psychological depths.
Katie Uhlman, David Carruthers, Katie Chats Inc, "Cows Come Home"
Katie Uhlman, a multi-talented writer, actor, and director, along with David Carruthers, leads Toronto-based Katie Chats Inc. The company has garnered significant acclaim for its previous work, including the multi-prized web series "My Roommate’s an Escort," which Uhlman co-wrote and starred in. Their latest offering, "Cows Come Home," is a charming female dramedy that Uhlman co-wrote with scribe-actor Lindsey Middleton. The series centers on Tabby Acres, who returns to her small hometown after a period away, attempting to piece her life back together with the steadfast support of her best friend and an unexpected foray into the world of competitive cow showing. Directed by Uhlman, "Cows Come Home" has already achieved domestic success, reportedly performing in the top 2% of programming on its broadcaster, Bell Fibe TV1. This series exemplifies relatable storytelling, combining humor and heart in a narrative that celebrates small-town life and the power of female friendship.
Janelle & Jérémie Wookey, Wookey Films, "Malgré Moi" ("Despite Myself")
Winnipeg-based siblings Janelle and Jérémie Wookey, the creative forces behind Wookey Films, have built an impressive legacy as Canadian Screen Award and Banff Rockie Award-winning docuseries producers, with over 30 productions totaling more than 190 episodes since their company’s inception in 2013. "Malgré Moi" marks a significant new chapter for Wookey Films, as their inaugural scripted production. Starring Schelby Jean-Baptiste ("Wipe Me Away") and directed by Maxime Beauchamp ("Brown Enough"), "Malgré Moi" cleverly subverts the classic big-city-girl-meets-small-town trope. As Janelle Wookey explains, the series delivers a "fun, cozy, self-aware anthology that both skewers and celebrates small-city life through sharp, romantic storylines and bold, distinctive characters we rarely see driving the narrative." This project promises to be a refreshing and authentic portrayal of regional Canadian life, told with wit and romantic charm, further solidifying Wookey Films’ reputation for innovative and engaging storytelling.
The collective presence of these Canadian producers, especially the strong representation of women and Indigenous voices, sends a clear message: Canada is a global leader in fostering diverse, authentic, and compelling narratives. As they pitch their innovative projects at Series Mania, they are not just seeking partnerships; they are actively shaping the international television landscape, demonstrating that powerful storytelling knows no bounds, and that the future of entertainment is inherently inclusive.
