Series Mania Bows with a Tribute to Ukraine, Celebrates 20th Anniversary of ‘The Wire’

variety.com:

Marta Balaga Returning barely six months after its 2021 edition, which wrapped in September, French TV festival Series Mania welcomed Jury President Julia Sinkevych,who arrived in Lille from war-torn Ukraine.“I didn’t know if I would be lucky enough to be here tonight,” said Sinkevych to a standing ovation, with Laurence Herszberg, Series Mania general director, observing that culture cannot be insensitive to what is happening.“The whole world is now admiring our resistance, the resistance of the Ukrainian people.

But there is another battlefield, which is culture, and I want us to be noticed, recognized and admired on the cultural battlefield, too,” added Sinkevych.“This [conflict] has been going on for a long time and there have been many episodes in this TV series.

Now, Europe and the rest of the world should work together on its grand season finale.” President of the International Panorama Jury, French writer and actress Anne Berest, also showed her support by wearing a Ukraine shirt.The in-person gala, hosted by Daphné Bürki – soon to be seen in “Chair Tendre” – also paid homage to “The Wire” on its 20th anniversary, with a dance routine choreographed by Romain Rios and a sketch by Pablo Mira (“According to critics, ‘The Wire’ is the best TV show of all time, but that’s because they missed ‘Charmed’ season 2,” he said).

David Simon’s new show “We Own This City,” co-created with George Pelecanos, will premiere in Series Mania’s international competition.