LA-based Kenyan screenwriter Tony Koros is set to take center stage at the upcoming AuthenticA African Series Pitch during the Series Mania Forum—the largest television series event in Europe.
Taking place in Lille, France, the pitch offers a global platform for African storytellers, and Koros is among the three African writers chosen to present his latest project, a comedy titled “Money Town”.
Koros, a 2021 Sundance Screenwriters & Directors Lab Fellow, has built an impressive international reputation.
His latest short film, “Tithes & Offerings”, premiered in competition at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2019 and was later distributed by CANAL+.
His previous works have earned awards and been showcased at over seventy international film festivals.
Koros has also been the recipient of several prestigious grants, including support from the Tribeca Film Institute and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
The AuthenticA African Series Pitch is the culmination of a six-month intensive training programme—the AuthenticA Series Lab—designed to nurture African screenwriting talent.
Organised by the Cape Town-based Realness Institute in partnership with The StoryBoard Collective, and supported by the Series Mania Forum and Canada Media Fund, the lab combined online workshops, masterclasses with industry professionals, and residencies in South Africa and Switzerland.
Mentor guidance from creative producer Mehret Mandefro and script consultant Selina Ukwuoma was instrumental in refining the writers’ projects.
“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.
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!”
The event will feature other promising talents—South African writer Mlilo Mpondo with her comedy-drama “Women from the 13th Floor”, and Ugandan screenwriter Talemwa Pius with his Western-themed projects “Mad Bounty” and “The Midnight Gun”.
Series Mania Forum Director Francesco Capurro, emphasized the significance of such initiatives in amplifying African storytelling.
“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.”
AuthenticA Pitch forms part of a broader African presence at Series Mania Forum 2025—which also includes the African Talents & Industry Breakfast, a networking event designed to foster collaboration between African and international industry experts.
