Tokyo Crush Triumphs at Series Mania Forum
In an exciting culmination of creativity and collaboration, Tokyo Crush, a rom-com exploring the fusion of French and Japanese cultures, has been awarded the prestigious top prize at the Series Mania Forum’s annual Co-Pro Pitching Sessions, as announced on Tuesday night.
About the Series
This anticipated eight-episode series, each lasting 30 minutes, centers on Mona, a daring chef from Paris who is tasked with revitalizing a struggling izakaya in Tokyo. She encounters resistance from Toshiro, the talented yet headstrong grandson of the restaurant’s original founder, setting the stage for a series of culinary and cultural clashes.
Creative Team Behind Tokyo Crush
Clémence Dargent serves as the writer for Tokyo Crush, with production being handled by Jonas Ben Haiem and Jean-Félix Dealberto for Salle Commune in France, alongside Hiroko Oda from Flag Inc. in Japan. The project’s creative team was honored with a development prize of €50,000 (approximately $54,000), reinforcing the show’s significant potential.
Expert Jury Selection
The panel that voted on this year’s entries was led by M-K Kennedy, executive managing director of TV series for Studiocanal, and included notable figures such as André Béraud of ICI Radio-Canada Télé (Canada), Henriette Marienlund from DR Drama (Denmark), José Pastor of RTVE (Spain), and Frank Seyberth from ZDF (Germany).
Competition Highlights
Among the 15 diverse projects presented at the Series Forum, which represents the industry segment of the Series Mania television festival, Tokyo Crush stood out. Kennedy shared insights into the selection, stating, “After engaging discussions, we chose Tokyo Crush due to its rich storytelling potential both inside and outside of the kitchen. The narrative felt invigorating, layered with opportunities for audience connection through its array of characters and comedic conflicts, from cultural clashes to the timeless will-they/won’t-they romance.”
Significance of the Co-Pro Pitching Sessions
The Co-Pro Pitching Sessions at Series Mania Forum have established themselves as a vital springboard for groundbreaking international television series. Previous winners include acclaimed projects such as The Twelve from Belgium and Blackport from Iceland. This event remains a significant gathering spot for industry professionals aiming to forge new partnerships and discover exceptional scripted content.