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a film festival just for tv pilots
notes from SeriesFest in Denver, where TV is king
Hi again,
I just got back from a festival called SeriesFest in Denver, where DEARBORN screened as part of the Independent Pilot: Drama competition - and I have to say, this festival has a very special place in my heart now. NFFTY may be my new favorite, but SeriesFest? It’s like the cool older cousin who works in TV and still remembers how to be sincere. Here’s a little about what it was like:
If you haven’t heard already… I was just in Seattle where DEARBORN took home an Audience Award alongside a Jury Nomination at NFFTY! 🏆⭐️
After Denver, we’ll actually be screening at the Big Apple Film Festival next! You can also follow our Instagram here! Stay tuned for more 😊
WHAT IS SERIESFEST LIKE?
SeriesFest is a festival that celebrates television - not shorts, not features, but the specific art of episodic storytelling. It can be a traditional drama or comedy pilot, or even a digital short series. That distinction alone makes it super unique. It’s built for showrunners, directors, and writers who are thinking in episodes, arcs, character development across seasons. If you’re working in or dreaming about working in TV, this is the place to be.
It takes place in Denver, Colorado, mostly centered around the Sie FilmCenter in the Capitol Hill area. The environment is gorgeous (hello mountain views) and so expansive, and you can actually breathe between events. There’s something about Denver that gives you space to think, reflect, and connect. It’s not chaotic, it’s curated. It’s thoughtful. There’s also something about the altitude that makes you slow down, in a good way.
SCREENING BLOCKS
Our pilot screened in the Independent Drama block (which, yes, included a pilot co-written and produced by THE 2 Chainz). Only at SeriesFest do you go from watching something self-funded and made by a college team to an iconic rapper-produced project... and somehow they all belong in the same space. Obviously.
That’s the magic of this festival. The curation doesn’t feel elitist. The selection here feels wide-ranging, international, inclusive, and genuinely invested in what makes episodic storytelling shine.
EVENTS HAPPENING
SeriesFest is serious about industry access. We’re talking panels with execs from Universal, Sony, Revry, and other indie streamers you should know about. Representatives came from places like IMDBPro, SAG-AFTRA, film commissions from across the country, Dolly Card, and much much more. There were also pitch sessions, roundtables, and conversations with creators whose work I’ve actually studied (or stalked on IMDb). As a filmmaker in-competition, we got to attend after-parties and go to a women creators brunch at a festival board member’s home, where we got to meet the wonderful finalists of the Shondaland Directing Mentorship. We even got to grab a quick selfie with Randi Kleiner, SeriesFest’s co-founder, after our screening because yes, she shows up.
Other highlights included workshops on creating pitch decks with Canva (I was totally geeking out the whole time), panels about the future of episodic, and talks with real working TV showrunners navigating the business.
LESSONS LEARNED
SeriesFest is not a place for passive watching. People talk here and want to talk. In the Q&As. In the lobby. At the food truck line. You’ll get asked what you’re working on, and you should have an answer ready.
Business cards are awesome. Especially when you’re not in a crowd of 20-something year-olds sharing just Instagram handles anymore. I feel like people really appreciated the gesture.
From panels: Try to find stories that go against what we already see, try counter-programming. Find something unexpected yet familiar for audiences.
From panels: Building a grassroots audience and creating good word-of-mouth is still a model that still works really well.
From panels: Money will find you. Create with love and just try to be better than the next guy or the guy who’s the best in the game right now. That’s it.
From panels: Be a “yes man”. Don’t be anxious and don’t hold yourself back.
Elevation makes a difference. Check out SeriesFest’s oxygen bar (I wish I did!). Drink more water than you think you need.
A good pitch isn’t about selling… it’s about connecting. Being genuine really matters and counts in the end.
And yes (as always): follow up with that person you talked to during the panel break.
IS SERIESFEST WORTH IT?
One hundred percent yes.
There’s something deeply grounding about SeriesFest. It takes the work seriously without taking itself too seriously. You meet great people who actually want to make good TV, not just sell it. And the community present is super talented but the pool is small enough to feel real but big enough to matter.
If you’re in the episodic space or even thinking about dipping into it, SeriesFest is a must. I left with a full heart, a deeper belief in what I’m doing, and a new list of pilots I’m looking forward to bingeing in the future!
Denver, I’ll be back ⛰️⭐️
That’s all for today! 🌷
See you soon,
Skylar xx