Accra to Host First African Serial Bridges TV Development Programme This August

Accra is set to become a launchpad for West African television talent this August, as the prestigious Serial Bridges development programme arrives on the African continent for the first time. Running from 31 August to 4 September 2026, Serial Bridges Accra will bring together 14 writers and producers from Ghana, Nigeria, The Gambia and Senegal to refine their series projects for the international market.

The week-long intensive programme, hosted at Akuna Pod—the creative hub founded by actor Idris Elba—will provide seven selected teams with expert mentoring, industry sessions and practical guidance on navigating international co-production, financing and pitching. The initiative marks a significant moment for African storytelling, positioning Accra alongside previous Serial Bridges locations in Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Bangkok and Taipei.

The Projects: Stories Ready for the World

Four Ghanaian series have been selected for development. A Game of Truth is a crime thriller centred on university students attempting to conceal a death, while When We Were We examines power and privilege within an elite Ghanaian school setting. The supernatural mystery Whispers of Harmattan follows a journalist returning home for his father's funeral who uncovers ancient village secrets, and IN-BETWEEN is a workplace comedy-drama set in an Accra advertising agency.

The broader West African slate reflects the region's creative diversity. The Gambian entry SEMESTER! explores the experience of a deported young man forced to maintain a façade of holiday tourism, while Nigerian project Sister Mary centres on a housewife resorting to crime whilst preserving her image as the perfect Christian mother. Senegal's Wanted is a thriller following an accountant who escapes prison and uses his nation's historic Africa Cup of Nations victory as cover to disappear.

How It Works: Mentorship to International Exposure

Throughout the programme, teams will receive one-on-one mentoring from experienced industry professionals and participate in sessions addressing both creative story development and the commercial realities of international television production. Topics will include financing strategies, co-production partnerships and how to pitch effectively to international broadcasters and platforms.

The week culminates in a pitching event on Friday, 4 September, where all seven teams will present their projects to an invited audience of industry stakeholders. The winning team will earn an all-expenses trip to Series Mania Forum 2027 in Lille, France, gaining direct access to international buyers, co-producers and financiers.

Why It Matters for Ghana and West Africa

This initiative signals growing international recognition of West African creative talent and infrastructure. Ghana's screen industry has been expanding steadily, but access to international co-production networks and financing remains a significant barrier for local writers and producers. Serial Bridges Accra directly addresses this gap, leveraging partnerships with the French Embassy, Institut français, and the Series Mania Institute—Europe's leading training body for television series development.

The programme represents more than a one-off event. It demonstrates that Accra has the facilities, talent pool and institutional support to compete as a hub for African series production. By bringing international expertise to the continent rather than requiring African creators to travel abroad, Serial Bridges Accra democratises access to these opportunities. Success stories from this inaugural edition could position Ghana as a preferred development location for Pan-African television projects and attract further investment in local creative infrastructure.

For the four Ghanaian teams selected, the stakes are high. International co-production deals can transform the scale and reach of African series, providing budgets that enable higher production values and distribution on global streaming platforms. This matters not only for the writers and producers involved, but for Ghanaian audiences, who increasingly seek locally-made content of international standard.