Festivals are part and parcel of the TV circuit. They are the peaks of B2B marketers in television, producers, and distributors. It could be handy for my network to have all these key dates in one place, and I’ll update them as we go along. I have added my comments in ** to the ones I’m familiar with. If awards are included in those festivals, I’ll indicate it below, too.
Unifrance Rendez-Vous
14th January 2025 – 21st January 2025, Paris, France
https://www.unifrance.org/festivals-et-marches/650/rendez-vous-d-unifrance-a-paris/2025
Content Americas
21st January – 23rd January 2025, Miami, USA
https://www.contentevents.net/event/409204b9-7411-43c8-b557-073a037294f5/home
Awards (Rose D’Or Latinos) included
Sundance Film Festival
23rd January – 2nd February 2025, Utah, USA
Awards included
**Well known for independent storytelling. TV projects are also included now.
Realscreen Summit
3rd February – 5th February, Miami, USA
https://summit.realscreen.com/2025/
Awards included
** Positioned as “World’s largest unscripted gathering”. Skewed primarily for the North American market
NATPE Global
5th February – 7th February 2025, Miami, USA
Berlinale
13th February – 23rd February 2024, Berlin, Germany
https://www.berlinale.de/en/home.html
Awards included
** Good opportunity to showcase non-English language shows
London Screenings
23rd February – 28th February 2025, London, UK
https://www.londonscreenings.tv/
** This week-long event has become a key show-and-tell moment for many distributors. You’ll find the complete list of participating distributors on the London Screening website. The BBC Studios Showcase will also be happening from 24th February to 25th February. In London, the inaugural MIP London from 23rd February – 27th February 2025 includes MIPDOC and MIPFormats https://www.mip-london.com/. Bring your popcorn because London Screenings 2025 will be interesting to watch how it develops.
SXSW (South by Southwest)
7th March – 15th March 2025, Austin, USA
**Known for its unique film, music, and interactive media blend. It’s an excellent opportunity to showcase a music-related project. This year. It’s also coming to London for the first time –
SXSW London 2-7th June 2025, London https://sxswlondon.com/
Series Mania
21st – 28th March 2025, Lille, France
International Competition included
**Great outing for a new drama series
Cannes Series
24th April – 29th April 2025, Cannes, France
https://canneseries.com/en/ Now into
** The colour of its carpet is pink; it is also a good opportunity for a world premiere of a new drama in a glam setting known for the Cannes Film Festival. Now into season 7
LA Screenings
16th May – 22nd May, Los Angeles, USA
** Also happening at the same time is Content LA, but their 2025 dates haven’t been announced yet – https://contentla.com. Last year, it took place from 15th May – 16th May in 2024
Content Warsaw
2nd June – 5th June, Warsaw, Poland
https://www.contentevents.net/event/8537f6ae-a442-4d73-9221-95c01c04619a/summary
** A CEE market for all genres
SXSW London
2-7th June 2025, London
** As mentioned above, SXSW’s inaugural event in London will take place in cool East London. It’ll be interesting to see how this resonates with the TV and film folks.
BANFF World Media Festival
8th June – 11th 2025, Banff, Canada
https://banffmediafestival.playbackonline.ca/2025/
Awards (“Rockie”) included
** A key event for the Canadian TV folks
Monte-Carlo TV Festival
13th June – 17th June, 2025, Monte-Carlo, Monaco
Awards (“Golden Nympth Awards”) included
** Another good showcase for drama series in a glam setting
Sunny Side of the Doc
23rd – 25th June 2025, La Rochelle, France
** Good opportunity to meet French buyers and producers
NATPE Budapest
23rd June – 26th June, 2025, Budapest, Hungary
https://budapest.natpe.com/2024/sessions/73027/contentshowcaseaemedia/
** A CEE market for buyers of all genres
Shanghai TV Festival
2025 Dates to be announced
Awards (“Magnolia”) included
** Took place on 24th June – 26th June 2024; I believe this is still an important market for Chinese buyers
Edinburgh TV Festival
19th August – 22nd August, 2025, Edinburgh, UK
Awards included
** Well known for its The MacTaggart Lecture and a key gathering of UK producers, buyers and commissioners
Content Canada 2025
2025 Dates to be announced
** Last year’s event took place during 9th September – 11th September 2024.
Jackson Wild Summit 2025
29th September – 3rd October 2025, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
https://www.jacksonwild.org/about-the-summit
Awards included
** Key market for natural history producers, buyers and commissioners.
MIPCOM
13th October – 16th October 2025, Cannes, France
https://www.mipcom.com/en-gb.html
Awards “Diversity TV Excellence” included
** MIPCOM is the highlight of the year’s second half. It is a critical market for many producers and distributors. Less so for Asia-based customers who will gather at ATF; more about it below.
Content London
2025 Dates to be announced
https://www.contentevents.net/event/ContentLondon2024/summary
Awards (C21 Drama Awards and Rose d’Or) included
** Last year’s event took place from 2nd December – 5th December 2024; Cross genre market with a drama-skew; Popular with EMEA buyers.
Asia Television Forum
3rd – 5th December 2025, Singapore
https://www.asiatvforum.com/en-gb.html
** ATF is the key event for Asia-based clients and sellers because it’s closer to travel.
World Congress of Science & Factual Producers
2025 Dates to be announced
** Last year, it occurred in Marrakesh from 9th December to 12th December 2024. It’s one of my favourite events for specialist factual producers and buyers. It is worth noting that the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers is not-for-profit, which makes it even more of an event we should support.
If you’ve made it to all the markets in Business class, you’re likely able to get Gold status under the new British Airways reward system rules (Read up about the latest drama if you’ve not heard).
On a more critical note, this blog will help you plan for the next 12 months to line up your ta-da moment for your newest project(s). Work backwards by about three months to work out your deadline for assets for your B2B launch.
I’m sure I’ve missed more TV festivals, so if you let me know, I can add them to the top list. Likewise, if what I’ve said about the festivals isn’t quite right for some, let me know.
If you or someone you know could use help or advice on these markets, DM me.
Happy New Year, and all the very best with 2025.
Happy as Harry 
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