Lost creator Damon Lindelof will serve as jury president of this year’s Series Mania festival competition, organizers announced Friday.
The prestigious television festival will open with the world premiere screening of the first two episodes of the final season of his latest series, The Leftovers, at Paris’ famed Grand Rex theater before it debuts on HBO April 16.
Lindelof “has marked a whole generation of series fans with Lost and The Leftovers, two stories of survival in hostile worlds depicting a tormented humanity while preserving a sense of hope,” said festival founder Laurence Herszberg. She said premiering the first episodes of the critically acclaimed series final season is “a gift” for the festival.
Ten international series will be in competition this year, up from eight last year. The festival, now in its eighth year, introduced the competition last year.
Lindelof follows David Chase as jury president.
Last year Martin Scorsese’s Vinyl opened the festival with a splashy premiere, while Cuba Gooding Jr., Frank Spotnitz, Stephen Poliakoff, Harlan Coben and Clyde Phillips gave master classes. Argentina’s El Marginal took the top prize.
This year’s Series Mania will run April 13-23.
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