Rebel Rebel: Series Battling the Status Quo

Berlinale Industry Events

Access: Market Badge

Tue Feb 17 15:00 – 15:45 Berlinale Series Market at CinemaxX
VOD available

Contemporary television is increasingly drawn to rebellious protagonists—characters who push back against entrenched systems, economic inequality, and institutional power. Stories inspired by modern Robin Hood archetypes, heist dynamics, and anti-capitalist themes are capturing audiences who feel the tension between societal pressure and personal agency.

These narratives reflect growing cultural anxieties while posing creative challenges: How do you portray acts of resistance without glamorising them? How can socio-economic critique be woven into compelling character-driven storytelling? And how do creators balance moral ambiguity with emotional engagement?

In this session, creators and producers unpack the craft of building anti-establishment narratives that resonate with today’s audiences. They will explore how rebellion can function as both a dramatic engine and a lens for examining power, justice, and the shifting boundaries of right and wrong in contemporary storytelling.

In Collaboration with: TV Drama Vision at Göteborg Film Festival.

Berlinale Series Market Main Partner

Berlinale Series Market is funded by

Mediapartner

In Collaboration with:

Speakers

Esra Phul (she/her)

Producer & Director "All Heroes are Bastards"

Picture Me Rollin GmbH

Patrick Phul (he/him)

Producer & Director "All Heroes are Bastards"

Picture Me Rollin GmbH

Pandora da Cunha Telles (she/her)

Producer & Creator "The Marquise"

Ukbar Filmes

Philipp Kreuzer (he/him)

Producer "Phoenix", CEO

Maze Pictures

Presenter/Host

Marta Balaga (she/her)

Journalist

Variety