The Czech television festival Serial Killer, held in Brno from 23 to 28 September, concluded with a closing ceremony that recognized the winners of its various competitions. The event showcased 33 series from 15 different countries, offering a broad look at international television production. Among the highlights was the Primetime Killer competition, which was won by the Polish series Proud, directed by Karol Klementewicz. The show, which first aired on HBO Max in June, centers on a hedonistic, gay twentysomething model who becomes an accidental father to his late sister’s daughter. Proud had previously won the Grand Prix in the International Competition at the 2026 edition of Series Mania, another prominent television festival. The Primetime Killer jury included Yuliya Fischer, a sales and acquisition director at ZDF Studios; Laurence Herszberg, founder and general director of Series Mania; and Joël Bassaget, a French screenwriter and founder of the Web Series World Cup. In addition to winning the Primetime Killer Award, Klementewicz was also honored with the Progressive Killer Award, which recognizes outstanding individuals in television production from Central and Eastern Europe. The organizers highlighted his work on Proud, noting that it tackles important and complex issues in contemporary Poland, including the acceptance of queer people, parenting, and social prejudices. The new Czech Killer competition, which focused on domestic productions, was won by Friend, directed by Petr Pylypčuk. This nine-part series, set to premiere in 2027, is based on a true story about a young first-grade pupil who struggles to make friends in a new town but forms a close relationship with one of the teachers. The team behind Friend accepted the award, and Kateřina Ondřejková, a creative producer from Czech Television, thanked those who contributed to the series by sharing their personal experiences. Friend also won the festival’s Audience Award, receiving a high rating of 94% from viewers. In the Czech Killer strand, Cell Block B, a Czech comedy set in a prison, received a Special Mention. The show, which will premiere on the Czech Republic’s Oneplay on 9 October, was created by writer Petr Koleček and director Jan Prušinovský, based on stories from actor Zdeněk Godla about his time in prison. The Czech Killer jury included Petra Soukupová, a writer and script editor; Pavel Klusák, a music journalist and writer; and Jindřiška Bláhová, a film critic and historian. Here is the full list of award winners: Primetime Killer Award Proud – Karol Klementewicz (Poland); Czech Killer Award Friend – Petr Pylypčuk (Czech Republic); Special Mention Cell Block B – Jan Prušinovský (Czech Republic); Audience Award Friend – Petr Pylypčuk; Progressive Killer Award – Karol Klementewicz.