Belgian series THE BEST IMMIGRANT to premiere on March 24th at Series Mania
The series will be competing in the International Panorama section of the festival in attendance of cast & crew
Caviar'sThe Best Immigrant will have its international premiere on March 24th at Series Mania in Lille, France. The Best Immigrant was created by Raoul Groothuizen and Cristina Poppe, directed by Michael Abay with creative producers Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys: Ride or Die, Rebel). The screenplay was written by Raoul Groothuizen, Cristina Poppe, Michel Sabbe, Hasse Steenssens and Michael De Cock.
The bold series explores a Europe where migration policies take a radical turn. Blending political drama with biting social satire, The Best Immigrant raises urgent questions about identity, belonging and the price people are willing to pay to stay. Featuring a powerful ensemble cast with both established actors and emerging talent, the series reflects the diversity of contemporary Belgium while tackling one of the most debated topics of our time.
A sharp story at the crossroads of fiction and reality
The Best Immigrant imagines an independent Flanders where a far-right government comes to power and introduces a radical policy: everyone who was not born in the country must leave. For the young couple Muna (Jennifer Heylen) and Jamal (Farouk Ben Ali), deportation seems inevitable — until they discover one possible way out. Their only chance to remain in the country together is to participate in “The Best Immigrant,” a ruthless reality show where migrants compete against each other in challenges to prove they deserve to stay.
Under the supervision of TV producer Lauren (Charlotte Timmers) and host Nathan (Louis Talpe), the contestants are manipulated, pitted against each other and constantly observed through hidden cameras. The pressure is relentless and even the contestants’ coach Tarik (Saïd Boumazoughe) starts to increasingly question the role he plays in this inhumane show.
Series Mania Screenings & Press Opportunities
24 March 2026 15:00 - 16:30 interviews with attending cast & creators
24 March 2026 19:45 - 20:30 red carpet
24 March 2026 20:45 - 23:00 premiere ep 1 + 2 with Q&A at Théatre du Nord
26 March 2026 11:30 - 13:10 second screening at UGC Ciné-Cité (with SME)
All info can be found on the site of Series Mania. If you would like to request a screener of the series or interview crew and/or cast please contact us through the press contact below.
Attending crew
Creator Raoul Groothuizen
Writer Hasse Steenssens
Writer Michel Sabbe
Writer Michael De Cock
Director Michael Abay
Creative producer Adil El Arbi
Producer Dimitri Verbeeck
Producer Helena Vlogaert
Attending cast
Jennifer Heylen
Farouk Ben Ali
Saïd Boumazoughe
Charlotte Timmers
Louis Talpe
About the series
The Best Immigrant is a Caviar production for Streamz and was supported by Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF), Screen Flanders, Telenet and Caviar Film Financing. Executive producers include Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, Helena Vlogaert en Dimitri Verbeeck. Michael Abay, known for his award-winning short film Klette and his work on the Streamz series Kameleon, is directing. Even before production began, the series received international recognition with a Special Mention at the Paramount New Stories Awards at the Rome Film Fest, highlighting its bold storytelling and representation of underrepresented voices.
The Best Immigrant wil launch on France Télévisions in France soon. Sony Pictures Entertainment is handling the international sales.
Riema Reybrouck
