Microdrama has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing storytelling formats in the world. Originating in China, short-form serialized dramas now attract hundreds of millions of viewers and generate enormous revenues across mobile platforms.

As viewing habits continue to evolve, producers and creators around the world are racing to understand the format. How do you tell a compelling story in just one to three minutes? How do you capture attention instantly – and keep audiences emotionally invested enough to watch the next episode?

In this session, series creator Caroline Glomnes shares her experiences developing microdrama for both commercial and editorial platforms. Through clips and concrete examples, she explores the creative opportunities and challenges of storytelling at extreme speed.

How can you establish character, conflict and emotional stakes in episodes that last just one to three minutes? What narrative tools become essential when every second counts? And what can television creators learn from a format designed for the feed, the phone and the vertical screen?

Whether you're curious, sceptical or already experimenting with the format, this session offers a practical introduction to microdrama and the storytelling techniques behind its rapid rise.