Starring “3o Coins’” Miguel Angel Silvestre and “The Palace’s” Katia Fellin, “Weiss & Morales” has gone into production in the Canary Islands, boasting the credentials of a textbook procedural appealing to current market appetites.
As co-production ramps up between free-to-air players in Europe, led very often by its state-backed networks, “Weiss & Morales” links two of the continents’ most powerful public broadcasters, Germany’s Zdf and Spain’s Rtve, which produce with Zdf Studios. The latter is also handling worldwide sales outside Spanish-speaking territories.
Also producing are Galicia-based Portocabo, which in the space of 10 years has pioneered co-productions between Spain’s Galicia and Portugal (“Dry Water”) and Spain and France (“Hierro), and Nadcon whose head, Peter Nadermann co-produced iconic Nordic Noir titles “The Killing” and “The Bridge” when at Zdf.
“A series rooted in the most classic elements of the genre and reformulated to meet the current standards of premium television drama,...
As co-production ramps up between free-to-air players in Europe, led very often by its state-backed networks, “Weiss & Morales” links two of the continents’ most powerful public broadcasters, Germany’s Zdf and Spain’s Rtve, which produce with Zdf Studios. The latter is also handling worldwide sales outside Spanish-speaking territories.
Also producing are Galicia-based Portocabo, which in the space of 10 years has pioneered co-productions between Spain’s Galicia and Portugal (“Dry Water”) and Spain and France (“Hierro), and Nadcon whose head, Peter Nadermann co-produced iconic Nordic Noir titles “The Killing” and “The Bridge” when at Zdf.
“A series rooted in the most classic elements of the genre and reformulated to meet the current standards of premium television drama,...
- 4/29/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
French broadcaster Arte has joined Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s upcoming Movistar Plus+ series The New Years.
Arte and Spanish streamer Movistar Plus+ will co-produce the series, which is from Madrid-based Caballo Films — the production company Sorogoyen co-founded.
Production on the series began last year, and Arte has now snapped up French rights. Movistar Plus+ International will shop the title outside of Spain and France.
The series is set on New Year’s Eve every year for a decade, following a couple, played by Iria del Río (Riot Police) and Francesco Carril (Un Amor), who meet aged 30. Each episode follows updates their relationship and the trials they face to stay together, and the final shot is a single 40-minute take. “The narrative device allows you to consider change,” said Movistar Plus+ Director of Fiction and Entertainment Domingo Corral.
Alexandre Piel, Deputy Head of Drama at Arte France, said: “We’re very happy...
Arte and Spanish streamer Movistar Plus+ will co-produce the series, which is from Madrid-based Caballo Films — the production company Sorogoyen co-founded.
Production on the series began last year, and Arte has now snapped up French rights. Movistar Plus+ International will shop the title outside of Spain and France.
The series is set on New Year’s Eve every year for a decade, following a couple, played by Iria del Río (Riot Police) and Francesco Carril (Un Amor), who meet aged 30. Each episode follows updates their relationship and the trials they face to stay together, and the final shot is a single 40-minute take. “The narrative device allows you to consider change,” said Movistar Plus+ Director of Fiction and Entertainment Domingo Corral.
Alexandre Piel, Deputy Head of Drama at Arte France, said: “We’re very happy...
- 3/20/2024
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
Updated Lille, France — One of Spain’s most awaited drama series of the year, Rodrigo Sorogyen’s ‘The New Years’ will be co-produced by Spain’s Movistar Plus+, its original backer, and new partner Arte France, the upscale French public broadcaster.
Going into production last year on Oct. 2, and shooting in Madrid, Lyon (France) and Berlin (Germany), the series is produced in collaboration with Madrid-based independent production house Caballo Films, co-founded by Sorogoyen.
Movistar Plus+ International will handle distribution outside Spain and France. Arte France’s involvement guarantees the 10-part series’ distribution in all the territories where it operates.
Set on the same day every year for a decade, New Year’s Eve, “The New Years” stars Iria del Río and Francesco Carril. Ana and Óscar, meet at 30 and start a relationship which lasts 10 years.
The period from 30 to 40 is “a crucial decade for all of us,” Sorogoyen commented when the new series was announced.
Going into production last year on Oct. 2, and shooting in Madrid, Lyon (France) and Berlin (Germany), the series is produced in collaboration with Madrid-based independent production house Caballo Films, co-founded by Sorogoyen.
Movistar Plus+ International will handle distribution outside Spain and France. Arte France’s involvement guarantees the 10-part series’ distribution in all the territories where it operates.
Set on the same day every year for a decade, New Year’s Eve, “The New Years” stars Iria del Río and Francesco Carril. Ana and Óscar, meet at 30 and start a relationship which lasts 10 years.
The period from 30 to 40 is “a crucial decade for all of us,” Sorogoyen commented when the new series was announced.
- 3/20/2024
- by John Hopewell and Marta Balaga
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish film-tv’s good and great joined illustrious international figures to sketch out a roadmap for Europe’s film-tv future at a Conference on Sunday at San Sebastian.
Hosted by Spain’s government, coinciding with its E.U. Council Presidency, the event delivered a bullish vote of confidence in film, TV and audiovisual in general.
Such confidence is natural given the panelists, such as Movistar Plus’ Domingo Corral, Morena Films’ Pilar Benito and Atresmedia TV’s José Antonio Antón, Beta Film’s Jan Mojto and Mario Gianani, at Italy’s Wildside at a first session turning on the consolidation of business models.
Another panel broke down three European hits – Netflix’s “The Snow Girl” and animated pic franchise “Tadeo Jones,” both from Spain, and mega European co-production “The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan,” led by France’s Pathé.
Below, eight takeaways:
Size Matters
99% of companies in Europe’s Av sector are SMEs,...
Hosted by Spain’s government, coinciding with its E.U. Council Presidency, the event delivered a bullish vote of confidence in film, TV and audiovisual in general.
Such confidence is natural given the panelists, such as Movistar Plus’ Domingo Corral, Morena Films’ Pilar Benito and Atresmedia TV’s José Antonio Antón, Beta Film’s Jan Mojto and Mario Gianani, at Italy’s Wildside at a first session turning on the consolidation of business models.
Another panel broke down three European hits – Netflix’s “The Snow Girl” and animated pic franchise “Tadeo Jones,” both from Spain, and mega European co-production “The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan,” led by France’s Pathé.
Below, eight takeaways:
Size Matters
99% of companies in Europe’s Av sector are SMEs,...
- 9/25/2023
- by John Hopewell and Callum McLennan
- Variety Film + TV
This year’s Berlinale Series Market kicks off Monday as Spanish series “The Snow Girl,” a missing girl suspense thriller produced by Spain’s Atípica Films, has attracted huge heat for Netflix, punching 101.7 million hours watched in its first three weeks. Doing so, it ranked as the streamer’s No. 1 non-English show in the world over Jan. 30 – Feb. 5.
In all, Spain has more shows and movies in Netflix’s all time non-English Top 10s than any other country in the world, seven to France’s two, for example.
Spain, it could be argued, has cracked online. But its drama series industry wants to ring more options.
As scripted commissions look to have dropped from second half 2022 in not only the U.S. but also Europe and Latin America, an energetic posse of Spanish producers and stars are rolling into Berlin to present new productions. These look set to explore an...
In all, Spain has more shows and movies in Netflix’s all time non-English Top 10s than any other country in the world, seven to France’s two, for example.
Spain, it could be argued, has cracked online. But its drama series industry wants to ring more options.
As scripted commissions look to have dropped from second half 2022 in not only the U.S. but also Europe and Latin America, an energetic posse of Spanish producers and stars are rolling into Berlin to present new productions. These look set to explore an...
- 2/19/2023
- by John Hopewell and Pablo Sandoval
- Variety Film + TV
Powerhouse Banijay Iberia is joining forces with Spain’s top soccer federation Laliga to launch new sports-related content production, Laliga Studios.
The strategic deal sees Banijay tapping into its production expertise and Laliga, its soccer knowledge and reputation, in a drive to establish Laliga Studios as a global benchmark in the creation of content related to sport and its universal values.
Through this partnership, Laliga Studios will produce audiovisual content for Laliga, clubs, sponsors, and broadcasters. It will also work with international platforms and brands in the development, production, and distribution of entertainment, documentary, fiction, and animation content.
Chalo Bonifacino Cooke has been appointed managing director and executive producer of Laliga Studios and will oversee its international growth, which will be boosted thanks to the presence of both companies in multiple markets.
Laliga is “a great generator of narratives around sport and its values. We are eager to use our...
The strategic deal sees Banijay tapping into its production expertise and Laliga, its soccer knowledge and reputation, in a drive to establish Laliga Studios as a global benchmark in the creation of content related to sport and its universal values.
Through this partnership, Laliga Studios will produce audiovisual content for Laliga, clubs, sponsors, and broadcasters. It will also work with international platforms and brands in the development, production, and distribution of entertainment, documentary, fiction, and animation content.
Chalo Bonifacino Cooke has been appointed managing director and executive producer of Laliga Studios and will oversee its international growth, which will be boosted thanks to the presence of both companies in multiple markets.
Laliga is “a great generator of narratives around sport and its values. We are eager to use our...
- 2/13/2023
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Miguel Bernardeau, Guzmán in Netflix smash hit “Elite,” and Mexico’s Renata Notni will head the cast of “Zorro,” a reboot series from Los Angeles-based Secuoya Studios and John Gertz that will stream in exclusivity on Amazon’s Prime Video in the U.S., Latin America and Spain.
The flagship series at Secuoya Studios, “Zorro,” a modern take on the hero, is directed by Javier Quintas, whose credits include episodes of “Money Heist” and “Sky Rojo,” and Miguel Angel Vivas, a director on “Locked Up” and “Unauthorized Living.” Written by Carlos Portela, the 10 episode series is executive produced for Secuoya Studios by David Martínez, David Cotarelo and Angela Agudo.
John Gertz, founder of Zorro Productions and a producer on “The Mask of Zorro” and “The Legend of Zorro” movies titles, also executive produces along with former Sony exec Andy Kaplan at Kc Global Media, Sergio Pizzolante for C&t Mobs, and...
The flagship series at Secuoya Studios, “Zorro,” a modern take on the hero, is directed by Javier Quintas, whose credits include episodes of “Money Heist” and “Sky Rojo,” and Miguel Angel Vivas, a director on “Locked Up” and “Unauthorized Living.” Written by Carlos Portela, the 10 episode series is executive produced for Secuoya Studios by David Martínez, David Cotarelo and Angela Agudo.
John Gertz, founder of Zorro Productions and a producer on “The Mask of Zorro” and “The Legend of Zorro” movies titles, also executive produces along with former Sony exec Andy Kaplan at Kc Global Media, Sergio Pizzolante for C&t Mobs, and...
- 5/13/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
In an alignment of two of the most powerful forces in Spanish- language fiction, Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, creators of “Veneno” and producers of “Cardo,” have joined forces with Movistar Plus, the pay TV/SVOD of Telefonica, to develop and produce a new series, “La Mesías.”
Presented on Tuesday in Madrid, like “Veneno,” the series has been written by Los Javis – as they are popularly known in Spain – and, according to Javier Ambrossi, the scale of the series marks the natural “next step” in the growth of Suma Content.
A Movistar Plus original series, the series will be written, directed and produced by Ambrossi and Calvo and made in collaboration with Suma Content, their new production label launched last year.
Movistar Plus International will handle international distribution of what rates from the get-go as one of the hottest Spanish series which will be brought onto the global market this year.
Presented on Tuesday in Madrid, like “Veneno,” the series has been written by Los Javis – as they are popularly known in Spain – and, according to Javier Ambrossi, the scale of the series marks the natural “next step” in the growth of Suma Content.
A Movistar Plus original series, the series will be written, directed and produced by Ambrossi and Calvo and made in collaboration with Suma Content, their new production label launched last year.
Movistar Plus International will handle international distribution of what rates from the get-go as one of the hottest Spanish series which will be brought onto the global market this year.
- 5/5/2022
- by John Hopewell and Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Banijay Iberia is getting into Spanish horror drama after striking a partnership deal with Álex de la Iglesia and Carolina Bang’s scripted producer Pokeepsie Films. Deadline understands Banijay has made an equity investment in the Madrid-based company, which is behind HBO Max mystery horror drama 30 Coins.
Producer/director de la Iglesia and actress/producer Bang created Pokeepsie in 2009 and focus on youth-facing content, primarily in the fantasy, thriller and horror genres. Their deal with Banijay will give Pokeepsie stronger distribution capacilities.
“Today sees Banijay Iberia and Pokeepsie Films carve a common path with the purpose of building an ambitious slate of original fiction led by Álex and Carolina,” said Banijay Iberia CEO Pilar Blasco. “In adding this brilliant duo to our creative network in Spain and Portugal, we further boost our offering in the region and cement our position as a home where talent can be creatively free and subsequently,...
Producer/director de la Iglesia and actress/producer Bang created Pokeepsie in 2009 and focus on youth-facing content, primarily in the fantasy, thriller and horror genres. Their deal with Banijay will give Pokeepsie stronger distribution capacilities.
“Today sees Banijay Iberia and Pokeepsie Films carve a common path with the purpose of building an ambitious slate of original fiction led by Álex and Carolina,” said Banijay Iberia CEO Pilar Blasco. “In adding this brilliant duo to our creative network in Spain and Portugal, we further boost our offering in the region and cement our position as a home where talent can be creatively free and subsequently,...
- 4/26/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
An eerily quaint and picturesque Galician town sets the scene for a chilling high-profile murder in “Rapa,” the highly anticipated follow-up to Spain’s Movistar Plus hit “Hierro.”
After coming to the aid of bloodied Mayor Amparo Seoane (Mabel Rivera), lone witness and stymied professor Tomás becomes obsessed with her murder case and forms an unlikely bond with unyielding Civil Guard Sargent, Maite. As word of the crime shakes the town, a community’s secrets rise to the surface.
Produced by Movistar Plus in conjunction with Portocabo, led by Alfonso Blanco, and expertly directed by Jorge Coira, the six-part series offers up complex and riveting plot twists as questions arise regarding the salient nature between victim and perpetrator.
The drama, distributed by Beta Film, reunites creators Pepe Coira and Fran Araújo. Stunning and vast local landscapes take a front seat and intimate shots are used to elicit high-emotion, the cast delivering exceptional performances,...
After coming to the aid of bloodied Mayor Amparo Seoane (Mabel Rivera), lone witness and stymied professor Tomás becomes obsessed with her murder case and forms an unlikely bond with unyielding Civil Guard Sargent, Maite. As word of the crime shakes the town, a community’s secrets rise to the surface.
Produced by Movistar Plus in conjunction with Portocabo, led by Alfonso Blanco, and expertly directed by Jorge Coira, the six-part series offers up complex and riveting plot twists as questions arise regarding the salient nature between victim and perpetrator.
The drama, distributed by Beta Film, reunites creators Pepe Coira and Fran Araújo. Stunning and vast local landscapes take a front seat and intimate shots are used to elicit high-emotion, the cast delivering exceptional performances,...
- 4/3/2022
- by Holly Jones
- Variety Film + TV
A historic Malaga Festival-Spanish Screenings finally began to wind down Thursday evening. Spain has celebrated national showcases for decades, but it’s never seen anything quite like the last four days.
Briefly, five first takeaways from this year’s edition:
Spain’s On Fire
“Spain’s audiovisual sectors are on fire,” said Luis Cueto, at Spain’s Department of Commerce, at a Malaga round table on Thursday. Just one generation ago, Spanish cinema was regarded with suspicion in Spain’s august financial circles. No more. At the same panel, Arturo Azcorra at Spain’s Telecommunications Ministry announced €30 million ($33 million) in new incentives, largely for high-tech innovation, such as VFX prototypes, animation and AI production technology. Cueto presented an ambitious Spain Avs Hub website. Speakers took 100 minutes to drill down on new r expanded financial instruments planned for Spain’s film and TV, such as the country’s Ico state bank...
Briefly, five first takeaways from this year’s edition:
Spain’s On Fire
“Spain’s audiovisual sectors are on fire,” said Luis Cueto, at Spain’s Department of Commerce, at a Malaga round table on Thursday. Just one generation ago, Spanish cinema was regarded with suspicion in Spain’s august financial circles. No more. At the same panel, Arturo Azcorra at Spain’s Telecommunications Ministry announced €30 million ($33 million) in new incentives, largely for high-tech innovation, such as VFX prototypes, animation and AI production technology. Cueto presented an ambitious Spain Avs Hub website. Speakers took 100 minutes to drill down on new r expanded financial instruments planned for Spain’s film and TV, such as the country’s Ico state bank...
- 3/24/2022
- by John Hopewell, Emilio Mayorga and Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
Launched in 1998, the Malaga Film Festival first grabbed attention as a Spanish movie showcase and birthplace of a Spanish star system, TV actors walking a red carpet to acclaim from milling throngs.
Under Juan Antonio Vigar, director from 2013, it has consolidated as a platform for a new generation of Spanish filmmakers while adding ever increasing industry heft – co-pro forums, WIPs, a Hack digital forum initiative – and also opening up to TV.
In 2021, however, Malaga Festival and Spanish Screenings have exploded in scale, impact and attendance. The narrative of this year’s event is largely one of that growth. Eight takes on this and other Malaga highlights:
Malaga Lifts Off
Little wonder Malaga forms part of what’s now the Spanish Screenings Xxl. In its first full edition since 2019 with festival and industry onsite and aligned, Malaga has truly taken off. It received almost 2,000 film and TV submissions, says Vigar. Attendance has skyrocketed to over 1,100 delegates,...
Under Juan Antonio Vigar, director from 2013, it has consolidated as a platform for a new generation of Spanish filmmakers while adding ever increasing industry heft – co-pro forums, WIPs, a Hack digital forum initiative – and also opening up to TV.
In 2021, however, Malaga Festival and Spanish Screenings have exploded in scale, impact and attendance. The narrative of this year’s event is largely one of that growth. Eight takes on this and other Malaga highlights:
Malaga Lifts Off
Little wonder Malaga forms part of what’s now the Spanish Screenings Xxl. In its first full edition since 2019 with festival and industry onsite and aligned, Malaga has truly taken off. It received almost 2,000 film and TV submissions, says Vigar. Attendance has skyrocketed to over 1,100 delegates,...
- 3/21/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Germany’s Beta Film has picked up international distribution rights to two anticipated Movistar Plus originals, Canneseries-bound “El Inmortal – Gangs of Madrid” and Galician crime drama “Rapa.”
Sneak peeked at Series Mania, “Rapa” screens at the Malaga Festival on March 22.
The acquisitions form part of an ongoing multi-year distribution-production alliance unveiled in 2019, giving Beta exclusive international distribution rights to about six Movistar Plus series a year.
A Movistar Plus co-production with Telemundo Streaming Studios in collaboration with Banijay’s Dlo Producciones, “El Inmortal” inspired by true events, marks a deep dive into a figure and gang which reshaped Madrid’s 1990s criminal underworld.
There, José Antonio, played by Álex Garcia, rises up the ranks to drug lord, through a combination of burning ambition, innocence, and merciless elimination of rivals. But what he cherishes most may just cause his downfall, the synopsis runs.
Created by Dlo head José Manuel Lorenzo, eight-episode...
Sneak peeked at Series Mania, “Rapa” screens at the Malaga Festival on March 22.
The acquisitions form part of an ongoing multi-year distribution-production alliance unveiled in 2019, giving Beta exclusive international distribution rights to about six Movistar Plus series a year.
A Movistar Plus co-production with Telemundo Streaming Studios in collaboration with Banijay’s Dlo Producciones, “El Inmortal” inspired by true events, marks a deep dive into a figure and gang which reshaped Madrid’s 1990s criminal underworld.
There, José Antonio, played by Álex Garcia, rises up the ranks to drug lord, through a combination of burning ambition, innocence, and merciless elimination of rivals. But what he cherishes most may just cause his downfall, the synopsis runs.
Created by Dlo head José Manuel Lorenzo, eight-episode...
- 3/16/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Spain’s TV industry will make history at Series Mania Forum 2022, with its biggest panel and sneak peek series presentation presence ever at a major TV market.
The Spanish conference attendance – alongside Finland’s panel spread – also weighs in as the biggest from any single country at the upcoming edition of the most important co-production event for scripted TV series in Europe.
Series Mania Forum runs on-site over March 22-24 in Lille, northern France, under the larger Series Mania Festival umbrella.
Organized by Icex Spain Trade & Investment, the country’s export and inward investment board, the Spanish pavilion at the Lille Grand Palais will host a record-breaking delegation for Spain of around 20 companies and more than 50 executives.
That’s a sign of just how much Series Mania has grown as an industry forum in the last few years, and of Spain’s ambition to ramp up exports of Spanish movies...
The Spanish conference attendance – alongside Finland’s panel spread – also weighs in as the biggest from any single country at the upcoming edition of the most important co-production event for scripted TV series in Europe.
Series Mania Forum runs on-site over March 22-24 in Lille, northern France, under the larger Series Mania Festival umbrella.
Organized by Icex Spain Trade & Investment, the country’s export and inward investment board, the Spanish pavilion at the Lille Grand Palais will host a record-breaking delegation for Spain of around 20 companies and more than 50 executives.
That’s a sign of just how much Series Mania has grown as an industry forum in the last few years, and of Spain’s ambition to ramp up exports of Spanish movies...
- 3/14/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Now in its eighth year, the Berlinale Series Market’s pitching event, Co-Pro Series, wrapped today after two hours of pitches from 10 of Europe’s most exciting independent TV projects. Match Factory Production’s “The Report” was the day’s big winner, scooping the Series Mania Award, meaning the production’s team will be invited to pitch again at next month’s Lille-based get-together.
“The Report” will look to emulate the successes of former participating Co-Pro Series standouts such as “Babylon Berlin,” “Freud,” “Furia,” and perhaps most especially Icelandic period drama “Blackport,” a former Series Mania Award-winner that last year took the French festival’s top prize when it returned as a finished series.
A major move from Germany’s Match Factory Productions, “The Report” marks one of the legendary film company’s first forays into series production.
Based on true events, the series will follow a U.N. commission...
“The Report” will look to emulate the successes of former participating Co-Pro Series standouts such as “Babylon Berlin,” “Freud,” “Furia,” and perhaps most especially Icelandic period drama “Blackport,” a former Series Mania Award-winner that last year took the French festival’s top prize when it returned as a finished series.
A major move from Germany’s Match Factory Productions, “The Report” marks one of the legendary film company’s first forays into series production.
Based on true events, the series will follow a U.N. commission...
- 2/15/2022
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Spanish media giant Atresmedia is joining forces with Portocabo, the production outfit behind Movistar Plus hit series “Hierro,” for a remake of Showtime drama “Your Honor,” starring Bryan Cranston.
The Spanish redo is currently at the script stage and initiating casting.
With an undisclosed number of episodes, the project production is scheduled to kick off this year.
The TV series release date is still unknown. But it would be logical for it to launch on platform Atresplayer Premium before airing on Atresmedia’s free-to-air channel Antena 3 primetime, a windowing strategy usually followed by the group with its new fiction releases since Atresplayer Premium bowed in 2019.
“Your Honor” is based on the Israeli TV drama “Kvodo,” created by Ron Ninio and Shlomo Mashiach, and aired first on Israel’s paybox Yes TV.
The U.S. version was developed by Peter Moffat for Showtime and stars “Breaking Bad’s” Bryan Cranston,...
The Spanish redo is currently at the script stage and initiating casting.
With an undisclosed number of episodes, the project production is scheduled to kick off this year.
The TV series release date is still unknown. But it would be logical for it to launch on platform Atresplayer Premium before airing on Atresmedia’s free-to-air channel Antena 3 primetime, a windowing strategy usually followed by the group with its new fiction releases since Atresplayer Premium bowed in 2019.
“Your Honor” is based on the Israeli TV drama “Kvodo,” created by Ron Ninio and Shlomo Mashiach, and aired first on Israel’s paybox Yes TV.
The U.S. version was developed by Peter Moffat for Showtime and stars “Breaking Bad’s” Bryan Cranston,...
- 2/14/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Traditionally, Spanish broadcasters retained all rights, paying producers a percentage of the budget of their series, which prevented them from building catalogs of their own rights. Although at first, the arrival of SVOD platforms didn’t change their business relationship, the increasing demand for TV fiction and financial needs have forced an increased use of the co-production model.
“There is a lot of creativity and versatility in co-productions from Spain,” says Caroline Servy, managing director at The Wit.
Dipping its toe into the co-production arena in 2016 with “The Young Pope,” The Mediapro Studio, one of Europe’s super-indies, is expanding across Asia, Latin America and the U.S. markets, teaming with key broadcasters and platforms.
“Co-production has been the perfect model to hike the international reach of our productions. This way of working has become common among production companies, platforms and networks in recent years, and is in fact the...
“There is a lot of creativity and versatility in co-productions from Spain,” says Caroline Servy, managing director at The Wit.
Dipping its toe into the co-production arena in 2016 with “The Young Pope,” The Mediapro Studio, one of Europe’s super-indies, is expanding across Asia, Latin America and the U.S. markets, teaming with key broadcasters and platforms.
“Co-production has been the perfect model to hike the international reach of our productions. This way of working has become common among production companies, platforms and networks in recent years, and is in fact the...
- 1/20/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Olivier Bibas is to join the French pay TV giant Canal Plus as head of its fiction label Création Originale. As such, Bibas will be responsible for Canal Plus’ French drama and international co-productions. He starts on Feb. 14.
Bibas will report to Gérald-Brice Viret, managing director, French TV Channels and Programs at Canal Plus Group, who said Bibas’ “vision, recognized expertise and talent will be invaluable in proposing new major series with worldwide appeal.”
Fabrice de la Patellière, who has held the position of head of drama at Canal Plus since 2002, will now move into production and partner with Studiocanal, under the direction of Anna Marsh, to develop ambitious French and international series, for both television and platforms.
In a statement, Canal Plus said it would like to thank De la Patellière for “his tremendous contribution to the numerous successes” of Création Originale, which he launched over 15 years ago with Arielle Saracco.
Bibas will report to Gérald-Brice Viret, managing director, French TV Channels and Programs at Canal Plus Group, who said Bibas’ “vision, recognized expertise and talent will be invaluable in proposing new major series with worldwide appeal.”
Fabrice de la Patellière, who has held the position of head of drama at Canal Plus since 2002, will now move into production and partner with Studiocanal, under the direction of Anna Marsh, to develop ambitious French and international series, for both television and platforms.
In a statement, Canal Plus said it would like to thank De la Patellière for “his tremendous contribution to the numerous successes” of Création Originale, which he launched over 15 years ago with Arielle Saracco.
- 1/20/2022
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Portuguese producers are looking to strike gold with a hit series that could follow in the footsteps of European shows such as “Money Heist,” “Hierro,” “The Bridge,” “Trapped” or “Skam.”
They have several advantages: Portugal has competitive production costs which can compensate for more limited budgets; they’re fast learners, as shown by the rapid development of a successful domestic telenovelas industry in the early 2000s; and they are good at international networking, as confirmed by the solid network of foreign co-productions in place for film and TV productions.
Still, challenges remain, including difficulties in raising financing, as well as the need for greater investment in script development.
ONSeries Lisboa has highlighted three genre categories where there has been strong series production in Portugal: Historical fiction, romance and crime drama.
Of these, crime drama has been the strongest area for co-production. Rtp’s Jose Fragoso explains that this is because...
They have several advantages: Portugal has competitive production costs which can compensate for more limited budgets; they’re fast learners, as shown by the rapid development of a successful domestic telenovelas industry in the early 2000s; and they are good at international networking, as confirmed by the solid network of foreign co-productions in place for film and TV productions.
Still, challenges remain, including difficulties in raising financing, as well as the need for greater investment in script development.
ONSeries Lisboa has highlighted three genre categories where there has been strong series production in Portugal: Historical fiction, romance and crime drama.
Of these, crime drama has been the strongest area for co-production. Rtp’s Jose Fragoso explains that this is because...
- 11/29/2021
- by Martin Dale
- Variety Film + TV
Movistar Plus, the streaming and broadcast arm of Spanish telco giant Telefonica, has confirmed a breathtaking roster of talent which will helm its upcoming five-part anthology series “Apagón,” produced by Buendía Estudios.
Inspired by the popular “El gran apagón” podcast, the series features five stand-alone stories, connected only in that they take place after a solar flair causes a worldwide blackout – “apagón” in Spanish – and deals with the consequences that such a catastrophe might impose.
The series’ impressive lineup of writing talent was first announced in June of this year, and Movistar has today confirmed that award-winning directors Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Alberto Rodríguez, Raúl Arévalo, Isa Campo, and Isaki Lacuesta will helm the five stories. For the first two filmmakers, the series is a return to Movistar Plus. The three new recruits further establishes the broadcaster as one of the Spanish industry’s premier platforms for upscale Spanish talent to express...
Inspired by the popular “El gran apagón” podcast, the series features five stand-alone stories, connected only in that they take place after a solar flair causes a worldwide blackout – “apagón” in Spanish – and deals with the consequences that such a catastrophe might impose.
The series’ impressive lineup of writing talent was first announced in June of this year, and Movistar has today confirmed that award-winning directors Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Alberto Rodríguez, Raúl Arévalo, Isa Campo, and Isaki Lacuesta will helm the five stories. For the first two filmmakers, the series is a return to Movistar Plus. The three new recruits further establishes the broadcaster as one of the Spanish industry’s premier platforms for upscale Spanish talent to express...
- 11/11/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Spain’s Movistar Plus, the Spanish TV and streaming label of telco giant Telefonica, has announced “Rapa,” a new Latin Noir thriller original series starring one of the country’s most decorated film and TV actors, Javier Cámara.
La Rapa is supposed to be a day of celebration and festival in the Galician town of A Capelada. However, when the village’s mayor is murdered the local community goes into panic mode. In a careful-what-you-wish-for moment, frustrated professor Tomás (Cámara) becomes the center of attention and the resulting investigation as the only witness to the crime. He will join forces with local Civil Guard inspector Maite, a woman most in her element when on a manhunt, to uncover what happened on that day.
“Rapa” sees Movistar team once again with leading Galician production company Portocabo, producers of one of the broadcaster’s biggest hit original hits “Hierro” – it’s Movistar...
La Rapa is supposed to be a day of celebration and festival in the Galician town of A Capelada. However, when the village’s mayor is murdered the local community goes into panic mode. In a careful-what-you-wish-for moment, frustrated professor Tomás (Cámara) becomes the center of attention and the resulting investigation as the only witness to the crime. He will join forces with local Civil Guard inspector Maite, a woman most in her element when on a manhunt, to uncover what happened on that day.
“Rapa” sees Movistar team once again with leading Galician production company Portocabo, producers of one of the broadcaster’s biggest hit original hits “Hierro” – it’s Movistar...
- 7/14/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
London-based Dcd Rights is launching a brand-new eight-hour second season of Spanish-Portuguese crime thriller “Dry Water.”
A slice of Galician and Portuguese Noir, “Dry Water” marks part of a pioneering push by Spain’s Portocabo, producer of Movistar Plus smash hit “Hierro,” to take classic free-to-air scripted in its native Galicia, north-west Spain, into a premium TV age.
The MipTV launch comes as HBO has boarded “Dry Water” season two, now set up as a co-production between Spain’s Portocabo and Portugal’s SPi with the participation of Portuguese public broadcaster Rtp, HBO Spain & Portugal and Tvg Galicia, the state TV in Galicia.
In a pre-MipTV deal made via Dcd Rights, the first series of “Dry Water,” launched at 2019’s Mipcom, has just been acquired by Ivi for its feed of 15 countries across Russia, Cis and the Baltic states. The first series of the thriller was previously picked up in Spain,...
A slice of Galician and Portuguese Noir, “Dry Water” marks part of a pioneering push by Spain’s Portocabo, producer of Movistar Plus smash hit “Hierro,” to take classic free-to-air scripted in its native Galicia, north-west Spain, into a premium TV age.
The MipTV launch comes as HBO has boarded “Dry Water” season two, now set up as a co-production between Spain’s Portocabo and Portugal’s SPi with the participation of Portuguese public broadcaster Rtp, HBO Spain & Portugal and Tvg Galicia, the state TV in Galicia.
In a pre-MipTV deal made via Dcd Rights, the first series of “Dry Water,” launched at 2019’s Mipcom, has just been acquired by Ivi for its feed of 15 countries across Russia, Cis and the Baltic states. The first series of the thriller was previously picked up in Spain,...
- 4/9/2021
- by Martin Dale and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The Galician actor tops the bill of the new film by Jorge Coira, who releases the second season of his series Hierro on Friday 19 February. Proyecto Emperador will be the fourth fiction feature by Jorge Coira, following Eroski Paraíso (which he directed in tandem with Xesús Ron), 18 Meals and his feature debut, 2004’s The Year of the Tick. The Lugo-born filmmaker has also directed successful TV series of the likes of Hierro (the second season of which is released on Friday 19 February on Movistar+ – see the review and the interview) and I Know Who You Are, as well as working as an editor on the features Gun City and Retribution, for which he was given the Goya Award for Best Editor. Starring three-time Spanish Film Academy Award winner Luis Tosar, this new film – slated to be shot in April – will reflect the very recognisable...
Appropriately blessed by sunshine in Spain, though the whole event went online, the Malaga Film Festival’s Spanish Screenings wrapped Friday, though films will continue to screen another week given the demand for screenings. The equivalent of France’s UniFrance Rendez-vous with French cinema in Paris, the Screenings proved a bellwether for far larger trends coursing the American Film Market and the international market at large. Following, five takeaways:
The French Connection
The Malaga Spanish Screenings rounded their final bend on Friday with news that France’s Playtime Group, one of Europe’s premier film sales-production groups with companies across Europe, has boarded Vaca Films’ “Project Emperor.” The Playtime-Vaca relation stretches back a decade to one of Spain’s biggest modern break-outs, “Cell 211.” It now forms part of a fast multiplying web of Gallic connections with Spain, as French companies buy into the global reach of Spanish-language fiction.
The French Connection
The Malaga Spanish Screenings rounded their final bend on Friday with news that France’s Playtime Group, one of Europe’s premier film sales-production groups with companies across Europe, has boarded Vaca Films’ “Project Emperor.” The Playtime-Vaca relation stretches back a decade to one of Spain’s biggest modern break-outs, “Cell 211.” It now forms part of a fast multiplying web of Gallic connections with Spain, as French companies buy into the global reach of Spanish-language fiction.
- 11/20/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Jorge Coira, the Spanish director of “18 Meals” and hit Spanish-French series “Hierro,” is set to helm “Project Emperor” (“Proyecto Emperador”), a timely spy thriller penned by “Cell 211” screenwriter Jorge Guerricaechevarria, also Alex de la Iglesia’s career-long co-scribe.
Vaca Films (“Extinction”) is producing with Sábado Películas (“A Perfect Enemy”), La Ley del Plomo Aie (“Gun City”) and Paris-based pan-European sales-production company the Playtime Group whose current slate includes Jacques Audiard’s “Paris, 13th District.”
“Project Emperor” is expected to start filming in April. Adolfo Blanco’s leading Spanish company, A Contracorriente Films, has acquired Spain’s distribution rights.
“Project Emperor” unfolds in the Spanish state espionage underworld and revolves around Juan, an agent working for the intelligence services, who also reports to a parallel unit involved in illegal activities. While his official mission is to prevent terrorist attacks, Juan is pushed to cross the red line to cover up...
Vaca Films (“Extinction”) is producing with Sábado Películas (“A Perfect Enemy”), La Ley del Plomo Aie (“Gun City”) and Paris-based pan-European sales-production company the Playtime Group whose current slate includes Jacques Audiard’s “Paris, 13th District.”
“Project Emperor” is expected to start filming in April. Adolfo Blanco’s leading Spanish company, A Contracorriente Films, has acquired Spain’s distribution rights.
“Project Emperor” unfolds in the Spanish state espionage underworld and revolves around Juan, an agent working for the intelligence services, who also reports to a parallel unit involved in illegal activities. While his official mission is to prevent terrorist attacks, Juan is pushed to cross the red line to cover up...
- 11/20/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy and Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
Filmax, the Barcelona-based production-distribution-sales studio, has acquired international sales rights for two comedies, “When Brooklyn Met Seville” and “Brothers in Law.”
Both make passing social comment on Spain’s plight in their portrait of normal folk in desperate fixes, facing eviction or huge debt, and reacting with harebrained scams, which reflect their lack of schooling in real crime.
Mainly, however, the movies target audiences in Spain and around the world in need of light escapist fare, while packing potential for sales of both the original and format.
“When Brooklyn Met Seville” turns on Ana, a young girl in Seville, desperate to leave her hardscrabble neighborhood, whose mother, facing eviction, decides to take in a foreign student, Ariel Brooklyn, an African Americans student from a rich family. Ariel has never known such poverty; but he’s never met a girl like Ana either.
Produced by Madrid’s Capitán Araña (“El Plan...
Both make passing social comment on Spain’s plight in their portrait of normal folk in desperate fixes, facing eviction or huge debt, and reacting with harebrained scams, which reflect their lack of schooling in real crime.
Mainly, however, the movies target audiences in Spain and around the world in need of light escapist fare, while packing potential for sales of both the original and format.
“When Brooklyn Met Seville” turns on Ana, a young girl in Seville, desperate to leave her hardscrabble neighborhood, whose mother, facing eviction, decides to take in a foreign student, Ariel Brooklyn, an African Americans student from a rich family. Ariel has never known such poverty; but he’s never met a girl like Ana either.
Produced by Madrid’s Capitán Araña (“El Plan...
- 11/11/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Movistar Plus, the pay TV division of giant European telco Telefonica, in 2016 started producing and releasing its own original series. In a second phase, it linked to prestige European production partners, first with Arte France on “Hierro” and now, with “Tell Me Who I Am,” a woman’s emancipation epic made with Telemundo Intl. Studios, and Alejandro Amenábar’s upcoming “La Fortuna,” an adventure thriller made with AMC Studios, Movistar Plus is quickly building its U.S. connection.
The Beta Film-sold “Tell Me Who I Am” is one of the biggest series Movistar Plus has ever made. It charts a woman’s battle for freedom from traditional gender roles and totalitarianism. It spans 60 years, from heroine Amelia’s conservative upper-class Madrid youth in 1934 through Stalin’s 1938 Moscow elite purges, to Mussolini’s Italy, the decline of Nazi forces’ grip on Athens and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. It...
The Beta Film-sold “Tell Me Who I Am” is one of the biggest series Movistar Plus has ever made. It charts a woman’s battle for freedom from traditional gender roles and totalitarianism. It spans 60 years, from heroine Amelia’s conservative upper-class Madrid youth in 1934 through Stalin’s 1938 Moscow elite purges, to Mussolini’s Italy, the decline of Nazi forces’ grip on Athens and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. It...
- 10/13/2020
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
As coronavirus ravaged Spain in April, the country’s central government took one significant step toward building for a post-covid future. The Covid-19 pandemic has sparked — paradoxically — a new bullishness in Spain’s international production industry.
On May 5, Spain’s government greenlit a critical hike to tax breaks for Spanish and international productions, suddenly and significantly increasing the country’s competitiveness as a film and TV location destination.
Tax rebates for international shoots — and also tax credits for Spanish nationality productions — were increased from 25% to 30% for the first €1 million ($1.1 million) spend in the country and from 20% to 25% thereafter, capping a shoot’s total tax deduction at €10 million ($10.8 million).
In the Canary Islands, the rebate has been set at an extraordinary 50% for the first $1.1 million, and 45% for the rest — the highest rate of deduction in the world.
The new measures, especially the muscular rise in the rebate ceiling, produced a large...
On May 5, Spain’s government greenlit a critical hike to tax breaks for Spanish and international productions, suddenly and significantly increasing the country’s competitiveness as a film and TV location destination.
Tax rebates for international shoots — and also tax credits for Spanish nationality productions — were increased from 25% to 30% for the first €1 million ($1.1 million) spend in the country and from 20% to 25% thereafter, capping a shoot’s total tax deduction at €10 million ($10.8 million).
In the Canary Islands, the rebate has been set at an extraordinary 50% for the first $1.1 million, and 45% for the rest — the highest rate of deduction in the world.
The new measures, especially the muscular rise in the rebate ceiling, produced a large...
- 6/23/2020
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
In this week’s International TV Newswire the English Premier League TV schedules are announced – including a first-ever broadcast on the BBC, Secuoya teams with Tiki Group on the first fiction program to be shot on the Easter Islands in 22 years, Keshet’s “Singletown” gets a Danish remake, De Mensen launches a new format in Belgium and Nent commissions “Suck it Up” from “Lillyhammer” actress Henriette Steenstrup.
BBC to Broadcast Epl for the First Time Ever
The English Premier League, the U.K.’s top soccer competition, has reached agreements over which games will air on which networks from the League’s June 17 restart date through July 2. Aston Villa and Sheffield United will kick off the post-Covid portion of the 2019-20 season followed by Manchester City vs. Arsenal on Sky Sports, which will also broadcast Friday night’s headline match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. June 20, the BBC will broadcast,...
BBC to Broadcast Epl for the First Time Ever
The English Premier League, the U.K.’s top soccer competition, has reached agreements over which games will air on which networks from the League’s June 17 restart date through July 2. Aston Villa and Sheffield United will kick off the post-Covid portion of the 2019-20 season followed by Manchester City vs. Arsenal on Sky Sports, which will also broadcast Friday night’s headline match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United. June 20, the BBC will broadcast,...
- 6/5/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Spain’s government has drawn up a timetable of phased emergence from Covid-19 lockdown which sets cautiously estimated dates of May 11 and May 26 for the re-authorization of movies and series shoots and cinema theater re-openings respectively.
Scheduled as Phase One and Two of a easing of Covid-19 restrictions, dates depend on no second spike in contagion, Spanish prime minster Pedro Sánchez stressed when addressing the nation Tuesday night.
No dates were initially given to the phase-out. Those became clearer Wednesday in Spanish newspaper coverage of the government’s recovery plans.
Announcements of the potential lockdown lift on shoots was greeted positively by Spain’s production sector, though with multiple riders.
Spain’s exhibition sector used the news of plans to reopen cinema theaters to call, via trade assn. Fece, for compensation for losses accumulated to date, and in the foreseeable immediate future.
“It’s fantastic news that the government...
Scheduled as Phase One and Two of a easing of Covid-19 restrictions, dates depend on no second spike in contagion, Spanish prime minster Pedro Sánchez stressed when addressing the nation Tuesday night.
No dates were initially given to the phase-out. Those became clearer Wednesday in Spanish newspaper coverage of the government’s recovery plans.
Announcements of the potential lockdown lift on shoots was greeted positively by Spain’s production sector, though with multiple riders.
Spain’s exhibition sector used the news of plans to reopen cinema theaters to call, via trade assn. Fece, for compensation for losses accumulated to date, and in the foreseeable immediate future.
“It’s fantastic news that the government...
- 4/29/2020
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Arte France, a bastion of quality European TV, is looking to make its French series ever less French , as it consolidates its position as one of Europe’s most internationally-minded TV operators.
Early fruit of that drive, “No Man’s Land,” – “in microcosm, and in a thriller format, what we’re trying to do in general,” Olivier Wotling, Arte France’s head of drama, told Variety – was selected for main competition at Series Mania. Had the TV festival taken place in Lille, it would surely have been a strong contender for its best series prize.
“No Man’s Land’s” main stars are French: Félix Moati, who plays initially dapper Parisian construction engineer Antoine, and Melanie Thierry. A lead producer is most certainly French, Paris-based Haut et Court, the reputed producer of “Les Revenants,” “The Last Panthers” and “The New Pope.”
But Antoine’s journey is certainly not as, unable to...
Early fruit of that drive, “No Man’s Land,” – “in microcosm, and in a thriller format, what we’re trying to do in general,” Olivier Wotling, Arte France’s head of drama, told Variety – was selected for main competition at Series Mania. Had the TV festival taken place in Lille, it would surely have been a strong contender for its best series prize.
“No Man’s Land’s” main stars are French: Félix Moati, who plays initially dapper Parisian construction engineer Antoine, and Melanie Thierry. A lead producer is most certainly French, Paris-based Haut et Court, the reputed producer of “Les Revenants,” “The Last Panthers” and “The New Pope.”
But Antoine’s journey is certainly not as, unable to...
- 3/31/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The Spanish TV industry has been shaken by the dramatic impact of the coronavirus crisis, but it is fighting back.
Industry players have reacted fast, pushing forward with development, post-production and other business activities using online tools, and with the expectation of supporting funds from both public and private initiatives that will mitigate the effects of the crisis in production.
As has been the case in the local film sector, TV fiction production has been halted, with some 30 TV drama project shoots suspended.
Despite huge difficulties, the TV networks haven’t stopped broadcasting live, operating as normally as possible. Live programming, held without the presence of audiences, continues. News programs, crucial in crisis times, are breaking ratings records. There is, though, a higher than usual presence of reruns.
The release of original TV dramas, a key content for VOD platforms, is being adapted to the exceptional circumstances.
HBO has postponed the keenly-awaited launch of “Patria,...
Industry players have reacted fast, pushing forward with development, post-production and other business activities using online tools, and with the expectation of supporting funds from both public and private initiatives that will mitigate the effects of the crisis in production.
As has been the case in the local film sector, TV fiction production has been halted, with some 30 TV drama project shoots suspended.
Despite huge difficulties, the TV networks haven’t stopped broadcasting live, operating as normally as possible. Live programming, held without the presence of audiences, continues. News programs, crucial in crisis times, are breaking ratings records. There is, though, a higher than usual presence of reruns.
The release of original TV dramas, a key content for VOD platforms, is being adapted to the exceptional circumstances.
HBO has postponed the keenly-awaited launch of “Patria,...
- 3/30/2020
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — As the world’s international TV distribution goes virtual, these are a pick of Spanish TV shows – at project stage, in production or completed, and mostly drama series – being brought onto the market, or available for partnering for production or straight acquisition:
24 Land
(Ficción Producciones, Ukbar Filmes)
A Spain-Portugal co-production from Pablo Iraola and Pandora Da Cunha, this WWII mystery drama follows a high-society woman willing to do anything to save her homeland from a foreign invasion. Selected to participate at Canneseries’ in development sidebar, the series will launch April 8 in Portugal.
Back Home
(CTV, SPi, Rtp)
A co-production between Galicia’s CTV and Portuguese broadcaster Rtp, this dramedy kicks off when Caetano (45), the CEO of a telecom company, tells his wife and two children’s mother that “it’s over.” In pre-production.
Barcelona Trilogy
(El Estudio)
A propulsive Jihadist terrorist thriller set in Barcelona, written by Xavi Puerta...
24 Land
(Ficción Producciones, Ukbar Filmes)
A Spain-Portugal co-production from Pablo Iraola and Pandora Da Cunha, this WWII mystery drama follows a high-society woman willing to do anything to save her homeland from a foreign invasion. Selected to participate at Canneseries’ in development sidebar, the series will launch April 8 in Portugal.
Back Home
(CTV, SPi, Rtp)
A co-production between Galicia’s CTV and Portuguese broadcaster Rtp, this dramedy kicks off when Caetano (45), the CEO of a telecom company, tells his wife and two children’s mother that “it’s over.” In pre-production.
Barcelona Trilogy
(El Estudio)
A propulsive Jihadist terrorist thriller set in Barcelona, written by Xavi Puerta...
- 3/30/2020
- by Emilio Mayorga, Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — As of Friday, some more contained TV events in Europe were moving full-steam ahead. One, ONSeries Lisboa, set for April 28-29, has revealed a new major section, and the enthusiastic backing of Portugal’s government.
In one move, ONSeries Lisboa and Conecta Fiction have opened a joint call for projects in early development linking Portugal and Spain. Only screenwriters living in one of the two countries can apply, and can do so without production company backing. 10 semi-finalists that will be presented at a Contest ONideas pitch session in Lisbon. Five segue to a final Contest ONideas in Conecta Fiction, scheduled to take place in Pamplona, Spain over June 22-25.
Earlier this week, ONSeries Lisbon also unveiled to the industry a Pitch Short-Form Series competition whose 10 selected semifinalists will again be showcased at Lisbon, where they will receive mentor advice. Half of them again will be selected to travel to June’s Conecta Fiction.
In one move, ONSeries Lisboa and Conecta Fiction have opened a joint call for projects in early development linking Portugal and Spain. Only screenwriters living in one of the two countries can apply, and can do so without production company backing. 10 semi-finalists that will be presented at a Contest ONideas pitch session in Lisbon. Five segue to a final Contest ONideas in Conecta Fiction, scheduled to take place in Pamplona, Spain over June 22-25.
Earlier this week, ONSeries Lisbon also unveiled to the industry a Pitch Short-Form Series competition whose 10 selected semifinalists will again be showcased at Lisbon, where they will receive mentor advice. Half of them again will be selected to travel to June’s Conecta Fiction.
- 3/6/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Berlinale 2020: Eufcn and Cineuropa announced the winner of the third edition of the Eufcn Location Award at Berlinale's European Film Market. The island of El Hierro is the winner of the third edition of the Eufcn Location Award, the award for best European location in the film and TV industries organized by Eufcn (European Film Commissions Network), in collaboration with Cineuropa. The smallest of the Canary Islands, and the most westerly point of Spain, has been chosen from among 10 European locations for playing the perfect setting for Spanish thriller TV series Hierro, created by Pepe Coira and directed by Jorge Coira. During the first phase of the competition, each Eufcn member had the opportunity to submit one location from a film, a TV series or a documentary shot in their country and released between January 2018 and July 2019. Ten wonderful locations were shortlisted, and the general public...
Madrid — Beta Film has acquired international distribution rights to “Libertad,” the newly-titled banner Movistar Plus series, which encapsulates many of the original series production ambitions of Telefonica’s pay TV/Svod service.
According to Fran Araujo, head of content for Movistar Plus, “Beta is there for all our series from the beginning, nowadays, we’ve got a really extensive deal with them.”
Producers Lazona Productions, Spanish director Enrique Urbizu and Movistar have finalized production on “Libertad” and will begin post-production. Urbizu has previously directed “Gigantes,” another original series for Movistar Plus produced by Lazona.
In high-profile series like “Hierro,” “La Unidad” and “Antidisturbios,” women hold center stage in Movistar Plus series, and “Libertad” is no different.
Set in the 19th century, the series tracks a mother and her son following their release after spending the first seventeen years of the boy’s life in prison together. Having been granted their freedom,...
According to Fran Araujo, head of content for Movistar Plus, “Beta is there for all our series from the beginning, nowadays, we’ve got a really extensive deal with them.”
Producers Lazona Productions, Spanish director Enrique Urbizu and Movistar have finalized production on “Libertad” and will begin post-production. Urbizu has previously directed “Gigantes,” another original series for Movistar Plus produced by Lazona.
In high-profile series like “Hierro,” “La Unidad” and “Antidisturbios,” women hold center stage in Movistar Plus series, and “Libertad” is no different.
Set in the 19th century, the series tracks a mother and her son following their release after spending the first seventeen years of the boy’s life in prison together. Having been granted their freedom,...
- 2/25/2020
- by Pablo Sandoval
- Variety Film + TV
Profiles of major Spanish shows at Mipcom. S: International distribution.
3 Caminos
(Ficción Producciones, Beta Film)
Five friends of different nationalities connect on the St. James Way. An Amazon Prime Vídeo pickup, shooting from February.
S: Beta Film
Caronte
(Mediaset España, Big Bang Media)
Legal procedural from Verónica Fernández, creator of Netflix’s upcoming “Hache,” about an ex-cop and an ex-con turned criminal lawyer. Acquired by Amazon for worldwide streaming.
S: Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group, Imagina International Sales
The Countryside
(Mediaset España, Contubernio)
Vegan, choral comedy created by Alberto Caballero (“La que se avecina”) Premiered on Amazon Prime Video España then Mediaset España channels.
S: Mediterráneo
Central Market
(Rtve, Diagonal TV)
Serial from producers of post-Civil War soap“Love in Difficult Times.” A slice of life take on workers at a major city market. S: Rtve
Dangerous Moms
(Mediaset España, Mandarina Producciones)
Black comedy series marking Mediaset España’s best fiction release in five years.
3 Caminos
(Ficción Producciones, Beta Film)
Five friends of different nationalities connect on the St. James Way. An Amazon Prime Vídeo pickup, shooting from February.
S: Beta Film
Caronte
(Mediaset España, Big Bang Media)
Legal procedural from Verónica Fernández, creator of Netflix’s upcoming “Hache,” about an ex-cop and an ex-con turned criminal lawyer. Acquired by Amazon for worldwide streaming.
S: Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group, Imagina International Sales
The Countryside
(Mediaset España, Contubernio)
Vegan, choral comedy created by Alberto Caballero (“La que se avecina”) Premiered on Amazon Prime Video España then Mediaset España channels.
S: Mediterráneo
Central Market
(Rtve, Diagonal TV)
Serial from producers of post-Civil War soap“Love in Difficult Times.” A slice of life take on workers at a major city market. S: Rtve
Dangerous Moms
(Mediaset España, Mandarina Producciones)
Black comedy series marking Mediaset España’s best fiction release in five years.
- 10/14/2019
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
The explosion of global streaming services has prompted a golden age of Spanish drama series.
Led by new seasons of Netflix phenomena “La casa de papel” (“Money Heist”) and “Elite,” global demand for the top 20 Spanish-produced TV fiction titles grew 30.2% this year compared to 2018, according to Parrot Analytics.
“The quality of Spanish production is powering stories across borders in an unstoppable way,” says Ana Bustamante, managing director at Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group.
“Since audiences are used to watching global content, it’s now much easier to sell Spanish series,” says Portocabo founder Alfonso Blanco, producer of “Hierro.”
“Spanish TV fiction is being discovered worldwide. Gradually there will be an adjustment to demand, prompting price hikes. This will allow us to continue growing and make more ambitious productions,” says Javier Méndez, the Mediapro Studio content director.
At home, global players are rapidly positioning themselves.
Netflix now operates its first European Production...
Led by new seasons of Netflix phenomena “La casa de papel” (“Money Heist”) and “Elite,” global demand for the top 20 Spanish-produced TV fiction titles grew 30.2% this year compared to 2018, according to Parrot Analytics.
“The quality of Spanish production is powering stories across borders in an unstoppable way,” says Ana Bustamante, managing director at Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group.
“Since audiences are used to watching global content, it’s now much easier to sell Spanish series,” says Portocabo founder Alfonso Blanco, producer of “Hierro.”
“Spanish TV fiction is being discovered worldwide. Gradually there will be an adjustment to demand, prompting price hikes. This will allow us to continue growing and make more ambitious productions,” says Javier Méndez, the Mediapro Studio content director.
At home, global players are rapidly positioning themselves.
Netflix now operates its first European Production...
- 10/12/2019
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — “Dry Water” starts with a steadily advancing aerial shot of Lisbon, then its iconic squares, next cuts to stables used to fence firearms, then to Teresa, as she mounts her motorbike to pick up younger brother Paulo, whom she dotes on, at Lisbon’s extraordinarily modern central railway station.
After they meet their mother, cut to another aerial shot, of Spain’s Vigo, part of Galicia and another port city, in brilliant sunshine, its Atlantic ocean a deep blue.
Paulo returns to Vigo, where he works for his godfather, Mauro, in his shipping business down at the port. The next day he’s found dead with a shot to the head. Neither the investigating police officer, the soon to retire Viñas, nor Teresa, think it’s suicide.
Mostly unspooling in Vigo, in geographic terms, “Dry Water” lies off the beaten track, a virtue Spanish producer Portocabo, based in Galicia’s A Coruña,...
After they meet their mother, cut to another aerial shot, of Spain’s Vigo, part of Galicia and another port city, in brilliant sunshine, its Atlantic ocean a deep blue.
Paulo returns to Vigo, where he works for his godfather, Mauro, in his shipping business down at the port. The next day he’s found dead with a shot to the head. Neither the investigating police officer, the soon to retire Viñas, nor Teresa, think it’s suicide.
Mostly unspooling in Vigo, in geographic terms, “Dry Water” lies off the beaten track, a virtue Spanish producer Portocabo, based in Galicia’s A Coruña,...
- 10/10/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
When Movistar Plus president Sergio Oslé moved into his office, there was a painting hanging on one of the walls. He’s replaced it with a dinky basketball hoop. Though born in Spain’s Bilbao, as Spanish newspaper El Mundo once noted, there’s something distinctly non-Spanish about Oslé, who’s worked in the U.K., Brazil, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. He is as much at home, maybe more so, talking business in English than Spanish. As befits a former McKinsey consultant, his interest is in the bigger picture as he steers Movistar Plus into the future.
That means breaking molds. Since its inception in 1990 as Canal Plus, which Movistar parent Telefonica acquired in 2014, the pay TV operator has been modeled on its French counterpart: high-priced and aimed at a large middle-class. But Spain’s middle classes are far smaller. So in June, Oslé broke with the past, launching Movistar Plus Lite,...
That means breaking molds. Since its inception in 1990 as Canal Plus, which Movistar parent Telefonica acquired in 2014, the pay TV operator has been modeled on its French counterpart: high-priced and aimed at a large middle-class. But Spain’s middle classes are far smaller. So in June, Oslé broke with the past, launching Movistar Plus Lite,...
- 9/13/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Three years ago, Spain’s independent TV production sector was heading toward a crisis with ever lower profit margins. Cut to 2019, and Spain is enjoying a golden age of drama series production, while consolidating as a global production center.
One major factor in the turnaround has been Movistar Plus, the pay TV unit of Telefonica. It has made the biggest push into high-end original production of any telecom in Europe — just as U.S. and European telcos scramble to compete for content with media companies.
The first results, at home and abroad, of Telefonica’s content drive are now in.
One is a turnaround. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Movistar Plus lost 54,000 pay-tv subscribers. After its first three original series had been released, Movistar Plus added 80,700 in Q4 2017. Since July 2017, releasing 22 original or returning series through September, Movistar Plus has posted eight consecutive quarters of steady pay TV household growth,...
One major factor in the turnaround has been Movistar Plus, the pay TV unit of Telefonica. It has made the biggest push into high-end original production of any telecom in Europe — just as U.S. and European telcos scramble to compete for content with media companies.
The first results, at home and abroad, of Telefonica’s content drive are now in.
One is a turnaround. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Movistar Plus lost 54,000 pay-tv subscribers. After its first three original series had been released, Movistar Plus added 80,700 in Q4 2017. Since July 2017, releasing 22 original or returning series through September, Movistar Plus has posted eight consecutive quarters of steady pay TV household growth,...
- 9/13/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
In this week’s International TV Newswire, “Hierro” breaks records in Spain, Sky readies fora diabolic Mipcom, Nent realigns, reflecting new market realities, Buena Vista drills down on gender crime, Drg, All3Media and EndemolShine strike production or sales deals.
Renewed, “Hierro” Triumphs in Spain
Movistar+, the pay TV unit of Telefonica, Europe’s third biggest telecom, has a hit on its hands. It says much, moreover, about Europe’s still building drama series scene.
This week, “Hierro,” a crime drama first seen at Seriesmania, was renewed for Season 2, and confirmed by Spain’s Movistar as its most-viewed of its first Original Series releases to date, judged over its first 80 days.
The result is a triumph for the series’ creators, Portocabo producer Alfonso Blanco and screenwriter Pepe Coira, plus director Jorge Coira. It also vindicates Movistar+ entry into international co-production, here with upscale French network Arte, Galicia-based Portocabo and the Lagardère Group’s Atlantique Productions,...
Renewed, “Hierro” Triumphs in Spain
Movistar+, the pay TV unit of Telefonica, Europe’s third biggest telecom, has a hit on its hands. It says much, moreover, about Europe’s still building drama series scene.
This week, “Hierro,” a crime drama first seen at Seriesmania, was renewed for Season 2, and confirmed by Spain’s Movistar as its most-viewed of its first Original Series releases to date, judged over its first 80 days.
The result is a triumph for the series’ creators, Portocabo producer Alfonso Blanco and screenwriter Pepe Coira, plus director Jorge Coira. It also vindicates Movistar+ entry into international co-production, here with upscale French network Arte, Galicia-based Portocabo and the Lagardère Group’s Atlantique Productions,...
- 9/6/2019
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Rolling off their partnership on “While at War,” one of the biggest and highest-profile Spanish movies of 2019, Academy Award winning director Alejandro Amenábar is now teaming with Movistar +, the pay TV division of Spain’s Telefonica, on the development of a drama series, inspired by the Spanish graphic novel “El tesoro del Cisne Negro.”
Created by comic book artist Paco Roca and Spanish diplomat Guillermo Corral, the six part series will turn on the the Black Swan Project: the Odyssey Marine Exploration’s discovery and recovery and transport to Florida of 17.1 tons of coins from the wreckage of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, a 30-gun Spanish frigate sunk by the British Navy off the Portuguese coast in 1804. Beginning in 1807, the Spanish government fought a legal battle through U.S. courts to claim the treasure. claimed to be the biggest shipwreck booty in history, as its own.
An adventure...
Created by comic book artist Paco Roca and Spanish diplomat Guillermo Corral, the six part series will turn on the the Black Swan Project: the Odyssey Marine Exploration’s discovery and recovery and transport to Florida of 17.1 tons of coins from the wreckage of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, a 30-gun Spanish frigate sunk by the British Navy off the Portuguese coast in 1804. Beginning in 1807, the Spanish government fought a legal battle through U.S. courts to claim the treasure. claimed to be the biggest shipwreck booty in history, as its own.
An adventure...
- 7/26/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Until recently, when a Spanish TV operator put up 100% finance, it retained nearly 100% of rights. Now, no one size fits all. Variety analyzes two projects that break the mold in Spain.
“La Sala”
Police TV thriller “La Sala” (The Room) shows three production companies greenlighting a TV project without TV network support — unthinkable until recently. Madrid-based Isla Audiovisual, creator of the CW’s “Star Crossed,” and Canary Islands’ CanCan and Funwood Media teamed to develop the series with their own creative and executive resources.
Producers pitched the script to TF1’s Newen, who put up financing against the series’ future international distribution. They pre-sold Spanish Svod to HBO España, and free-to-air TV rights to the regional pubcasters association Forta.
Directed by César Arriero and Manuel Sanabria, “La Sala” shot entirely in Gran Canaria, tapping into Canary Islands’ 45% tax credits for private investment in Spanish productions.
That helped cut the episodes...
“La Sala”
Police TV thriller “La Sala” (The Room) shows three production companies greenlighting a TV project without TV network support — unthinkable until recently. Madrid-based Isla Audiovisual, creator of the CW’s “Star Crossed,” and Canary Islands’ CanCan and Funwood Media teamed to develop the series with their own creative and executive resources.
Producers pitched the script to TF1’s Newen, who put up financing against the series’ future international distribution. They pre-sold Spanish Svod to HBO España, and free-to-air TV rights to the regional pubcasters association Forta.
Directed by César Arriero and Manuel Sanabria, “La Sala” shot entirely in Gran Canaria, tapping into Canary Islands’ 45% tax credits for private investment in Spanish productions.
That helped cut the episodes...
- 4/9/2019
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
U.K.’s Fearless Minds is joining forces with Spain’s “Hierro” producer Portocabo and Vaca TV to co-produce high-end historical mini-series project “Garbo, el espía que engañó a Hitler”.
Inspired by the life of the one-off Juan Pujol, alias Garbo, a Spanish double agent who helped change the course of World War II, the six-episode TV drama project is being penned by James Wood, creator of BBC series “Quacks” and “Rev.”
The move marks an early U.K.-Spain TV co-production alliance for TV drama, with international TV giant the Banijay Group also entering as a partner.
“Garbo” was first unveiled as a project in June 2017 at TV drama co-production meeting Conecta Fiction, in Galicia’s Santiago de Compostela, by series executive producers, Portocabo’s Alfonso Blanco and Vaca TV’s Borja Pena.
British producer Jolyon Symonds, who launched Fearless Minds in 2017 as the fruit of a joint venture with Banijay,...
Inspired by the life of the one-off Juan Pujol, alias Garbo, a Spanish double agent who helped change the course of World War II, the six-episode TV drama project is being penned by James Wood, creator of BBC series “Quacks” and “Rev.”
The move marks an early U.K.-Spain TV co-production alliance for TV drama, with international TV giant the Banijay Group also entering as a partner.
“Garbo” was first unveiled as a project in June 2017 at TV drama co-production meeting Conecta Fiction, in Galicia’s Santiago de Compostela, by series executive producers, Portocabo’s Alfonso Blanco and Vaca TV’s Borja Pena.
British producer Jolyon Symonds, who launched Fearless Minds in 2017 as the fruit of a joint venture with Banijay,...
- 4/7/2019
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.