Iberscreenings: ‘Elite’ Star Miguel Bernardeau, ’Ice Age’ Director Carlos Saldanha Bow, Sneak Peek New Series

The Disney-backed “How to Be a Carioca,” from “Ice Age” creator Carlos Saldanha, and “Allende, the Thousand Days,” an adventurous Chilean-Spanish pick-up from Spanish pubcaster RTVE, will both world premiere at Iberscreenings, catching new evolution on the Spain-Portugal-Latin America TV scene.

A comedy, showrun by Saldanha, consolidating his exploration of live action after Netflix’s 2021 “Invisible City,” “Carioca,” whose first episode will be screened at I&PI, is produced by the Star Original Productions label, bowing soon on Star+ in Latin America and on the Walt Disney Company’s streaming services globally, such as Disney+ Spain.

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An international co-production, “Allende, the Thousand Days” was originated by Chile’s Parox (“Invisible Heroes”), partnered by Spain’s Mediterráneo Media Entertainment and Argentina’s Aleph, Mente Colectiva and HD Argentina. A character focused chronicle of Allende’s three years in government before Pinochet’s 1973 military coup, the series has been acquired for broadcast by Chile’s TVN, RTVE in Spain and HD Argentina and Onza Distribution for international.  

For eight years, growth on the Ibero-American TV scene has been driven by global streamers. Netflix, for example, released one Latin American title in 2015, 73 in 2022: Amazon bowed 4 titles in 2018, 23 in 2022, according to an Omdia analysis.

Now, however, production energies are more equally balanced between streamers, incumbents and new entrants.

Of the 11 new titles premiering or sneak-peeked at Iberseries, Amazon Studios or Prime Video is the biggest player, involved in four, led by Secuoya Studios’ “Zorro,” with Bernardeau as the masked Mexican, set to unveil first look excerpts in Madrid.

Yet Spain’s biggest players, broadcasters and pay TV, are re-energizing, re-setting VOD as a more central or the central part of their operations.

Both with series at Iberseries, Movistar Plus+ and Atresmedia reset their VOD operations this summer, Atresmedia relaunching its high-profile streaming service, Atresplayer, on July 5, Movistar Plus+ bowing an amped up OTT basic offer a few weeks later, available to non-Movistar telephony clients.

RTVE Play, RTVE’s VOD platform, also provides a ready first window for much, though not all, of its international co-production. The size of RTVE series bowing on it has escalated, José Pastor, RTVE’s director of film and fiction, has noted.

As streamers recalibrate production volume or downscale activity in smaller markets, more production companies are likely to explore international co-production, a route taken by both “Allende, The Thousand Days,” backed by broadcasters TVN in Chile, Spain’s RTVE and Argentina’s Channel 9, and “Godless João,” the latter hailed by Ventre Studio’s Paola Cosenza as one of the first independent Brazil-Portugal co-productions.

Production in Spain and Latin America is mixing it up.

A drill-down on titles:

Chapter One

A first episode of upcoming series:

“Allende, The Thousand Days,” (Parox, Mediterráneo Media Entertainment, Aleph, Mente Colectiva, HD Argentina, Chile, Spain, Argentina)

Starring the “reliably superb” Alfredo Castro as Allende, though hidden under heavy prosthetics, as Allende after becoming Chile’s first socialist government. “We want to show the president in his complexity” and the “light, joy, and hope” of his “left wing project, democratic, peaceful, with political and press freedoms,”showrunner Leonora González told Variety. Sold by Onza Distribution.

“Galgos,” (Movistar Plus+, Buendía Estudios)

A family business drama which is one of Spain’s big plays this fall Carmen Somarribia, co-heir of food giant Galgo which is in danger of going under, battles for the company’s control and survival. A top notch cast led by Adriana Ozores (“Velvet Collection”), directed by Felix Viscarret (“Patria”), Nely Reguera (“Welcome to the Family”). 

“Godless João,” (“João Sem Deus,” (Ventre Studio, Brazil)

A first Brazilian series at Iberseries & Platino Industria and a flagship for pioneering independent production-distribution, created by Brazil’s Ventre Studio co-producing with Canal Brasil, TVI Portugal and Coral Europa. A three-part mini-series directed by Marina Person inspired by Brazil’s biggest modern-day sex scandal, focused on self-proclaimed psychic surgeon João de Deus.

 “How To Be a Carioca,” (Star Original Productions, Brazil)

Starring Swell Ariel Or (“The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem”), Débora Nascimento (“Brazil Avenue”) and Seu Jorge (“Marighella”), “Carioca” turns on an American writer needing a quick fix adaptation guide when he moves to Rio. Saldanha and co-creator Joana Mariani will feature on a panel for the show alongside Leonardo Aranguibel, VP of production, head of production operations and strategy, The Walt Disney Company Latin America.

Soon

First-look images, including excerpts, from upcoming series:

“Amar É Para os Fortes,” (Pródigo Filmes, Amazon Studios,Brazil)

The saga of two Black women from Rio lives intertwine forever when Cida loses her 11-year-old son, Sushi, to police violence. shot by Edna’s son, a policeman. Cida sees justice, helped by an artists community. From Pródigo (“Invisible City”), the final title in Amazon Studios’ first slate of scripted shows in Brazil, announced by Jennifer Salke in late 2019.

“Camilo Superstar,” (Atresmedia, Buendía Estudios, Spain)

The battle suffered by singer-songwriter Camilo Sesto in 1975 to stage “Jesucristo Superstar” in Spain while dictator Francisco Franco was still alive. The staging marked one milestone in Spain’s helter-skelter passage to modernity. Telefonica/Atresmedia j.v. Buendía produces for Atresplayer, Atresmedia’s adventurous SVOD service.  

“Detective Touré,” (RTVE, Detective Touré AIE, Tornasol Media, DeAPlaneta, EITB, Spain)

Part of a build in lighter, episodic crime procedural dramas, turning on the charismatic Mahamoud Touré, a paperless immigrant in Bilbao, whose powers of education and wit make him the best detective in the city. Produced by Mariela Besuievsky and Elena Bort for Tornasol and DeAPlaneta respectively. Written by triple Goya Award winner David Pérez Sañudo (“Ane is Missing”) and Carlos Vila (“Laura’s Miracles”), adapting novels by Jon Arretxe.

“Los Farad,” (Mod Producciones, Prime Video, ESPotlight)

The first series from Mariano Barroso, after scoring with two titles with Movistar Plus: “What the Future Holds,” “La Línea Invisible.” “Los Farad” plumbs the bling-bling 1980s Málaga as Oscar dreams of opening a gym, but instead falls in with Sara Farad, a jet-set member and arms-trafficker. “Money Heist’s” Miguel Herrán stars. One of Prime Video’s biggest upcoming plays, also backed by Alejandro Amenábar producer Mod Producciones and ESPotlight, which teams with Legendary Ent.

“Memento Mori,” (Zebra Producciones, Amazon Prime Video, Spain)

A crime thriller adapting the first novel of César Pérez Gellida’s trilogy “Versos, canciones y trocitos de carne,” which sees a killer and the policeman pitted in a life-and-death duel. iZen’s Zebra Producciones produces. Yon Gonzalez (“Grand Hotel,” “Cable Girls”) stars. Zebra, part of the iZen Group, produces.

“Operación Barrio Inglés,” (RTVE, Onza Producciones, Emociona Media, Spain)

A genre-blending mix of WWII espionage thriller and across-the-tracks love story set in Andalusia’s Huelva, a singular mining enclave, produced by RTVE and regular partner Onza. Shot on sometime spectacular location. RTVE’s José Pastor, Onza’s Gonzalo Sagardia present at Iberseries. 

“Zorro,” (Secuoya Studios, Spain)

The big one. Starring “Elite” lead Miguel Bernardeau, set to receive a special screening in Cannes on the eve of Mipcom. Mediawan Rights has dropped a very brief teaser. Madrid-based Secuoya now looks set to unveil what’s described as “the first shots” from the series in what looks like one of the highlights of Iberseries. Prime Video has Latin America, U.S, Spain and Portugal, making the series available first half, 2024. 

Second Window

“The Left-Handed Son,” (“El hijo zurdo” Movistar Plus+, Atípica Films)

A notable directorial debut by Rafael Cobos, the near career-long scribe of Alberto Rodríguez’s films and series, from 2005’s “7 Virgins” through to 2022’s “Offworld” – which won Best Short Format Series at this year’s Canneseries. Starring María León (“The Sleeping Voice”), one of the best performers of her generation as she battles with her own seemingly fated failure as a mother.

“Sign Here,” (“Firma Aquí” Alebrije Cinema and Video, Passenger, Mexico)

A science fiction romantic comedy that reimagines the dynamics of love. Directed by Enrique Vázquez and starring Regina Blandón (“La familia P. Luche,”) Leonardo Ortizgris (“Museo”), and others, the film delves into a world where the ideal romantic partner can be contractually obtained for four-year periods. When Fran meets Roque, the story explores how true feelings might interfere with this contractual love.

“Extortion” (“La extorsión” Warner Bros. Discovery, Infinity Hill, 100 Bares, Particular Crowd, Argentina)

Teaming some of the movers and shakers in Argentina, a box office smash hi, delivering an edge-of-the-seat thriller starring veteran Guillermo Francella, best known internationally for his turn in Pablo Trapero’s hit “The Clan,” as Alejandro who is caught in a web of intrigue when he is extorted by intelligence services to smuggle mysterious suitcases between Buenos Aires and Madrid. Directed by Martino Zaidelis (“The Envoys,”). Pablo Rago (“The Secret In Their Eyes”) and Andrea Frigerio (“Rojo”) co-star.

“The Last Lidia,” (“La última lidia” Capa España (iZen Group))

A documentary feature that forefronting bullfighting and its controversies. Directed by Peabody winning Spanish investigative journalist Tomás Ocaña Urwitz, the film captures a 20-minute bullfighting duel, aiming to trigger societal discussions on the sport. It brings together those for and against to reflect on the sport.

“The Nights of Tefiá” (“Las noches de Tefía” Atresmedia, Buendía Estudios)

One of Spain’s standouts of first half 2023, a musical drama based on grim historical events, directed by Miguel del Arco (“The Furies,”)  and scripted with Antonio Rojano, it focuses on prisoners, including homosexuals, who were incarcerated in forced-labor camps between 1954 and 1966, where they turn to their imagination for a fleeting escape. Patrick Criado (“Riot Police”) delivers a career highlight performance.

“Doctor García’s Patients” (“Los pacientes del Dr. García,” Diagonal TV, DeAPlaneta, RTVE)

This thriller-drama series, based on Almudena Grandes’ bestseller, is directed by Joan Noguera and features an ensemble cast led by Javier Rey (“Fariña.”). Dr. Guillermo García Medina, a Republican medic, lives under a false identity in post-war Spain and is embroiled in a dangerous mission involving war criminals.

“Little Faith” (“Poquita Fe” Movistar Plus+, Buendía Estudios)

A breakout comedy series hit on Movistar Plus+ directed by Pepón Montero (“The Tunnel,”), scripted by Juan Maidagán and Montero. Berta and Jose Ramón strive to find joy amidst the cacophony of everyday life, from irritating in-laws to demanding jobs, capturing the essence of modern-day struggles.

“Boundless,” (“Sin límites” Amazon Prime Video, RTVE, ZDF)

Simon West (“Con Air,”) directs this historical drama, the biggest independent TV production in Spain when made, that recreates the world-circumnavigating journey of Juan Sebastián Elcano and Ferdinand Magellan. An epic, unflagging historical adventure for the family starring Rodrigo Santoro (“Westworld”) and “Money Heist’s” Alvaro Morte.

“Sluts,” (“Zorras” Atresmedia, Morena Films)

A tragicomic series directed by Ana Vázquez and Aritz Moreno based on Noemí Casquet’s novels. Featuring an ensemble cast including Pilar Castro (“Fat People,”,) the series revolves around three women from different walks of life who form “the slut club” to explore and fulfill their sexual fantasies.

Premier Cine

“Wadley Station,” (“Estación Wadley,” Oso Films, Black Bear Studios, Feza Productions, Mexico)

A Mexican drama tinged with elements of science fiction. Directed by Héctor Martínez and scripted by Patricio Saiz and Daniela Moyes, the film focuses on Nico Navarro’s quest to reunite his family while grappling with ancestral mysteries and political intrigue. The cast features Roberto Sosa (“Lolo,”) and Pablo Cruz Guerrero (“La Nave.”)

“Departure, The Truth is Not Afraid of Anything” (“Partida, La verdad no le teme a nada,” 3C Films, Argentina)

This Argentine drama is helmed by Diego Suárez (“Lynch 2013”) with a screenplay by Miriam Lanzoni and Maria Paula Putrueli. Starring Miriam Lanzoni (“The One,”) and Osvaldo Laport (“Campeones de la vida,”) “Departure” tackles the emotional minefield of gender-based violence and hidden truths. The film follows Susy as she confronts her past and its impact on her family’s present life.

“The Chapel,” (Filmax, Bixagu Entertainment)

In this supernatural drama, Emma (Maia Zaitegui) seeks the help of Carol (Belén Rueda), a skeptical faux medium, to communicate with a centuries-old spirit trapped in a local hermitage. Directed by “Piggy” director Carlota Pereda, the film explores themes of faith, mortality, and familial bonds, as Emma aims to keep a connection with her ailing mother beyond death. With her life in peril, Carol’s role becomes unexpectedly crucial. One of the most anticipated Spanish smart genre films of the year. Filmax sells.

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