In yet another sign of explosive growth on Spain’s drama scene, Amazon Prime Video has unveiled four new Amazon Original series or movies tapping the large talents of some of its most successful comedy directors, producers, novelists and drama series creators.
In a sign of Amazon Studios’ hiked ambitions, the productions were described by Georgia Brown, Amazon’s head of European Originals, as “local stories that resonate with local audiences and have a global impact.” In the past, Amazon has stressed more the need for the former.
Also updating Spanish journalists in Madrid on Wednesday morning on progress on the already announced “Sin Huellas” and “Un asunto privado,” Prime Video’s new slate shows it enrolling some of the biggest stars in Spain, led by “Below Zero’s” Javier Gutiérrez and Carmen Machi.
Alongside Sílvia Abril, the two actors topline family time-travel comedy “Mañana es hoy” which is directed...
In a sign of Amazon Studios’ hiked ambitions, the productions were described by Georgia Brown, Amazon’s head of European Originals, as “local stories that resonate with local audiences and have a global impact.” In the past, Amazon has stressed more the need for the former.
Also updating Spanish journalists in Madrid on Wednesday morning on progress on the already announced “Sin Huellas” and “Un asunto privado,” Prime Video’s new slate shows it enrolling some of the biggest stars in Spain, led by “Below Zero’s” Javier Gutiérrez and Carmen Machi.
Alongside Sílvia Abril, the two actors topline family time-travel comedy “Mañana es hoy” which is directed...
- 1/12/2022
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Víctor Amilibia (The Night of the Virgin and TV Series Allí Abajo and Acacias 38), Emma Caballero, Leire Ucha and Christian Stamm are the protagonists of “Bad Weed (Maleza)”, written and directed by Rubén Arnaiz. It is a thriller (or social terror) about …
The post Trailer, poster, frames and Press note from Maleza (Bad Weed) appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post Trailer, poster, frames and Press note from Maleza (Bad Weed) appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 1/13/2021
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
For decades, local fiction dominated free-to-air primetime over much of Europe. Many big U.S. water cooler titles like “The Sopranos” and “The Wire” made the running on pay TV.
That old order is now more challenged than ever as Movistar Plus, Spain’s leading pay TV operator, underscored on Tuesday, announcing the top 5 series across its pay TV and SVOD platform in Spain in 2020. All shows are Spanish and Movistar Plus originals.
Topping the list is Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “Antidisturbios” (Riot Police), which was a big hit with critics and audiences at September’s San Sebastian Festival. The series also proved the most addictive hit on Movistar Plus with almost nine out of 10 viewers finishing the title. It’s now tracking to become the most watched Movistar Plus original series ever.
Elsewhere, Movistar Plus’ first series out of the gate after Covid-19 clampdown, and moved forward to an April bow,...
That old order is now more challenged than ever as Movistar Plus, Spain’s leading pay TV operator, underscored on Tuesday, announcing the top 5 series across its pay TV and SVOD platform in Spain in 2020. All shows are Spanish and Movistar Plus originals.
Topping the list is Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “Antidisturbios” (Riot Police), which was a big hit with critics and audiences at September’s San Sebastian Festival. The series also proved the most addictive hit on Movistar Plus with almost nine out of 10 viewers finishing the title. It’s now tracking to become the most watched Movistar Plus original series ever.
Elsewhere, Movistar Plus’ first series out of the gate after Covid-19 clampdown, and moved forward to an April bow,...
- 12/29/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Barcelona-based Filmax has acquired international sales rights to “Mediterraneo: The Law of the Sea,” inspired by the stirring true-life origins story of the Mediterranean-based Ngo Open Arms, an open sea migrant search and rescue mission which has saved thousands of lives.
Now just initiating post-production, having shot for over eight weeks around Greece and Barcelona, “Mediterraneo” weighs in as a new banner title for Filmax at this week’s American Film Market, where it will present a first promo.
Directed by Marcel Barrena (“100 Meters”), “Mediterraneo” turns on the life-changing journey in 2015 of two Spanish lifeguards, Oscar Camps and Gerard Canals, who travel to the Greek island of Lesbos after having seen a heart-wrenching photograph in the international press of three-year-old Syrian Alan Kurdi, washed up dead on the shores of the Mediterranean. There, they discover a shocking reality: thousands of people risking their lives every day to get from...
Now just initiating post-production, having shot for over eight weeks around Greece and Barcelona, “Mediterraneo” weighs in as a new banner title for Filmax at this week’s American Film Market, where it will present a first promo.
Directed by Marcel Barrena (“100 Meters”), “Mediterraneo” turns on the life-changing journey in 2015 of two Spanish lifeguards, Oscar Camps and Gerard Canals, who travel to the Greek island of Lesbos after having seen a heart-wrenching photograph in the international press of three-year-old Syrian Alan Kurdi, washed up dead on the shores of the Mediterranean. There, they discover a shocking reality: thousands of people risking their lives every day to get from...
- 11/9/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video hosted a San Sebastian press conference for its new Spanish docu-series “The Challenge: Eta,” sharing a new trailer for the program and announcing that the series will be made available to stream around the world on Oct. 30.
The well-attended panel, also streamed on San Sebastian’s website, was hosted by Oscar Prol, head of Spanish unscripted originals, Amazon Studios, Luis Velo, executive producer at Atar TV, and series director Hugo Stuven.
One of a series of high-profile productions to come out this year examining the violent conflict between the Basque Country’s Eta armed resistance group and the Spanish government, it joins the likes of Movistar Plus’ “La Linea Invisible,” launched earlier this year to rave reviews and massive audience numbers, and HBO’s “Patria,” one of the highest profile titles, film or series, playing at this year’s festival.
“The Challenge: Eta” is based on Manuel Sánchez Corbí...
The well-attended panel, also streamed on San Sebastian’s website, was hosted by Oscar Prol, head of Spanish unscripted originals, Amazon Studios, Luis Velo, executive producer at Atar TV, and series director Hugo Stuven.
One of a series of high-profile productions to come out this year examining the violent conflict between the Basque Country’s Eta armed resistance group and the Spanish government, it joins the likes of Movistar Plus’ “La Linea Invisible,” launched earlier this year to rave reviews and massive audience numbers, and HBO’s “Patria,” one of the highest profile titles, film or series, playing at this year’s festival.
“The Challenge: Eta” is based on Manuel Sánchez Corbí...
- 9/25/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid – Like so many industry events meant to take place from March, this year’s Mafiz, the Malaga Film Festival’s industry section, was forced online, while the festival has elected to postpone until later in the year.
On Tuesday, winners of the 3rd Malaga Works in Progress sections were announced, with local drama “Ane” boasting a day’s best three awards – – while each of the event’s three sidebars – LatAm Wip, Wip Doc and Spanish Wip – had films scoop prizes. Spanish feature “Amateurs” and Argentine doc “Adiós a la memoria” were selected as the event’s best Spanish and Latin American projects, each receiving a cash prize of €5,000
In the end, three domestic features from the Malaga Spanish Wip were rewarded.
“Ane,” from first-timer David Pérez Sañudo, is produced by Amania Films and stars one of the Spanish industry’s hottest film and TV actors in Patricia López Arnáiz,...
On Tuesday, winners of the 3rd Malaga Works in Progress sections were announced, with local drama “Ane” boasting a day’s best three awards – – while each of the event’s three sidebars – LatAm Wip, Wip Doc and Spanish Wip – had films scoop prizes. Spanish feature “Amateurs” and Argentine doc “Adiós a la memoria” were selected as the event’s best Spanish and Latin American projects, each receiving a cash prize of €5,000
In the end, three domestic features from the Malaga Spanish Wip were rewarded.
“Ane,” from first-timer David Pérez Sañudo, is produced by Amania Films and stars one of the Spanish industry’s hottest film and TV actors in Patricia López Arnáiz,...
- 4/28/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid – While Spain’s audiovisual industry anxiously awaits federal relief measures to be approved this coming Tuesday, April 28, the Comunidad de Madrid – the Madrid Region – has announced a €1 million ($1.08 million) investment to generate €40million ($43.14 million) of financial aid for the film, TV and performing arts sectors. Each will receive half the financial facilities generated by the Línea Covid-19 Liquidez Cultural Comunidad de Madrid (Madrid Region Covid-19 Credit Line).
Madrid’s Ministry of Culture, headed by Marta Rivera, announced on Friday morning that the financial aid package will be handled by the Reciprocal Guarantee Society Crea Sgr, a non-profit bank guarantee scheme which shares the financial risk and will distribute the funding to production and exhibition companies of stage and audiovisual content which pay taxes in the Community of Madrid.
According to a Ministry of Culture press release, the main objectives of the aid package are to protect employment in the...
Madrid’s Ministry of Culture, headed by Marta Rivera, announced on Friday morning that the financial aid package will be handled by the Reciprocal Guarantee Society Crea Sgr, a non-profit bank guarantee scheme which shares the financial risk and will distribute the funding to production and exhibition companies of stage and audiovisual content which pay taxes in the Community of Madrid.
According to a Ministry of Culture press release, the main objectives of the aid package are to protect employment in the...
- 4/24/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Legendary Global, the TV production-financing house launched last December by Chris Albrecht and Anne Thomopoulos, has struck a weighty production alliance with Barcelona’s ESPotlight to develop and produce premium content targeting the global Spanish-speaking market.
Announced Thursday, the deal sees Legendary Global committing to develop and produce with ESPotlight 10-plus productions a year targeting streaming platforms, pay TV and commercial networks.
First up, and currently in production, is “La Treintena,” a feel-good dramedy written and directed by Mireia Noguera and co-written by Marta Vives.
Following the lives of four, late-twenties girlfriends living under Covid confinement in Barcelona, the six-part series stars Mireia Oriol, Paula Malia, Marta Vives and David Solans.
Driving into Spanish-language production, Legendary Global has gone straight to the jugular, striking a production relationship with a budding Spanish producer with established talent relations: Barcelona-based, ESPotlight is the content arm of talent agency Alter Ego Talent House whose clients include Mariano Barroso,...
Announced Thursday, the deal sees Legendary Global committing to develop and produce with ESPotlight 10-plus productions a year targeting streaming platforms, pay TV and commercial networks.
First up, and currently in production, is “La Treintena,” a feel-good dramedy written and directed by Mireia Noguera and co-written by Marta Vives.
Following the lives of four, late-twenties girlfriends living under Covid confinement in Barcelona, the six-part series stars Mireia Oriol, Paula Malia, Marta Vives and David Solans.
Driving into Spanish-language production, Legendary Global has gone straight to the jugular, striking a production relationship with a budding Spanish producer with established talent relations: Barcelona-based, ESPotlight is the content arm of talent agency Alter Ego Talent House whose clients include Mariano Barroso,...
- 4/23/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
In this week’s International TV Newswire Movistar Plus booms on Phase II Covid-19 consumption; and there are deals a plenty. Zdf Enterprises sold “Queens of Mystery” while Beta’s “Love, Inevitably” was a ratings hit in its first week before sales in France, Switzerland and Brazil were announced. Recently premiered clairvoyant Canadian series “The Outbreak” has started selling international for Oble which made a deal with Russia’s Start Svod platform, and Moonbug sold five kids’ series to African Svod giant Showmax. Meanwhile, Blue Ant International has hired former Discovery Inc. exec Gerbrig Blanksma as senior vice president, international sales and partnerships.
Covid-19 Phase II Consumption Hits Highs at Movistar Plus
Phase II Covid-19 consumption is kicking in, at least for Spain’s booming Movistar Plus. But it’s unlikely to be a lone example. In a first phase, London-based consultancy Enders Analysis predicted at the beginning of crisis,...
Covid-19 Phase II Consumption Hits Highs at Movistar Plus
Phase II Covid-19 consumption is kicking in, at least for Spain’s booming Movistar Plus. But it’s unlikely to be a lone example. In a first phase, London-based consultancy Enders Analysis predicted at the beginning of crisis,...
- 4/17/2020
- by Jamie Lang and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Mariano Barroso avails himself of a cast of first-rate actors, toplined by Antonio de la Torre and Álex Monner, and a somewhat classical narrative as he recreates the origins of Eta. The date was set for this Wednesday, 8 April, at 10 pm: the team was to present the online premiere of La línea invisible (lit. “The Invisible Line”), each person from his or her own home, suitably dressed for the occasion. And so director Mariano Barroso and lead actors Àlex Monner, Antonio de la Torre, Anna Castillo, Asier Etxeandia, Patrick Criado and Enric Auquer introduced the first two episodes of this series, which is free to air and to view (via the Movistar + YouTube channel), and which describes, from a simultaneously historical and personal perspective, how the terrorist group Eta came into being. This was an entity that left mortal victims strewn not only across the Basque Country,...
MipTV Online Plus ends on April 2. Series Mania’s Digital Forum on April 7. As virtual marketplace presentations foreseeably wind down, here area few first takes on the world’s first, and one hopes last, totally online business. More will be added shortly.
Series Mania, MipTV Newsflow Weakens in a Virtual Market
Yes, deals were announced during the Series Mania/Mip-TV virtual marketplace, which may now be beginning to wind down. Federation unveiled strong pre-sales on “The Bureau” S5 and “Bad Banks” S2, Beta Film deals on “Cryptid” (Germany’s Joyn), “La Unidad” (HBO Latin America) and “The Turncoat” (all Nordic state TVs); Fremantle announced Dr’s purchase of “Five Guys a Week,” and Globo sales on telenovelas in Latin America. Cineflix Rights tub-thumped a Spring/Summer slate, adding ITN docs; Brazil’s Encripta bought five dramas from Russia’s Ntv. Filmax announced a drama reversion of horror movie classic...
Series Mania, MipTV Newsflow Weakens in a Virtual Market
Yes, deals were announced during the Series Mania/Mip-TV virtual marketplace, which may now be beginning to wind down. Federation unveiled strong pre-sales on “The Bureau” S5 and “Bad Banks” S2, Beta Film deals on “Cryptid” (Germany’s Joyn), “La Unidad” (HBO Latin America) and “The Turncoat” (all Nordic state TVs); Fremantle announced Dr’s purchase of “Five Guys a Week,” and Globo sales on telenovelas in Latin America. Cineflix Rights tub-thumped a Spring/Summer slate, adding ITN docs; Brazil’s Encripta bought five dramas from Russia’s Ntv. Filmax announced a drama reversion of horror movie classic...
- 4/1/2020
- 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
Update: During Monday’s digital sales presentation, Beta Film executive VP Christian Gockel announced the company has sold “La Unidad” to HBO Latin America, and that a deal is close in the U.S. and deep talks are underway in Russia. He also boasted the company has already received 356 requests for digital screeners of the “hot selling property” from buyers around the world.
Madrid — Telefonica’s Movistar Plus was set to show off a pair of dramas at this year’s MipTV before the market was canceled. Now, Movistar has prepared online presentations on Monday where it will screen episodes of both series as well as conversations with producers and creatives from both series.
Each show focus on terrorist organizations working in Spain. “La Linea Invisible” recounts the origins of violence within the Basque Country’s Eta organization in the ‘60s, while “La Unidad” (The Unit) is a contemporary look...
Madrid — Telefonica’s Movistar Plus was set to show off a pair of dramas at this year’s MipTV before the market was canceled. Now, Movistar has prepared online presentations on Monday where it will screen episodes of both series as well as conversations with producers and creatives from both series.
Each show focus on terrorist organizations working in Spain. “La Linea Invisible” recounts the origins of violence within the Basque Country’s Eta organization in the ‘60s, while “La Unidad” (The Unit) is a contemporary look...
- 3/29/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid – Originally planned to premiere alongside fellow Movistar Plus Original “La Unidad” at this year’s MipTV, “La Línea Invisible” will now instead screen for international buyers digitally in an online showcase hosted by the Spanish broadcaster on Monday.
From “What the Future Holds” creator Mariano Barroso (“The Wolves of Washington”), the six-part series is the origins story of Spain’s Basque terrorist organization Eta, and its first assassination of José civil guard Antonio Pardines on June 7, 1968 by the young group leader Txabi Etxebarrieta, later the organization’s first member killed in action. Eta would be responsible for another 828 murders before agreeing to a final extended ceasefire on Sept. 5, 2010.
“La Linea Invisible” boasts some of Spain’s most-awarded cinematic talent in front of the camera as well, including Antonio de la Torre, a recent Spanish Academy Goya and Platino Award winner for his tour de force lead in “The Kingdom...
From “What the Future Holds” creator Mariano Barroso (“The Wolves of Washington”), the six-part series is the origins story of Spain’s Basque terrorist organization Eta, and its first assassination of José civil guard Antonio Pardines on June 7, 1968 by the young group leader Txabi Etxebarrieta, later the organization’s first member killed in action. Eta would be responsible for another 828 murders before agreeing to a final extended ceasefire on Sept. 5, 2010.
“La Linea Invisible” boasts some of Spain’s most-awarded cinematic talent in front of the camera as well, including Antonio de la Torre, a recent Spanish Academy Goya and Platino Award winner for his tour de force lead in “The Kingdom...
- 3/29/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Spain’s Malaga Festival, the country’s biggest festival dedicated to Spanish and Latin American films and TV, has been postponed, the Malaga Town Hall announced Tuesday.
No new date has been suggested for the event. Via Twitter, Municipal authorities adduced “uncertainty generated by the evolution of coronavirus” as the reason for the postponement.
“Although health authorities have not expressly banned the Festival from taking place, their recommendation to avoid traveling within Spain makes it difficult for the festival to take place normally,” the Town Hall added.
Spain’s Ministry of Health advised Spaniards on Monday against traveling in Spain. The 23rd Malaga Festival was due to open in three days time, running March 13-22.
The postponement is a blow to Spain’s film and TV industry which has increasingly turned to the Malaga Festival as a platform for new works from established talent and Germany but trailing Italy’s 9,172, according to The Lancet.
No new date has been suggested for the event. Via Twitter, Municipal authorities adduced “uncertainty generated by the evolution of coronavirus” as the reason for the postponement.
“Although health authorities have not expressly banned the Festival from taking place, their recommendation to avoid traveling within Spain makes it difficult for the festival to take place normally,” the Town Hall added.
Spain’s Ministry of Health advised Spaniards on Monday against traveling in Spain. The 23rd Malaga Festival was due to open in three days time, running March 13-22.
The postponement is a blow to Spain’s film and TV industry which has increasingly turned to the Malaga Festival as a platform for new works from established talent and Germany but trailing Italy’s 9,172, according to The Lancet.
- 3/10/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Ever expanding the geographic reach of its drama series, Spain’s Movistar Plus’ announced Thursday that it will go into production this year on the Cuba-set “Habanos,” written and led creatively by Alejandro Hernandez, a rising star on Spain’s premium content scene.
A co-scribe on Mariano Barroso’s “What the Future Holds,” held by many critics to be Movistar Plus’ best series to date, Hernández also co-wrote Alejandro Amenabar’s recent movie hit “While at War” and Barroso’s upcoming “La Linea Invisible,” both for Movistar Plus, as well as Netflix’s “Criminal: Spain.”
A Movistar Plus Original Series, “Habanos” is produced by José María Morales at Wanda Films and Cuban film-tv agency Icaic.
Hernandez co-wrote “Habanos” with film director Manuel Martín Cuenca, extending a partnership which takes in Martín Cuenca’s newest film, “La hija,” and “El autor” and goes back to the director’s 2001 docu-feature “El juego de Cuba.
A co-scribe on Mariano Barroso’s “What the Future Holds,” held by many critics to be Movistar Plus’ best series to date, Hernández also co-wrote Alejandro Amenabar’s recent movie hit “While at War” and Barroso’s upcoming “La Linea Invisible,” both for Movistar Plus, as well as Netflix’s “Criminal: Spain.”
A Movistar Plus Original Series, “Habanos” is produced by José María Morales at Wanda Films and Cuban film-tv agency Icaic.
Hernandez co-wrote “Habanos” with film director Manuel Martín Cuenca, extending a partnership which takes in Martín Cuenca’s newest film, “La hija,” and “El autor” and goes back to the director’s 2001 docu-feature “El juego de Cuba.
- 3/5/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Marking its eighth quarter of consecutive growth in pay TV clients, Movistar Plus, the pay TV/Svod division of Telefonica, Europe’s third-biggest telecom, punched 11,300 net additions in customers from April to June.
The figure is 49% up year-on-year in terms of net adds, and takes Movistar’s total pay TV sub count in Spain to 4,106,100, extending its domination as Spain’s biggest pay TV player.
“These are very good results coming despite the recent launch of multiple new video Ott players in Spain and the end of the soccer season,” said Maria Aguete Rua, Ihs Markit executive director, technology, media & telecom.
“This proves that it’s not only sports that drives pay TV growth in Spain, but also content, movies and series,” she added, noting that eight of the top 10 shows on Movistar Plus’ platform are original series.
Movistar clients in Spain may have got into a habit of...
The figure is 49% up year-on-year in terms of net adds, and takes Movistar’s total pay TV sub count in Spain to 4,106,100, extending its domination as Spain’s biggest pay TV player.
“These are very good results coming despite the recent launch of multiple new video Ott players in Spain and the end of the soccer season,” said Maria Aguete Rua, Ihs Markit executive director, technology, media & telecom.
“This proves that it’s not only sports that drives pay TV growth in Spain, but also content, movies and series,” she added, noting that eight of the top 10 shows on Movistar Plus’ platform are original series.
Movistar clients in Spain may have got into a habit of...
- 7/26/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
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