A highly anticipated LGBTQ+ musical series (“Mariliendre”), a psychological thriller involving a standout U.S. indie producer-distributor (“Innate”) and a pre-sales hit period drama (“La Favorita 1922”) feature in Coming Next from Spain, a showcase of newest Spanish premium content.
Unspooling March 25 at Series Mania, organized by ICEX Spain Trade and Investment’s umbrella org Audiovisual from Spain, the event targets buyers and international press, putting the spotlight on some of the most promising Spanish series, produced by the country’s top leading companies.
Spain and its content have become a worldwide phenomenon. Think megahits “Money Heist” and “Elite,” which started to conquer the TV fiction’s global market seven years ago.
That fire left embers, as proved by recent hits such as the first season of “Berlin,” “Money Heist” spin-off, toplining Pedro Alonso.
Released Dec. 2023 via Netflix, “Berlin’s” debut was the most-watched series globally upon its premiere, reaching the Top 10 in 91 countries and entering the Top 10 of the most-watched non-English language series of all time on the streamer.
Now, Netflix, in partnership with Alex Pina’s Vancouver Media, is lensing “Berlin” Season 2 on locations in Madrid, Andalusia and the Basque Country.
The titles selected for this year’s Coming Next From Spain suggest some trends of the current TV fiction production, which in recent years has become one of the steadiest content suppliers for major players and streamers.
In the case of “Innate,” a Plano a Plano Bilbao production project, Los Angeles-based producer-distributor Dynamic Television is licensing the series territory by territory, after Netflix acquired exclusive rights from Spain, a proof of the cautious of the streamers today -far from the original concept- but also the reinforced faith on Spanish TV fiction by international indie producers-distributors.
Produced by Los Javis’ Suma Content alongside Atresmedia TV, gay musical drama “Mariliendre” confirms the consolidation of Atresplayer as a home for LGBTQ+ content, after releasing hit series “Veneno”, its follow up “Vestidas de azul” and contest show “Drag Race Spain.”
“La Favorita 1922” marks the new fiction bet of Mediaset España on high-profile period drama production, teaming for the first time ever with Ramón Campos and StudioCanal’s Bambú Producciones, the company behind global hits “Grand Hotel,” “Velvet” and “Cable Girls,” Netflix’s first original drama in Spain. “La Favorita” has become a rapid success in both international pre-sales and audience share terms.
Tuesday’s Next from Spain event will offer the opportunity to discover some of the most attractive Spanish dramas to come. Some details of the projects are:
“Mariliendre” (Atresmedia TV, Suma Content)
Musical dramedy, produced for Atresmedia TV by Spain’s hottest filmmaking duo Los Javis (Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi) at Suma Content, the creators behind “Veneno” and “La Mesías.”
The six-episode series is set in Chueca, one of the most vibrant and gay neighborhoods in Madrid, and explores themes of friendship, LGBTQ+ culture, body positivity and the power of music in shaping identity.
Javier Ferreiro directs and co-writes “Mariliendre,” executive produced by Atresmedia’s Montse García and Andrea H. Catalá, and produced by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi.
Handled by Atresmedia TV International Sales, the series launched last week at the Málaga Film Festival. The international premiere of its first two episodes, taking place March 25, form part of one of the five Special Screenings out of competition at this year’s Series Mania.
“Mariliendre,” a common Spanish nickname for the woman best friend of a gay man or group of gay men, follows Meri Román, a former queen of Madrid’s gay nightlife. Now, at 35 years-old, those days of recognition are in the review mirror for Meri, a enthroned diva who can’t let go of the past and is bored by her mundane present.
The high-concept show follows Meri as she investigates a side of her father’s life that she never knew about while he was alive. Her investigation into the past is paralleled by the audience’s uncovering of Meri’s own troubled past and the truth about why her group of friends are no longer part of her life.
“Most musicals revolve around romance, but ‘Mariliendre’ is about friendship and community,” director Javier Ferreiro recently told Variety.
“Innate” (“Innato,” Plano a Plano Bilbao, Dynamic Television)
Starring high-profile Spanish thesps Elena Anaya (“The Skin I Live In,” “Wonder Woman,” “Rifkin’s Festival”) and Imanol Arias (“Cuéntame cómo pasó”), “Innate” is a psychological thriller that explores issues such as family, trauma, and hidden truths.
The eight-episode series, co-created by “Cicatriz” and “Una vida menos en Canarias’” Fran Carballal alongside Enrique Lojo (“En Fin,” “Una Vida Menos en Canarias”), is produced by Plano a Plano Bilbao, the Basque Country arm of César Benítez Plano a Plano (“El Príncipe,” “Valeria” and “Toy Boy”), in association with Los Angeles-based Dynamic Television, whose credits include Apple TV+ International Emmy Award winning drama “Drops of God.”
Inma Torrente, of Netflix’s “Valeria” and Amazon’s “Desaparecidos,” and Lino Escalera, from “Elite” and “Alta Mar,” will direct the series, scheduled to start lensing in the Basque Country during the first half of the year.
In the series, Anaya plays Sara, a psychologist who has spent years rebuilding her life after the trauma of being the daughter of Félix Garay (Arias), a notorious multiple murderer dubbed by the media as “The Diesel Killer.”
Now living an idyllic life with her husband and a teenage son, Sara’s world is turned upside down when Félix is released from prison. A series of new murders emerge, eerily mirroring Félix’s past crimes.
As Sara collaborates with the police to solve the case, she remains unaware that her son Sebas has discovered the truth about his grandfather and developed an unhealthy obsession with his story. The tension reaches a breaking point when Sara begins to suspect that Sebas, not Félix, may be responsible for the recent murders.
Executive producers include Plano a Plano’s César Benítez, Emilio Amaré and Álvaro Benítez, Carballal plus Dynamic Television’s Dan March and Carrie Stein.
Dynamic Television will serve as the worldwide distribution partner for “Innate,” the company’s first foray into Spanish-language content. Netflix has acquired exclusive streaming rights for Spain.
“’Innate’ is a deeply layered psychological thriller that captivates with its intensity and emotional depth. We’re excited to bring this compelling series to viewers around the globe,” March says.
“La Favorita 1922” (Mediaset España, Bambú Producciones)
The first series co-produced by Mediaset España with Studiocanal-owned production house Bambú Producciones, the company behind milestone period dramas “Grand Hotel,” “Velvet” and “Cable Girls.”
Set in a 1922 Madrid of often stunning Belle Epoque architecture, “La Favorita 1922” stars Verónica Sánchez (“The Pier,” “Sky Rojo”) as Seville’s Marquise Elena de Valmonte, who battles to turn an abandoned restaurant into the capital’s finest eating establishment, fleeing from an unhappy marriage.
Handled by Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group, “La Favorita 1922” has rapidly sparked significant international interest and captivating buyers worldwide.
Mediterráneo showcased the series at Cádiz’s South International Series Festival, then presented it at major industry markets such as Mipcom, Singapore’s ATF and Content Americas, having already inked pre-sales deals in more than 20 territories.
Pacts include Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay with Flow, Walter Presents in the U.S. and Canada -available through PBS-, as well as Belgium (Proximus) and Lithuania (Lithuanian National Radio and TV).
“This series perfectly complements our current lineup, as we did not previously have a period drama. Moreover, the fact that it is a Bambú production, with its renowned hallmark of quality, excited us from the very beginning,” says Silvia Cotino, Deputy Director of Sales and Business Development at Mediterráneo.
“La Favorita 1922” premiered March 17 in Spain’s free-to-air market on Mediaset España’s top channel Telecinco, scoring a 17.1% audience share and 1.56 million viewers, becoming the best series debut since 2022.
La Favorita 1922
Courtesy of Mediaset
“Detective Romi” (Mediaset España, Mandarina Productions)
One of Spain’s leading export powers, Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group is also presenting at Series Manía procedural drama “Detective Romi,” toplining María Cerezuela, 2022 best new actress Goya Award for “Maixabel.”
The 8-episode, 70-minute series follows the chronicles of 30-year-old Romina Goitia, a hearing-impaired private detective who investigates the long-ago death of her father, which she suspects to be murder.
Romina’s hearing impairment originated from a traumatic event and suffers from a condition linked to a family mystery. But she boasts special abilities in non-verbal and has own audiovisual code to perceive the world.
Created by Iker Azkoitia, a writer on Netflix’s mega-hit “Élite” and directed by Inés París (“The Barrier”) and Claudia Pinto (“L’Alquería Blanca,” “Beguinas”), “Romi” is produced by Mediaset España in collaboration with Mandarina Productions.
Detective Romi (BTS)
