Lille — Creating a major and ambitious new player on the Spanish-language film-tv scene, Amaya Muruzábal – showrunner, screenwriter, and executive producer on Amazon MGM Studios’ just-out big hit “Red Queen” and creator and executive producer on milestone production “Hernán” – is launching her own film-tv production house, M Content.
M Content is founded with Argentinean Mariano Chihade – the independent producer behind Juan Pablo Kolojdziej’s Netflix Fito Paez bioseries “Love After Music,” working out of Buenos Aires’ Mandarina Contenidos.
The new venture will produce series and films, some large-scale – “for better or for worse, I’ve specialized in big productions,” Muruzábal tells Variety – as well as what she describes as smaller “event” auteur titles.
A first slate will be unveiled in upcoming months. One “priority area” are several feature films: “I need to breathe and handle slightly briefer time periods,” Muruzábal said. Kolojdziej and Muruzábal are collaborating on a series and on a feature.
M Content is founded with Argentinean Mariano Chihade – the independent producer behind Juan Pablo Kolojdziej’s Netflix Fito Paez bioseries “Love After Music,” working out of Buenos Aires’ Mandarina Contenidos.
The new venture will produce series and films, some large-scale – “for better or for worse, I’ve specialized in big productions,” Muruzábal tells Variety – as well as what she describes as smaller “event” auteur titles.
A first slate will be unveiled in upcoming months. One “priority area” are several feature films: “I need to breathe and handle slightly briefer time periods,” Muruzábal said. Kolojdziej and Muruzábal are collaborating on a series and on a feature.
- 3/19/2024
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Today, Prime Video released the official trailer for the highly anticipated Spanish Original sci-fi film ‘Awareness’ directed by Daniel Benmayor and starring Carlos Scholz, Pedro Alonso, María Pedraza, Óscar Jaenada and Lela Loren.
Awareness will be screened during the Sitges Film Festival and will premiere on October 11 exclusively on Prime Video
Ian, a rebellious teenager living on the outskirts of society, can manipulate minds with his ability to generate visual illusions. He uses this power to survive running small, indiscreet, scams. When one of his cons goes awry, his abilities publicly spiral out of control and Ian becomes the target of two rival organizations, each seeking to exploit his powers.
Awareness is produced by Federation Spain, led by Juan Solá and Nacho Manubens, with Mark Albela as executive producer and Dbenma Content with Daniel Benmayor as producer and director. Benmayor is also in charge of the script alongside Iván Ledesma.
Awareness will be screened during the Sitges Film Festival and will premiere on October 11 exclusively on Prime Video
Ian, a rebellious teenager living on the outskirts of society, can manipulate minds with his ability to generate visual illusions. He uses this power to survive running small, indiscreet, scams. When one of his cons goes awry, his abilities publicly spiral out of control and Ian becomes the target of two rival organizations, each seeking to exploit his powers.
Awareness is produced by Federation Spain, led by Juan Solá and Nacho Manubens, with Mark Albela as executive producer and Dbenma Content with Daniel Benmayor as producer and director. Benmayor is also in charge of the script alongside Iván Ledesma.
- 9/21/2023
- by Nitin Sethi
Today, Prime Video released the official trailer for the highly anticipated Spanish Original sci-fi film ‘Awareness’ directed by Daniel Benmayor and starring Carlos Scholz, Pedro Alonso, María Pedraza, Óscar Jaenada and Lela Loren.
Awareness will be screened during the Sitges Film Festival and will premiere on October 11 exclusively on Prime Video
Ian, a rebellious teenager living on the outskirts of society, can manipulate minds with his ability to generate visual illusions. He uses this power to survive running small, indiscreet, scams. When one of his cons goes awry, his abilities publicly spiral out of control and Ian becomes the target of two rival organizations, each seeking to exploit his powers.
Awareness is produced by Federation Spain, led by Juan Solá and Nacho Manubens, with Mark Albela as executive producer and Dbenma Content with Daniel Benmayor as producer and director. Benmayor is also in charge of the script alongside Iván Ledesma.
Awareness will be screened during the Sitges Film Festival and will premiere on October 11 exclusively on Prime Video
Ian, a rebellious teenager living on the outskirts of society, can manipulate minds with his ability to generate visual illusions. He uses this power to survive running small, indiscreet, scams. When one of his cons goes awry, his abilities publicly spiral out of control and Ian becomes the target of two rival organizations, each seeking to exploit his powers.
Awareness is produced by Federation Spain, led by Juan Solá and Nacho Manubens, with Mark Albela as executive producer and Dbenma Content with Daniel Benmayor as producer and director. Benmayor is also in charge of the script alongside Iván Ledesma.
- 9/21/2023
- by Nitin Sethi
- GlamSham
Spanish super-indie production-sales companies are stepping back in time with vigor, building on opportunities opened up by streamers’ growing market flexibility to retain IP and sell territory-by-territory.
Prioritizing bottom lines over market share, global platforms are ever more splitting rights and investing less in single titles. As budgets reduce, projects’ producers are forced to court ever more partners.
That often means partnering on productions. “We accustomed customers to enjoying high-quality series with large budgets. In the new context, it is increasingly difficult to continue in this vein if you don’t partner,” says Onza’s Carlos Garde.
Aiding this, Spain’s TV drama sector is still living a Golden Age. “Spanish TV fiction presence is on the rise, both on platforms and on international pay TV and free-to-air channels,” argues Atresmedia’s José Antonio Salso, who is moving buzz title “Nights in Tefía” at MipTV.
“There’s a large demand for Spanish-language content,...
Prioritizing bottom lines over market share, global platforms are ever more splitting rights and investing less in single titles. As budgets reduce, projects’ producers are forced to court ever more partners.
That often means partnering on productions. “We accustomed customers to enjoying high-quality series with large budgets. In the new context, it is increasingly difficult to continue in this vein if you don’t partner,” says Onza’s Carlos Garde.
Aiding this, Spain’s TV drama sector is still living a Golden Age. “Spanish TV fiction presence is on the rise, both on platforms and on international pay TV and free-to-air channels,” argues Atresmedia’s José Antonio Salso, who is moving buzz title “Nights in Tefía” at MipTV.
“There’s a large demand for Spanish-language content,...
- 4/14/2023
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Roku is launching Espacio Latino, a free streaming hub for Hispanic programming, on the Roku Channel.
With more than 61 million active accounts as of March 31, Roku is a leading gateway for streaming, and one of its most popular offerings is the Roku Channel, a mix of free and paid on-demand and linear services with reach to some 80 million households. The Roku Channel operates in the U.S., UK and Canada but the Espacio Latino initiative is launching in the U.S. only.
Companies like TelevisaUnivision and Telemundo have noted in mobilizing streaming ventures recently that the Hispanic audience is underserved. Espacio Latino will aggregate thousands of movie, series and telenovela titles as well as family entertainment and news.
In an interview with Deadline, Roku execs said they decided to create the new hub after noticing that nearly 70 of Spanish-language viewing households watching The Roku Channel do not have pay TV...
With more than 61 million active accounts as of March 31, Roku is a leading gateway for streaming, and one of its most popular offerings is the Roku Channel, a mix of free and paid on-demand and linear services with reach to some 80 million households. The Roku Channel operates in the U.S., UK and Canada but the Espacio Latino initiative is launching in the U.S. only.
Companies like TelevisaUnivision and Telemundo have noted in mobilizing streaming ventures recently that the Hispanic audience is underserved. Espacio Latino will aggregate thousands of movie, series and telenovela titles as well as family entertainment and news.
In an interview with Deadline, Roku execs said they decided to create the new hub after noticing that nearly 70 of Spanish-language viewing households watching The Roku Channel do not have pay TV...
- 6/6/2022
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Barcelona-based Scenic Rights, the leading literary rights broker for Spanish-language film and TV series, has officially opened its Mexico City office as it continues to expand its purview across key territories, including Madrid, Los Angeles and most recently, Prague.
The Mexico City office opening, delayed twice by the pandemic, kicks off operations on Monday March 7. According to Scenic Rights CEO, Sydney Borjas, the company’s Mexican branch will oversee more than 30 book to film-tv project adaptations, mostly into series.
Ana Karen Larios, previously a foreign rights manager at Vf Literary Agency, has been tapped as Scenic Rights’ content manager in Mexico and will report to the agency’s Chief Operating Officer Ignacio Diaz.
Scenic Rights Mx is being launched in collaboration with Miguel Rosenfeld as an associate, who has extensive experience in managing writers for TV.
The literary agency’s presence in Mexico underscores the growing importance of the country as a film-tv hub,...
The Mexico City office opening, delayed twice by the pandemic, kicks off operations on Monday March 7. According to Scenic Rights CEO, Sydney Borjas, the company’s Mexican branch will oversee more than 30 book to film-tv project adaptations, mostly into series.
Ana Karen Larios, previously a foreign rights manager at Vf Literary Agency, has been tapped as Scenic Rights’ content manager in Mexico and will report to the agency’s Chief Operating Officer Ignacio Diaz.
Scenic Rights Mx is being launched in collaboration with Miguel Rosenfeld as an associate, who has extensive experience in managing writers for TV.
The literary agency’s presence in Mexico underscores the growing importance of the country as a film-tv hub,...
- 3/7/2022
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
Airing on Prime Video from Feb. 25, “Operation Black Tide” puts faces and character backstories to one of the most epic of feats in the annals of narco-trafficking.
The four-part Spanish-Portuguese drama-thriller also says much about the ambitions of the U.S. streamer: Its energetic targeting of local markets, and pursuit of tried and tested talent to explore new genres with notable production ambitions. Following, four key pointers to the latest Amazon series from Spain:
Capturing an Epic Narco Feat
Drug sub actioner “Operation Black Tide” is certainly one example. It hews closely to a dramatic real-life event: the detection on Nov. 24, 2019, off the fjord-indented coast of Galicia, North-West Spain, of a flimsy 70-foot fiberglass semi-submersible, fabricated in a clandestine shipyard deep in the Amazon rainforest.
On board were three tons of cocaine, worth an estimated street value of €123 million ($138 million), and three crew members who had piloted the drug sub...
The four-part Spanish-Portuguese drama-thriller also says much about the ambitions of the U.S. streamer: Its energetic targeting of local markets, and pursuit of tried and tested talent to explore new genres with notable production ambitions. Following, four key pointers to the latest Amazon series from Spain:
Capturing an Epic Narco Feat
Drug sub actioner “Operation Black Tide” is certainly one example. It hews closely to a dramatic real-life event: the detection on Nov. 24, 2019, off the fjord-indented coast of Galicia, North-West Spain, of a flimsy 70-foot fiberglass semi-submersible, fabricated in a clandestine shipyard deep in the Amazon rainforest.
On board were three tons of cocaine, worth an estimated street value of €123 million ($138 million), and three crew members who had piloted the drug sub...
- 2/25/2022
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
“Hernan” co-creator and lead writer Francisco “Curro” Royo, one of the premier show runners in Spain and the Spanish-speaking world, has signed with The Gersh Agency and set up his own production company, Dystopia Media.
Royo will be represented at Gersh Agency by partner Roy Ashton and Shan Ray.
Already readying its first slate of projects in development, Dystopia Media, which will be based out of Madrid, underscores the growing market muscle and ambition of Spain’s foremost screenwriters.
“The next step is for writers and show runners to become producers,” said Royo, pointing to the example of Spain’s Alex Pina and Ramón Campos.
“Money Heist” co-creator Pina set up his own label Vancouver Media in 2016, going on to co-produce “Money Heist” and sign an overall deal with Netflix in 2018.
Established by “Velvet” and “Cable Girls” creator Ramón Campos and producer Teresa Fernández-Valdés in 2007, Bambu Producciones has grown into...
Royo will be represented at Gersh Agency by partner Roy Ashton and Shan Ray.
Already readying its first slate of projects in development, Dystopia Media, which will be based out of Madrid, underscores the growing market muscle and ambition of Spain’s foremost screenwriters.
“The next step is for writers and show runners to become producers,” said Royo, pointing to the example of Spain’s Alex Pina and Ramón Campos.
“Money Heist” co-creator Pina set up his own label Vancouver Media in 2016, going on to co-produce “Money Heist” and sign an overall deal with Netflix in 2018.
Established by “Velvet” and “Cable Girls” creator Ramón Campos and producer Teresa Fernández-Valdés in 2007, Bambu Producciones has grown into...
- 1/19/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
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
Marking a new phase of expansion, Barcelona-based Scenic Rights, the biggest literary rights broker for Spanish-language film and TV series, is set to enter Central and Eastern Europe opening offices in Prague in January 2022.
Further new international offices will be announced shortly, Scenic Rights has announced.
Scenic Rights Cee marks a collaboration with the creative heads of Dramedy Productions, an independent Prague-based film-tv production house that created retro family drama “Wonderful Times” (“Vyprávěj”), a Golden Nymph winner at the Monte Carlo TV Festival. Dramedy also co-produced Italian crime drama “Maltese” with Palomar and Zdf Enterprises, which was written by “Gomorrah” scribes Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli.
Dramedy will manage operations in Central and Eastern Europe, led by its CEO, seasoned showrunner-producer Filip Bobiňski. Martin Porges and Teresa Lacinová, Dramedy International head of production, will also join the team.
Scenic Rights’ Cee branch reflects a broader market perception that Central and...
Further new international offices will be announced shortly, Scenic Rights has announced.
Scenic Rights Cee marks a collaboration with the creative heads of Dramedy Productions, an independent Prague-based film-tv production house that created retro family drama “Wonderful Times” (“Vyprávěj”), a Golden Nymph winner at the Monte Carlo TV Festival. Dramedy also co-produced Italian crime drama “Maltese” with Palomar and Zdf Enterprises, which was written by “Gomorrah” scribes Leonardo Fasoli and Maddalena Ravagli.
Dramedy will manage operations in Central and Eastern Europe, led by its CEO, seasoned showrunner-producer Filip Bobiňski. Martin Porges and Teresa Lacinová, Dramedy International head of production, will also join the team.
Scenic Rights’ Cee branch reflects a broader market perception that Central and...
- 12/31/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid-based Onza Distribution, producer of “The Department of Time,” has acquired international distribution rights to four-part doc series “Palomares: The Atomic Bomb Fiasco,” a stranger than fiction doc thriller about how in 1966 the U.S. Air Force accidentally dropped four hydrogen bombs on Spain.
Directed by Alvaro Ron, “Palomares” details, partly through an interview with its reserve pilot Major Larry G. Messinger, how on Jan. 17, 1966 a B52 bomber of the U.S. Air Force collided in mid-air with a Kc-135 tanker plane during a re-fueling mission. Four hydrogen bombs with 75-times the destructive force of Hiroshima fell to earth around a picturesque fishing village in eastern Spain, Palomares.
Some 1,600 military personnel from the most modern army in the world suddenly descended on Palomares, a village with gravel roads and no TV. Three bombs, undetonated, are found quickly.
But two, whose casings are broken, release plutonium dust into the air.
As the U.
Directed by Alvaro Ron, “Palomares” details, partly through an interview with its reserve pilot Major Larry G. Messinger, how on Jan. 17, 1966 a B52 bomber of the U.S. Air Force collided in mid-air with a Kc-135 tanker plane during a re-fueling mission. Four hydrogen bombs with 75-times the destructive force of Hiroshima fell to earth around a picturesque fishing village in eastern Spain, Palomares.
Some 1,600 military personnel from the most modern army in the world suddenly descended on Palomares, a village with gravel roads and no TV. Three bombs, undetonated, are found quickly.
But two, whose casings are broken, release plutonium dust into the air.
As the U.
- 5/17/2021
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Adriana Ugarte, star of hit Spanish TV drama “The Time in Between” and Pedro Almodóvar’s “Julieta,” will play the lead role in Atresmedia original series “Madre.”
A remake of successful Turkish TV drama “Anne,” in turn an adaptation of Japanese series “Mother,” “Madre” continues Spanish media conglomerate Atresmedia’s bet on re-versioning recent standout Turkish scripted series. This strategy kicked-off with “Alba,” the Elena Rivera-starring redo of female empowerment skein “Fatmagul,” a modern Turkish classic.
A 13-hour series, “Madre” is produced by Atresmedia TV in collaboration with Buendía Estudios, the joint-venture launched last year by Atresmedia and Telefonica-owned pay TV operator Movistar Plus.
Scheduled to premiere this year on Atresmedia’s SVOD service Atresplayer Premium and then launch on the group’s core channel Antena 3 in Spanish TV primetime, “Madre” will follow the same release windowing as “Alba,” which bowed in March on Atresplayer and now awaits a free-to-air TV debut.
A remake of successful Turkish TV drama “Anne,” in turn an adaptation of Japanese series “Mother,” “Madre” continues Spanish media conglomerate Atresmedia’s bet on re-versioning recent standout Turkish scripted series. This strategy kicked-off with “Alba,” the Elena Rivera-starring redo of female empowerment skein “Fatmagul,” a modern Turkish classic.
A 13-hour series, “Madre” is produced by Atresmedia TV in collaboration with Buendía Estudios, the joint-venture launched last year by Atresmedia and Telefonica-owned pay TV operator Movistar Plus.
Scheduled to premiere this year on Atresmedia’s SVOD service Atresplayer Premium and then launch on the group’s core channel Antena 3 in Spanish TV primetime, “Madre” will follow the same release windowing as “Alba,” which bowed in March on Atresplayer and now awaits a free-to-air TV debut.
- 5/10/2021
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
In today’s Global Bulletin, Acorn TV greenlights “Queens of Mystery” season two; NATPE Budapest confirms in-person event in August; Lionsgate Play unveils “U-Special” — its second original series in India; ITV commissions relationship drama “You & Me”; Dave Johns joins the cast of “I’m Still Ethan”; Mexico’s Dopamine creates a new in-house entertainment team; Spanish courts proceed with a reckless homicide case against adult film star Nacho Vidal; Front Row nabs “The Present” and deals it to Netflix; and the New Voice Awards reveals its 2021 winners.
Renewal
AMC Networks-owned streaming platform Acorn TV has renewed its Primetime Emmy-nominated British crime series “Queens of Mystery” for a second season.
Created by Julian Unthank, who co-writes with Matthew Thomas (“Marcella”), season two sees the return of Julie Graham (“The Bletchley Circle”), Sarah Woodward (“The Pale Horse”) and Siobhan Redmond (“Unforgotten”), joined by newcomer Florence Hall (“The Princess Switch: Switched Again...
Renewal
AMC Networks-owned streaming platform Acorn TV has renewed its Primetime Emmy-nominated British crime series “Queens of Mystery” for a second season.
Created by Julian Unthank, who co-writes with Matthew Thomas (“Marcella”), season two sees the return of Julie Graham (“The Bletchley Circle”), Sarah Woodward (“The Pale Horse”) and Siobhan Redmond (“Unforgotten”), joined by newcomer Florence Hall (“The Princess Switch: Switched Again...
- 3/17/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Netflix and Federation Spain, the Spanish division of Paris and L.A.-based Federation Entertainment, are teaming to produce “Las niñas de cristal,” a psychological drama set against the world of classical ballet that toplines “Money Heist” and “Elite” star Maria Pedraza.
The movie is one highlight in Netflix’s first announcement of a production-distribution slate focused entirely on Spanish original movies. The eight titles it profiles that are moving into production or set for release in 2021 and 2022 are a sign of Netflix ramping up its production of Spanish movies as part of its bet on Spanish scripted TV and movies, with Spain punching above its weight in the number of Netflix originals compared to Spanish subscribers. The Netflix slate highlights:
“Las niñas de cristal”
Alison Parker in “Money Heist” and Guzmán’s fated sister Marina in “Elite,” in “Las niñas de cristal” Pedraza plays Irene, a classical ballet dancer...
The movie is one highlight in Netflix’s first announcement of a production-distribution slate focused entirely on Spanish original movies. The eight titles it profiles that are moving into production or set for release in 2021 and 2022 are a sign of Netflix ramping up its production of Spanish movies as part of its bet on Spanish scripted TV and movies, with Spain punching above its weight in the number of Netflix originals compared to Spanish subscribers. The Netflix slate highlights:
“Las niñas de cristal”
Alison Parker in “Money Heist” and Guzmán’s fated sister Marina in “Elite,” in “Las niñas de cristal” Pedraza plays Irene, a classical ballet dancer...
- 2/24/2021
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: A+E Networks International has closed a bunch of deals for its series and TV movies after participating in more than 300 meetings at this year’s virtual Mipcom.
Among the agreements, A+E Networks’ distribution arm has sold Alibi/PBS’s 19th-century detective drama Miss Scarlet and the Duke to Nrk in Norway and Greece’s Ert. The latter deal included History’s Project Blue Book.
Nrk has also picked up epic Spanish-language series Hernan, as has Serbia United Media, while A+E Networks International has also inked sales for its extensive library of TV movies.
Nent Group will air several Lifetime holiday movies across the Nordics, while Joyn — SevenOne Entertainment Group’s and Discovery streamer — will carry Flowers in the Attic and Finding Mrs. Claus for viewers in German-speaking Europe.
The deals follow a busy Cannes market for A+E Networks International, during which the sales house showcased...
Among the agreements, A+E Networks’ distribution arm has sold Alibi/PBS’s 19th-century detective drama Miss Scarlet and the Duke to Nrk in Norway and Greece’s Ert. The latter deal included History’s Project Blue Book.
Nrk has also picked up epic Spanish-language series Hernan, as has Serbia United Media, while A+E Networks International has also inked sales for its extensive library of TV movies.
Nent Group will air several Lifetime holiday movies across the Nordics, while Joyn — SevenOne Entertainment Group’s and Discovery streamer — will carry Flowers in the Attic and Finding Mrs. Claus for viewers in German-speaking Europe.
The deals follow a busy Cannes market for A+E Networks International, during which the sales house showcased...
- 12/8/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Prime Video is rapidly becoming a major force in Latin America with its mix of local content, ambitious productions and compelling stories.
Taking part in a Ventana Sur online conference, Pablo Iacoviello, Amazon Prime Video’s director of content for Latin America, and Javiera Balmaceda, Amazon Studios’ head of originals for Argentina, Chile and Colombia, discussed the streaming giant’s slate of productions, which have exploded in the past two years.
Amazon launched its original series in Latin America in 2018 with Mexican titles “Diablo Guardián” and the political thriller “An Unknown Enemy,” both produced by Televisa, and it continues to expand its production activities in the region’s major markets.
Amazon has achieved particular success with comedy and entertainment formats like “Lol: Last One Laughing,” which is being adapted in major international markets like Germany and Australia, and “De viaje con los Derbez,” a comedy docuseries featuring Mexican comedian...
Taking part in a Ventana Sur online conference, Pablo Iacoviello, Amazon Prime Video’s director of content for Latin America, and Javiera Balmaceda, Amazon Studios’ head of originals for Argentina, Chile and Colombia, discussed the streaming giant’s slate of productions, which have exploded in the past two years.
Amazon launched its original series in Latin America in 2018 with Mexican titles “Diablo Guardián” and the political thriller “An Unknown Enemy,” both produced by Televisa, and it continues to expand its production activities in the region’s major markets.
Amazon has achieved particular success with comedy and entertainment formats like “Lol: Last One Laughing,” which is being adapted in major international markets like Germany and Australia, and “De viaje con los Derbez,” a comedy docuseries featuring Mexican comedian...
- 12/1/2020
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
A+E Networks has appointed former longtime Fox exec Matthew Glotzer as EVP, Strategy and Business Development, a newly created post in New York.
Glotzer will develop distribution and sales strategies for A+E library content, support programming, acquisitions and productions for A+E channels outside the U.S., and help oversee international content sales across 220 territories. He will report to Steve MacDonald, president of global licensing and international.
“As we navigate today’s marketplace, where technology continually changes the media landscape, we look forward to Glotzer’s leadership as the newest member of our senior team,” MacDonald said. “Matt is recognized as a talented, forward-thinking executive with extensive experience and demonstrated success in strategy, finance and operations. I am excited he will play a vital role in our continued growth as the lead executive charged with developing and operationalizing the overarching strategic vision for A+E Networks’ content monetization across the globe.
Glotzer will develop distribution and sales strategies for A+E library content, support programming, acquisitions and productions for A+E channels outside the U.S., and help oversee international content sales across 220 territories. He will report to Steve MacDonald, president of global licensing and international.
“As we navigate today’s marketplace, where technology continually changes the media landscape, we look forward to Glotzer’s leadership as the newest member of our senior team,” MacDonald said. “Matt is recognized as a talented, forward-thinking executive with extensive experience and demonstrated success in strategy, finance and operations. I am excited he will play a vital role in our continued growth as the lead executive charged with developing and operationalizing the overarching strategic vision for A+E Networks’ content monetization across the globe.
- 10/15/2020
- by Dade Hayes
- Deadline Film + TV
Drg, a Scandinavian production banner owned by Nent Studios, has joined forces with the Mexican outfit Dopamine to co-finance, develop and produce English-language scripted content.
Drg produces non-scripted, factual formats and some drama series, including “Doc Martin” which traveled to more than 100 territories and was remade in many countries. Dopamine, meanwhile, was launched in 2017 and has notably delivered the successful TV series “Hernán,” a big-budget Spanish-language historical series about the life of the conquistador Hernán Cortes.
“Dopamine is already producing high-quality Spanish-language content, and our collaboration will extend its global reach while providing Drg with access to its talented team, unique storytelling capabilities, and a greater understanding of the Latin American market,” said Richard Halliwell, CEO of Drg and managing director of Nent Studios UK.
Halliwell said the partnership will Dopamine will further increase Dgr’s investment in the U.K. production industry where it already boasts a presence through Nent Studios U.
Drg produces non-scripted, factual formats and some drama series, including “Doc Martin” which traveled to more than 100 territories and was remade in many countries. Dopamine, meanwhile, was launched in 2017 and has notably delivered the successful TV series “Hernán,” a big-budget Spanish-language historical series about the life of the conquistador Hernán Cortes.
“Dopamine is already producing high-quality Spanish-language content, and our collaboration will extend its global reach while providing Drg with access to its talented team, unique storytelling capabilities, and a greater understanding of the Latin American market,” said Richard Halliwell, CEO of Drg and managing director of Nent Studios UK.
Halliwell said the partnership will Dopamine will further increase Dgr’s investment in the U.K. production industry where it already boasts a presence through Nent Studios U.
- 4/1/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — It’s official. Spain’s Atresmedia Studios and The Mediapro Studio are teaming to produce: “El Internado: Las Cumbres,” a reboot of the milestone Spanish series “El Internado” (“The Boarding School”), but made this time round not for free-to-air audiences but Amazon Prime Video.
While firing up its own line-up of originals, beginning with Emmy winner “Six Dreams” and including the upcoming “El Cid,” Amazon Prime Video has moved smartly to make select territory acquisitions on top series, such as “Hernán.”
In the case of “El Internado: las Cumbres,” however, Amazon Prime Video has acquired worldwide rights to the series which will be released as an Amazon Prime Video Original.
Revealing a title for the new version, Amazon Prime Video also announced that the series will go into production first quarter 2020, have eight episodes and shoot on location in Northern Spain.
Dropping seven seasons over 2007-10 on the flagship...
While firing up its own line-up of originals, beginning with Emmy winner “Six Dreams” and including the upcoming “El Cid,” Amazon Prime Video has moved smartly to make select territory acquisitions on top series, such as “Hernán.”
In the case of “El Internado: las Cumbres,” however, Amazon Prime Video has acquired worldwide rights to the series which will be released as an Amazon Prime Video Original.
Revealing a title for the new version, Amazon Prime Video also announced that the series will go into production first quarter 2020, have eight episodes and shoot on location in Northern Spain.
Dropping seven seasons over 2007-10 on the flagship...
- 1/8/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
In this week’s International TV Newswire, series look to outscale the opposition, eOne make a key acquisition before Mipcom, Red Arrow’s Snowman a play for international co-production and Viacom International Studio’s flagship series clicks in Argentina.
Size Matters: Amazon’s Cortés-Moctezuma Series
On Thursday, Amazon Prime Video announced that Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal will join the creative team of its upcoming series about conquistador Hernán Cortés and Aztec empire ruler Montezuma II. At Mipcom, A & E Networks Intl. will be selling “Hernán,” a portrait again of Cortes, described by Fidela Navarro, CEO at Dopamine, the series’ lead producer, as the “largest independent series ever made in the territory under a multi-platform model of simultaneous premieres and promotion. Meanwhile, in Spain, Movistar+ is marketing “The Plague” Season 2, which world premiers at Mipcom, as “the most ambitious series in the history of Spanish television,” quoting Javier Zurro of “El Español.
Size Matters: Amazon’s Cortés-Moctezuma Series
On Thursday, Amazon Prime Video announced that Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal will join the creative team of its upcoming series about conquistador Hernán Cortés and Aztec empire ruler Montezuma II. At Mipcom, A & E Networks Intl. will be selling “Hernán,” a portrait again of Cortes, described by Fidela Navarro, CEO at Dopamine, the series’ lead producer, as the “largest independent series ever made in the territory under a multi-platform model of simultaneous premieres and promotion. Meanwhile, in Spain, Movistar+ is marketing “The Plague” Season 2, which world premiers at Mipcom, as “the most ambitious series in the history of Spanish television,” quoting Javier Zurro of “El Español.
- 10/4/2019
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
In the wake of its streaming rights acquisition by Amazon Prime, epic series “Hernan” has sold to Mexican broadcaster Azteca and pan-regional pay TV network, The History Channel, which have jointly acquired the series for their respective platforms.
Produced by Mexico’s Dopamine, a Salinas Group unit, and Spain’s Onza Entertainment, the eight-episode mega-series marks the 500th Anniversary of Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes’ arrival in Mexico. It is expected to bow later this year via the various outlets. Azteca seemed a likely platform for the series as it is also owned by the Salinas Group.
Set in 1519, the ambitious series turns on the conquest of Mexico by Cortés and his troops, and will feature key characters’ perspectives of this tumultuous time in Mexico and Spain’s history.
The series aims to highlight both the encounter and contrast of these two cultures as well as the human side of Cortes,...
Produced by Mexico’s Dopamine, a Salinas Group unit, and Spain’s Onza Entertainment, the eight-episode mega-series marks the 500th Anniversary of Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes’ arrival in Mexico. It is expected to bow later this year via the various outlets. Azteca seemed a likely platform for the series as it is also owned by the Salinas Group.
Set in 1519, the ambitious series turns on the conquest of Mexico by Cortés and his troops, and will feature key characters’ perspectives of this tumultuous time in Mexico and Spain’s history.
The series aims to highlight both the encounter and contrast of these two cultures as well as the human side of Cortes,...
- 7/13/2019
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
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