Spain’s film & TV giant The Mediapro Studio is joining forces with Catalan pubcaster 3Cat and its online platform to co-produce “El Mal” (“Quiet”), a thriller series based on a true story, on a serial killer prowling the streets of locked-down Barcelona in March-April 2020.
Presented April 8 at MipTV, the eight-part series will topline two Goya Awards-winning actor David Verdaguer and double Goya nominee actress Ángela Cervantes.
The series is set to premiere initially on 3Cat while The Mediapro Studio Distribution owns the worldwide commercial rights.
Created and lead written by Lluís Alcarazo – creator of Oriol Paulo’s crime thriller “Night and Day” and doc feature “Special Case “Quiet” – tells the story of an investigation to uncover the identity of a serial killer who chooses their victims from among the most vulnerable members of the society: the homeless.
The plot unfolds at the end of April 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown.
Presented April 8 at MipTV, the eight-part series will topline two Goya Awards-winning actor David Verdaguer and double Goya nominee actress Ángela Cervantes.
The series is set to premiere initially on 3Cat while The Mediapro Studio Distribution owns the worldwide commercial rights.
Created and lead written by Lluís Alcarazo – creator of Oriol Paulo’s crime thriller “Night and Day” and doc feature “Special Case “Quiet” – tells the story of an investigation to uncover the identity of a serial killer who chooses their victims from among the most vulnerable members of the society: the homeless.
The plot unfolds at the end of April 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 lockdown.
- 4/8/2024
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Chris McCausland & Lee Mack Set For Sky Festive Special
British comedians Chris McCausland and Lee Mack will front Sky festive special Bad Tidings, about two perpetually feuding neighbors in Northern England who become unlikely heroes after saving their street from notorious burglars with wacky booby traps and British banter. Laurence Rickard & Martha Howe-Douglas are writing, with production commencing this month at Sky Studios Elstree. Also cast are Rebekah Staton, Sarah Alexander, Ben Crompton, Emily Coates, Josiah Eloi, Millie Kiss, Tupele Dorgu, Sunil Patel, Susan Kyd and Donna Preston. Sky Studios is producing, with Tim Kirkby directing. Adnan Ahmed from Sky Studios is the producer and Ail Gupta exec produces. Sky’s Comcast stablemate NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution will handle international sales. Bad Tidings is the latest Sky original festive special, following last year’s The Heist Before Christmas, 2022’s Christmas Carole and 2021’s The Amazing Mr Blunden.
British comedians Chris McCausland and Lee Mack will front Sky festive special Bad Tidings, about two perpetually feuding neighbors in Northern England who become unlikely heroes after saving their street from notorious burglars with wacky booby traps and British banter. Laurence Rickard & Martha Howe-Douglas are writing, with production commencing this month at Sky Studios Elstree. Also cast are Rebekah Staton, Sarah Alexander, Ben Crompton, Emily Coates, Josiah Eloi, Millie Kiss, Tupele Dorgu, Sunil Patel, Susan Kyd and Donna Preston. Sky Studios is producing, with Tim Kirkby directing. Adnan Ahmed from Sky Studios is the producer and Ail Gupta exec produces. Sky’s Comcast stablemate NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution will handle international sales. Bad Tidings is the latest Sky original festive special, following last year’s The Heist Before Christmas, 2022’s Christmas Carole and 2021’s The Amazing Mr Blunden.
- 4/8/2024
- by Jesse Whittock, Hannah Abraham and Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Inspired by the simmering one-man rebellion that kicked off a tremendous tide-change in Barcelona, writer-director Marcel Barrena (“Mediterraneo: The Law of the Sea”) and Spain’s The Mediapro Studio have begun filming “The 47.”
Tms has released first look images. The premise centers on social activist bus driver Manolo Vital, played by three-time Goya Award winner Eduardo Fernández (“Smoke & Mirrors”), as he grows increasingly outraged at the abject neglect faced by immigrant communities outside the city’s center, whose neighborhoods, peeled by immigrants from Extremadura and Andalusia, had only just achieved running water.
Stonewalled by the City Council, Vital seizes a bus used on Barcelona’s #47 line and extends its route to Torre Baró in an attempt to prove that the vehicle can safely service the outlying communities in need.
“What the film shows is that this good man tried to convince everyone that it was feasible. The contempt of...
Tms has released first look images. The premise centers on social activist bus driver Manolo Vital, played by three-time Goya Award winner Eduardo Fernández (“Smoke & Mirrors”), as he grows increasingly outraged at the abject neglect faced by immigrant communities outside the city’s center, whose neighborhoods, peeled by immigrants from Extremadura and Andalusia, had only just achieved running water.
Stonewalled by the City Council, Vital seizes a bus used on Barcelona’s #47 line and extends its route to Torre Baró in an attempt to prove that the vehicle can safely service the outlying communities in need.
“What the film shows is that this good man tried to convince everyone that it was feasible. The contempt of...
- 6/29/2023
- by Holly Jones
- Variety Film + TV
El 47, the latest feature from Spanish production powerhouse Mediapro Studio, is kicking into gear with cameras set to roll on the pic in Barcelona in the coming days.
Directed by Marcel Barrena (Mediterraneo: The Law of the Sea), the pic is billed as a “tribute to the working class and to the men and women who built our cities, not only physically but also culturally.” The pic tells the story of Manolo Vital, a bus driver who helped create modern Barcelona during the city’s 1970s boom. Barrena co-wrote the pic with Alberto Marini (El desconocido).
Synopsis reads: In the 1960s and 70s Spain, rural Barcelona was built, for the most part, by immigrants from Extremadura and Andalusia who, although they had built the neighborhoods with their bare hands, were still not considered part of the city. Their homes didn’t even have running water or electricity. Tired of hearing...
Directed by Marcel Barrena (Mediterraneo: The Law of the Sea), the pic is billed as a “tribute to the working class and to the men and women who built our cities, not only physically but also culturally.” The pic tells the story of Manolo Vital, a bus driver who helped create modern Barcelona during the city’s 1970s boom. Barrena co-wrote the pic with Alberto Marini (El desconocido).
Synopsis reads: In the 1960s and 70s Spain, rural Barcelona was built, for the most part, by immigrants from Extremadura and Andalusia who, although they had built the neighborhoods with their bare hands, were still not considered part of the city. Their homes didn’t even have running water or electricity. Tired of hearing...
- 6/28/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The Mediapro Studio has dropped a teaser for “The Head” Season 2, with first footage in the run-up to its simultaneous premiere on HBO Max in the U.S. and Spain on Dec. 22.
Season 2 rolls off a first season which has proved one of Spain’s biggest breakout hits, sold by the The Mediapro Studio Distribution to over 90 countries including top-echelon players HBO Max for the U.S., plus Starzplay, Canal Plus (France), and Amazon’s Prime Video.
It also played to positive critical reactions. “Watching this, I could practically feel the ice crystals forming on my beard – and I don’t even have a beard,” Suzi Feay wrote in The Financial Times.
Produced once more in association with Hulu Japan, Season 2, whose teaser-trailer has been shared in exclusivity with Variety, is described by Tms as an “action-packed suspense thriller.” Nothing in the teaser belies that billing. Season 2 retains many of...
Season 2 rolls off a first season which has proved one of Spain’s biggest breakout hits, sold by the The Mediapro Studio Distribution to over 90 countries including top-echelon players HBO Max for the U.S., plus Starzplay, Canal Plus (France), and Amazon’s Prime Video.
It also played to positive critical reactions. “Watching this, I could practically feel the ice crystals forming on my beard – and I don’t even have a beard,” Suzi Feay wrote in The Financial Times.
Produced once more in association with Hulu Japan, Season 2, whose teaser-trailer has been shared in exclusivity with Variety, is described by Tms as an “action-packed suspense thriller.” Nothing in the teaser belies that billing. Season 2 retains many of...
- 12/1/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Prime Video’s latest Spanish original is supernatural horror series Romancero.
The show, written by author and screenwriter Fernando Navarro (Venus, Verónica) and directed by Tomás Peña, comes from The Mediapro Studio-owned producer 100 Balas.
It stars Sasha Cócola (Food & Shelter, Paco’s Men) and Serbian-born actress Elena Matic, making her debut in a dramatic series in Spain, Ricardo Gómez (The Replacement, La Ruta, Cuéntame Cómo), Guillermo Toledo (The Minions of Midas), Belén Cuesta (The Endless Trench) and Julieta Cardinali (The Candidate) and includes a special guest role for Alba Flores (Money Heist, Locked Up).
Earlier today, Deadline revealed Flores is leading another new drama series, Ulterior, which is from Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier’s Upgrade Productions and Spanish firm Moreno Films.
Romancero follows Cornelia and Jordan, as they flee “the force of law, powerful supernatural creatures and themselves,” framed within “within the backdrop of a desert-like and cruel Andalusia,...
The show, written by author and screenwriter Fernando Navarro (Venus, Verónica) and directed by Tomás Peña, comes from The Mediapro Studio-owned producer 100 Balas.
It stars Sasha Cócola (Food & Shelter, Paco’s Men) and Serbian-born actress Elena Matic, making her debut in a dramatic series in Spain, Ricardo Gómez (The Replacement, La Ruta, Cuéntame Cómo), Guillermo Toledo (The Minions of Midas), Belén Cuesta (The Endless Trench) and Julieta Cardinali (The Candidate) and includes a special guest role for Alba Flores (Money Heist, Locked Up).
Earlier today, Deadline revealed Flores is leading another new drama series, Ulterior, which is from Matt Brodlie and Jonathan Kier’s Upgrade Productions and Spanish firm Moreno Films.
Romancero follows Cornelia and Jordan, as they flee “the force of law, powerful supernatural creatures and themselves,” framed within “within the backdrop of a desert-like and cruel Andalusia,...
- 11/28/2022
- by Jesse Whittock
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO Max is set to premiere in exclusivity “The Head” Season 2 in Spain on Dec. 22.
As a preview, on Nov. 1, HBO Max will release the first full season of “The Head,” which was originally bowed in Spain by Orange. The second season will be made available in a marathon format, HBO Max and The Mediapro Studio announced Thursday.
HBO Max has already released “The Head” Season 1 in the U.S. and Latin America.
The biggest hit to date from The Mediapro Studio, opening in over 90 territories worldwide, “The Head” Season 2 sees Season 1’s two survivors – renowned biologist Arthur Wilde (John Lynch), head of Polaris VI’s scientific mission, and Maggie (Katharine O’Donnelly), the station’s young doctor – now on board the Alexandria, a massive scientific freighter that houses a major laboratory, where Wilde, who has escaped from jail, carries out a crucial mission in the fight against climate change, to...
As a preview, on Nov. 1, HBO Max will release the first full season of “The Head,” which was originally bowed in Spain by Orange. The second season will be made available in a marathon format, HBO Max and The Mediapro Studio announced Thursday.
HBO Max has already released “The Head” Season 1 in the U.S. and Latin America.
The biggest hit to date from The Mediapro Studio, opening in over 90 territories worldwide, “The Head” Season 2 sees Season 1’s two survivors – renowned biologist Arthur Wilde (John Lynch), head of Polaris VI’s scientific mission, and Maggie (Katharine O’Donnelly), the station’s young doctor – now on board the Alexandria, a massive scientific freighter that houses a major laboratory, where Wilde, who has escaped from jail, carries out a crucial mission in the fight against climate change, to...
- 10/27/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
They came, they saw 10 higher-end Spanish movie pitches and maybe they were conquered. Just turning up, however, was maybe the most important factor.
Never in the history of the San Sebastian Festival have so many high-powered U.S. execs descended on the Spanish resort as for the two days of the first Creative Investors Conference, taking place over Sept. 19-20 and co-organized by CAA Media Finance.
At the Conference, investors debated with a level of candour above run-of-the-mill seminars, the state and future of the movie business across a total eight panels, moderated with verve by consultant Wendy Mitchell.
Since these are many of the guys running or making the running in the international part of that business, it was well worth noting some of their takeaways:
Europe’s Big Hope: Platforms Really Embracing Cinema
In the U.S., the platforms already buy big when it comes to movies. Think Sundance.
Never in the history of the San Sebastian Festival have so many high-powered U.S. execs descended on the Spanish resort as for the two days of the first Creative Investors Conference, taking place over Sept. 19-20 and co-organized by CAA Media Finance.
At the Conference, investors debated with a level of candour above run-of-the-mill seminars, the state and future of the movie business across a total eight panels, moderated with verve by consultant Wendy Mitchell.
Since these are many of the guys running or making the running in the international part of that business, it was well worth noting some of their takeaways:
Europe’s Big Hope: Platforms Really Embracing Cinema
In the U.S., the platforms already buy big when it comes to movies. Think Sundance.
- 9/21/2022
- by John Hopewell and Pablo Sandoval
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid-based The Mediapro Studio, one of Europe’s super-indies, is re-teaming with Hulu Japan to produce Season 2 of thriller “The Head,” the studio’s hit drama series whose Season 1 was broadcast in more than 90 countries.
The English-language shoot has got underway in Tenerife, in Spain’s The Canary Islands, helmed by Jorge Dorado, who directed Season 1.
“The Head” Season 2 boasts an extensive international cast led once again by John Lynch and Katharine O’Donnelly.
Joining them for Season 2, the series features Hovik Keuchkerian, Moe Dunford (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”), Josefin Nelden (“The Restaurant”) and Olivia Morris (“Hotel Portofino”).
Season 2’s newest additions in leading roles take in Enrique Arce, Nora Ríos and Tania Watson, Thierry Godard and the special collaboration of Japan’s Sota Fukushi (“Bleach”).
If Season 1 was set at a remote polar research station, the principal setting for “The Head” Season 2 will once again be an isolated and inaccessible location,...
The English-language shoot has got underway in Tenerife, in Spain’s The Canary Islands, helmed by Jorge Dorado, who directed Season 1.
“The Head” Season 2 boasts an extensive international cast led once again by John Lynch and Katharine O’Donnelly.
Joining them for Season 2, the series features Hovik Keuchkerian, Moe Dunford (“Texas Chainsaw Massacre”), Josefin Nelden (“The Restaurant”) and Olivia Morris (“Hotel Portofino”).
Season 2’s newest additions in leading roles take in Enrique Arce, Nora Ríos and Tania Watson, Thierry Godard and the special collaboration of Japan’s Sota Fukushi (“Bleach”).
If Season 1 was set at a remote polar research station, the principal setting for “The Head” Season 2 will once again be an isolated and inaccessible location,...
- 6/21/2022
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
The Mediapro Studio has unveiled first key cast for Season 2 of crime thriller “The Head,” one of its biggest international hits, with John Lynch and Katharine O’Donnelly reprising their lead roles as biologist Arthur Wilde and young doctor Maggie Mitchell.
They will be joined by the Spanish actor of Armenian-Lebanese origin Hovik Keuchkerian who shot to fame playing Moscow in “Money Heist,” as well as Ireland’s Moe Dunford (“Vikings”), Sweden’s Josefin Nelden (“The Restaurant”) and British thesp Olivia Morris (“Hotel Portofino”). More substantial name cast will be announced in upcoming weeks.
A huge global hit for The Mediapro Studio, the production-distribution arm of media giant Mediapro, “The Head” is heralded by the company as a model for high-end success: It clinched some 25 distribution deals and aired in 90 countries, allowed The Mediapro Studio to retain a large part of the IP and promised to become the basis for a franchise.
They will be joined by the Spanish actor of Armenian-Lebanese origin Hovik Keuchkerian who shot to fame playing Moscow in “Money Heist,” as well as Ireland’s Moe Dunford (“Vikings”), Sweden’s Josefin Nelden (“The Restaurant”) and British thesp Olivia Morris (“Hotel Portofino”). More substantial name cast will be announced in upcoming weeks.
A huge global hit for The Mediapro Studio, the production-distribution arm of media giant Mediapro, “The Head” is heralded by the company as a model for high-end success: It clinched some 25 distribution deals and aired in 90 countries, allowed The Mediapro Studio to retain a large part of the IP and promised to become the basis for a franchise.
- 3/3/2022
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
On The Good Boss, Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem reteamed with filmmaker Fernando León de Aranoa to examine “the abuse of power that some people have in their relationships with others,” from the perspective of an abuser.
In the Spanish-language dark comedy distributed by Cohen Media Group, Bardem stars as Blanco, a charismatic but controlling factory boss who will go to extreme lengths to protect the world he has created for himself, and to stop his affairs with interns from being exposed to his wife.
Bardem noted during his appearance Sunday at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event at the DGA Theater that his performance was inspired by research and reflection on people “like Harvey Weinstein,” who are applauded by society for their intelligence and business acumen, up until to the point when their abuses of power are finally called out.
De Aranoa joined Bardem and moderator Dominic Patten via satellite,...
In the Spanish-language dark comedy distributed by Cohen Media Group, Bardem stars as Blanco, a charismatic but controlling factory boss who will go to extreme lengths to protect the world he has created for himself, and to stop his affairs with interns from being exposed to his wife.
Bardem noted during his appearance Sunday at Deadline’s Contenders Film: Los Angeles event at the DGA Theater that his performance was inspired by research and reflection on people “like Harvey Weinstein,” who are applauded by society for their intelligence and business acumen, up until to the point when their abuses of power are finally called out.
De Aranoa joined Bardem and moderator Dominic Patten via satellite,...
- 11/15/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
New York-based Cohen Media Group has acquired all U.S. rights to Javier Bardem-starrer “The Good Boss” (“El Buen Patrón”), Spain’s submission to the international feature film Oscars race at the 2022 Academy Awards.
The deal was negotiated by Cmg senior VP Robert Aaronson and Fionnuala Jamison, managing director, MK2, which is handling international sales on the film.
Written and directed by Fernando León de Aranoa, “The Good Boss” world premiered at September’s San Sebastián Festival, where it was one of the best received of main competition films, critics especially highlighting Bardem’s central performance.
Released by Tripictures in Spain, it has grossed €1.64 million ($1.9 million) after its first three weekends, a resilient result in a still under-performing Spanish box office.
A workplace satire which says much about how corporate identity has eviscerated family and human relations in a modern world, “The Good Boss” stars a once more remarkably coiffured Bardem – here,...
The deal was negotiated by Cmg senior VP Robert Aaronson and Fionnuala Jamison, managing director, MK2, which is handling international sales on the film.
Written and directed by Fernando León de Aranoa, “The Good Boss” world premiered at September’s San Sebastián Festival, where it was one of the best received of main competition films, critics especially highlighting Bardem’s central performance.
Released by Tripictures in Spain, it has grossed €1.64 million ($1.9 million) after its first three weekends, a resilient result in a still under-performing Spanish box office.
A workplace satire which says much about how corporate identity has eviscerated family and human relations in a modern world, “The Good Boss” stars a once more remarkably coiffured Bardem – here,...
- 11/8/2021
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
IFC Films has acquired U.S. rights to “Official Competition,” Mariano Cohn and Gastón Duprat’s colorful film with Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas. Represented in international markets by Protagonist, the film world premiered at Venice in competition and earned unanimous praise.
Written by Cohn and Duprat, the movie stars José Luis Gómez as an octogenarian millionaire pharmaceutical tycoon who decides to finance a great work of cinema after surveying his legacy and finding it lacking in prestige.
He purchases the rights to a Nobel Prize–winning novel about sibling rivalry and entrusts the property to enigmatic auteur Lola Cuevas (Cruz). A visionary conceptualist with a penchant for offscreen theatrics and micromanagement, Lola casts as her embattled co-leads a pair of veteran thespians who couldn’t be less alike: Iván Torres (Oscar Martínez) is a revered educator and legend of the stage much concerned with ethics and artistry, while Félix Rivero...
Written by Cohn and Duprat, the movie stars José Luis Gómez as an octogenarian millionaire pharmaceutical tycoon who decides to finance a great work of cinema after surveying his legacy and finding it lacking in prestige.
He purchases the rights to a Nobel Prize–winning novel about sibling rivalry and entrusts the property to enigmatic auteur Lola Cuevas (Cruz). A visionary conceptualist with a penchant for offscreen theatrics and micromanagement, Lola casts as her embattled co-leads a pair of veteran thespians who couldn’t be less alike: Iván Torres (Oscar Martínez) is a revered educator and legend of the stage much concerned with ethics and artistry, while Félix Rivero...
- 10/21/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy and K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
MK2 Films has lured key European buyers with “The Good Boss,” starring Javier Bardem. The film started shooting last month in Spain.
Described as an offbeat satire with darkly comedic elements, “The Good Boss” is being produced by Fernando León de Aranoa through the label Reposado P.C. and Mediapro Studio.
The major distributors that have boarded the movie include Bim in Italy, Alamode in Germany and Austria, Cascade in the Cis and Baltics, and Spentzos in Greece. MK2 launched sales on the movie during the Toronto Film Festival.
Discussions are underway in other territories, according to Fionnuela Jamison, head of international sales at MK2 Films.
Bardem stars in the film as a seemingly benevolent owner of a family factory who thinks he could be up for another local award for business excellence. In order to improve productivity within a week and win, the boss will cross every line imaginable,...
Described as an offbeat satire with darkly comedic elements, “The Good Boss” is being produced by Fernando León de Aranoa through the label Reposado P.C. and Mediapro Studio.
The major distributors that have boarded the movie include Bim in Italy, Alamode in Germany and Austria, Cascade in the Cis and Baltics, and Spentzos in Greece. MK2 launched sales on the movie during the Toronto Film Festival.
Discussions are underway in other territories, according to Fionnuela Jamison, head of international sales at MK2 Films.
Bardem stars in the film as a seemingly benevolent owner of a family factory who thinks he could be up for another local award for business excellence. In order to improve productivity within a week and win, the boss will cross every line imaginable,...
- 11/10/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid-based The Mediapro Studio (Tms), one of Europe’s biggest independent film and TV players, had a smashing 2019 with the release of 126 titles. And then the pandemic struck, forcing the company to shut down 56 shows. Months later, the Spanish outfit is slowly getting back on track by enrolling major U.S. players and Spain’s biggest stars in Hollywood.
Tms is teaming with Disney Plus Latin America on what it describes as an ambitious, music-laced romantic thriller set against a Caribbean background. Its shoot was postponed because of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, David Simon, creator of “The Wire,” is writing drama “A Dry Run,” a series set up at Tms that follows Abraham Lincoln Battalion members who come to Spain to fight fascism during the Spanish Civil War.
Headlined by Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, drama comedy “Official Competition” has resumed filming in Madrid; a second Tms movie, labor relations-themed “The Good Boss,...
Tms is teaming with Disney Plus Latin America on what it describes as an ambitious, music-laced romantic thriller set against a Caribbean background. Its shoot was postponed because of Covid-19.
Meanwhile, David Simon, creator of “The Wire,” is writing drama “A Dry Run,” a series set up at Tms that follows Abraham Lincoln Battalion members who come to Spain to fight fascism during the Spanish Civil War.
Headlined by Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, drama comedy “Official Competition” has resumed filming in Madrid; a second Tms movie, labor relations-themed “The Good Boss,...
- 9/30/2020
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Javier Bardem is set to return to his native Spain to star in new feature “The Good Boss,” reuniting with director Fernando León de Aranoa, The Mediapro Studio and many of the social themes of 2002’s “Mondays in the Sun,” a movie that sealed a young Bardem’s acting reputation.
France’s MK2 Films, the Paris-based production, sales and exhibition company, has acquired international sales rights to the film, described as an offbeat satire with darkly comedic elements.
Produced by Fernando León de Aranoa’s own label, Reposado P.C., and The Mediapro Studio, the film will begin shooting this October.
Announced on the eve of 2020’s Toronto Film Festival, the ironic dramedy has Bardem in the lead role as the titular good boss, a charismatic and seemingly benevolent owner of a family factory who thinks he could be up for another local award for business excellence.
In order to...
France’s MK2 Films, the Paris-based production, sales and exhibition company, has acquired international sales rights to the film, described as an offbeat satire with darkly comedic elements.
Produced by Fernando León de Aranoa’s own label, Reposado P.C., and The Mediapro Studio, the film will begin shooting this October.
Announced on the eve of 2020’s Toronto Film Festival, the ironic dramedy has Bardem in the lead role as the titular good boss, a charismatic and seemingly benevolent owner of a family factory who thinks he could be up for another local award for business excellence.
In order to...
- 9/9/2020
- by John Hopewell and Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
First shots often sum up much of the drama ahead. Bowing June 12 on Orange TV in Spain, “The Head’” a signature series of The Mediapro Studio, is no exception.
Featuring among key cast Alvaro Morte, “La Casa de Papel’s” Professor, and Japanese pop idol Tomohisa Yamashita, written by Alex and David Pastor and directed by Jorge Dorado, the six-part South Pole survival thriller kicks off with a sustained aerial shot swooping over cruelly barren Antarctic expanses, then down to a small but raucous crowd partying outside the Polaris VI Scientific Research Station.
Still the same apparent shot, it shimmies past Morte – who plays the Station’s belligerent cook and is gamely serving hamburgers – then morphs seamlessly into the subjective Pov of Johan (Alexandre Willaume), the Station’s second-in-command, as he nonchalantly grabs a bottle of wine and fair sprints into the Station.
Heading to his bedroom to make love to his wife,...
Featuring among key cast Alvaro Morte, “La Casa de Papel’s” Professor, and Japanese pop idol Tomohisa Yamashita, written by Alex and David Pastor and directed by Jorge Dorado, the six-part South Pole survival thriller kicks off with a sustained aerial shot swooping over cruelly barren Antarctic expanses, then down to a small but raucous crowd partying outside the Polaris VI Scientific Research Station.
Still the same apparent shot, it shimmies past Morte – who plays the Station’s belligerent cook and is gamely serving hamburgers – then morphs seamlessly into the subjective Pov of Johan (Alexandre Willaume), the Station’s second-in-command, as he nonchalantly grabs a bottle of wine and fair sprints into the Station.
Heading to his bedroom to make love to his wife,...
- 6/4/2020
- by John Hopewell and Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Rifkin’s Festival, the upcoming Woody Allen pic starring Elena Anaya, Louis Garrel and Gina Gershon, has been picked up by Spanish distribution outfit Tripictures.
The movie tells the story of a married American couple who go to the San Sebastián Film Festival. They get caught up in the magic of the festival, the beauty and charm of Spain and the fantasy of movies. She has an affair with a brilliant French movie director, and he falls in love with a beautiful Spanish woman who lives there.
The pic, which is produced by The Mediapro Studio and Gravier Production in co-production with Wildside, shot in San Sebastian last summer. Mediapro Studio Distribution is working with Gravier and Mediapro on international sales.
The movie tells the story of a married American couple who go to the San Sebastián Film Festival. They get caught up in the magic of the festival, the beauty and charm of Spain and the fantasy of movies. She has an affair with a brilliant French movie director, and he falls in love with a beautiful Spanish woman who lives there.
The pic, which is produced by The Mediapro Studio and Gravier Production in co-production with Wildside, shot in San Sebastian last summer. Mediapro Studio Distribution is working with Gravier and Mediapro on international sales.
- 4/22/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Madrid — The beautiful game has just got dirtier. Produced by The Mediapro Studio and Directv Latin America, Season 1 of soccer crime thriller “Side Games” (“Todo por el juego”) proved a big swing for the Latin American pay TV/Svod player, the most watched show on its bow on its premium pay TV service OnDirectv and Svod offer Directtv Play.
Announcing this August its carriage of new Ott service Directv Go, the only DirecTV Latin American Original mentioned by Southern American pay TV service Roku was “Side Games.”
Released in Latin America on Oct. 21 and in Spain on Movistar+ from Sunday Nov. 3, Season 2’s trawl through the sewers of the soccer business looks to raise the stakes, broadens the canvas and proves even darker.
Calparsoro has said that he always imagined “Side Games” as a four season series, though each season can be seen on its own. After sale to parts of Latin America,...
Announcing this August its carriage of new Ott service Directv Go, the only DirecTV Latin American Original mentioned by Southern American pay TV service Roku was “Side Games.”
Released in Latin America on Oct. 21 and in Spain on Movistar+ from Sunday Nov. 3, Season 2’s trawl through the sewers of the soccer business looks to raise the stakes, broadens the canvas and proves even darker.
Calparsoro has said that he always imagined “Side Games” as a four season series, though each season can be seen on its own. After sale to parts of Latin America,...
- 10/29/2019
- by John Hopewell
- 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 — Already producing 34 scripted series, The Mediapro Studio is now entering second-phase growth, naming Laura Fernández Espeso to the newly-created post of corporate director and expanding other senior management positions to meet the market needs of one of the fastest-expanding scripted series producers in Europe.
Announcement of the appointments comes as The Mediapro Studio prepares to unleash on Mipcom banner series “The Head,” one of the biggest ever to come out of Spain, an English-language Antarctic thriller produced with Hulu Japan and HBO Asia and a sign of the ambition the Studio aims to achieve in its flagship titles.
Also coming up to completion are woman’s reawakening story “Paradise,” also a Finnish-Spanish crime thriller; coming of age story “Paraíso,” with Movistar+; Mexican women’s soccer team drama “Las Bravas,” the first scripted title announced in an alliance with Turner Latin America, and social comedy “Whatever,” made for HBO España.
Announcement of the appointments comes as The Mediapro Studio prepares to unleash on Mipcom banner series “The Head,” one of the biggest ever to come out of Spain, an English-language Antarctic thriller produced with Hulu Japan and HBO Asia and a sign of the ambition the Studio aims to achieve in its flagship titles.
Also coming up to completion are woman’s reawakening story “Paradise,” also a Finnish-Spanish crime thriller; coming of age story “Paraíso,” with Movistar+; Mexican women’s soccer team drama “Las Bravas,” the first scripted title announced in an alliance with Turner Latin America, and social comedy “Whatever,” made for HBO España.
- 10/9/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Fox Network Groups in Spain and Globomedia, the Barcelona-based parent company of production house The Mediapro Studio, have announced a spinoff to Mediapro’s flagship Catalan series “Vis a Vis” (“Locked Up”).
Set to air on Fox networks in 2020, “Vis a Vis: El Oasis” will close the circle on narratives from the original series, bringing back familiar fan-favorites in the process, led by characters Macarena “Maca” Ferreiro, played by Maggie Civantos, and Zulema, played by five-time Spanish Academy Goya nominated actress Najwa Nimri.
Fans of the hit series have been clamoring on social media platforms for more, and will be thrilled to know that eight new episodes will release next year. The producers promised that the series’ narrative will wrap in a clean and concise way.
Javier Pons, head of TV at The Mediapro Studio described the spin-off as a “final showdown,” praising the work series creator Iván Escobar has done in shaping the series.
Set to air on Fox networks in 2020, “Vis a Vis: El Oasis” will close the circle on narratives from the original series, bringing back familiar fan-favorites in the process, led by characters Macarena “Maca” Ferreiro, played by Maggie Civantos, and Zulema, played by five-time Spanish Academy Goya nominated actress Najwa Nimri.
Fans of the hit series have been clamoring on social media platforms for more, and will be thrilled to know that eight new episodes will release next year. The producers promised that the series’ narrative will wrap in a clean and concise way.
Javier Pons, head of TV at The Mediapro Studio described the spin-off as a “final showdown,” praising the work series creator Iván Escobar has done in shaping the series.
- 5/24/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid-based production hub The Mediapro Studio has announced finalized details of an arrangement with Madrid’s Complutense University (Ucm) and the National Film and Television School of London (Nfts) on a new Master’s program designed to develop new screenwriting talent.
Mediapro general director Juan Ruiz de Gauna, Ucm dean of information sciences Jorge Clemente and Irene Ortega, who will fill the role of director for the new program, made the announcement at Madrid’s Matadero, an early 20th century slaughterhouse now converted into an arts center, where the course will be taught.
Ran Tellem, Daniel Burman, Maikol Sánchez Romero (“The Intermediate”), Fernando León de Aranoa (“A Perfect Day”), Iván Escobar (“Locked Up”), Fernando González Molina (“Palm Trees in the Snow”), Diego San José (“Vota Juan”) and Marc Cistaré (“Victim Number 8”), among others, will tutor or lecture in the program’s first year.
Classes will prepare the students – as many...
Mediapro general director Juan Ruiz de Gauna, Ucm dean of information sciences Jorge Clemente and Irene Ortega, who will fill the role of director for the new program, made the announcement at Madrid’s Matadero, an early 20th century slaughterhouse now converted into an arts center, where the course will be taught.
Ran Tellem, Daniel Burman, Maikol Sánchez Romero (“The Intermediate”), Fernando León de Aranoa (“A Perfect Day”), Iván Escobar (“Locked Up”), Fernando González Molina (“Palm Trees in the Snow”), Diego San José (“Vota Juan”) and Marc Cistaré (“Victim Number 8”), among others, will tutor or lecture in the program’s first year.
Classes will prepare the students – as many...
- 5/21/2019
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences held the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards on May 5, in addition to the Daytime Emmy Creative Arts Awards on May 3, celebrating the very best of programming airing from 2:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. during the 2018 calendar year.
This year’s winners spanned a host of shows, including multiple wins for “General Hospital,” “Sesame Street,” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Beloved longtime host of “Jeopardy” Alex Trebek won his sixth Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Award and received a standing ovation upon reception. Trebek announced in March that he had been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and was aggressively fighting the disease.
The May 5 ceremony, hosted by Mario Lopez (“Extra”) and Sheryl Underwood (“The Talk”) highlighted the careers of both “Judge Judy” Sheindlin and Chef Jacques Pepin, awarding both Lifetime Achievement Awards. It also featured a retrospective on Kathie Lee Gifford’s career,...
This year’s winners spanned a host of shows, including multiple wins for “General Hospital,” “Sesame Street,” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.”
Beloved longtime host of “Jeopardy” Alex Trebek won his sixth Outstanding Game Show Host Emmy Award and received a standing ovation upon reception. Trebek announced in March that he had been diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer and was aggressively fighting the disease.
The May 5 ceremony, hosted by Mario Lopez (“Extra”) and Sheryl Underwood (“The Talk”) highlighted the careers of both “Judge Judy” Sheindlin and Chef Jacques Pepin, awarding both Lifetime Achievement Awards. It also featured a retrospective on Kathie Lee Gifford’s career,...
- 5/6/2019
- by Libby Hill
- Indiewire
Never has Spanish TV drama production been so vibrant.
Over the past 12 months, “La Casa de Papel” (“Money Heist”) and “Elite” became global sensations via Netflix, building on the success of previous series that demonstrated a never-seen-before appetite for Spanish originals.
Netflix is opening the doors of its first European production hub in Madrid in early April and preparing five new Spanish Originals; Movistar + aims to produce 15 series a year; HBO and Amazon are increasing production.
Meanwhile, top free-to-air TV broadcasters Mediaset España and Atresmedia are re-inventing themselves as studios, producing content for third-party operators, and taking advantage of their production expertise.
The boom is opening up more ambitious and flexible business production models, such as co-production.
“Many of our projects, from inception, have co-production partners,” says Telefonica’s Movistar + president, Sergio Oslé. “It keeps us international from the get-go and helps us distribute, and also reach some scale and share know-how.
Over the past 12 months, “La Casa de Papel” (“Money Heist”) and “Elite” became global sensations via Netflix, building on the success of previous series that demonstrated a never-seen-before appetite for Spanish originals.
Netflix is opening the doors of its first European production hub in Madrid in early April and preparing five new Spanish Originals; Movistar + aims to produce 15 series a year; HBO and Amazon are increasing production.
Meanwhile, top free-to-air TV broadcasters Mediaset España and Atresmedia are re-inventing themselves as studios, producing content for third-party operators, and taking advantage of their production expertise.
The boom is opening up more ambitious and flexible business production models, such as co-production.
“Many of our projects, from inception, have co-production partners,” says Telefonica’s Movistar + president, Sergio Oslé. “It keeps us international from the get-go and helps us distribute, and also reach some scale and share know-how.
- 4/9/2019
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
The Mediapro offices in Madrid’s Fuencarral district have for years boasted the logo of Globomedia, Spain’s premier scripted series production house.
But in the second half of April, a new logo, the Mediapro Studio, will replace the old. The change marks a near-total reinvention of the company’s scripted series production paradigm, says Mediapro partner Taxto Benet.
For years, Globomedia produced content for Spain’s three nationwide broadcast networks. Now its production partners span the globe, from many of the most important U.S. companies such as HBO and Netflix, to Mexico’s Televisa, Sweden’s Dramacorp, Italy’s Palomar, Finland’s Yle, Argentina’s two biggest broadcasters Telefe and Artear, plus Spain’s Mediaset España, Atresmedia and Tve. Mediapro also has four shows in development with U.K. producers, says Laura Fernández Espeso, the Mediapro Studio co-head of TV.
For years, Spanish broadcasters fully financed series, retaining...
But in the second half of April, a new logo, the Mediapro Studio, will replace the old. The change marks a near-total reinvention of the company’s scripted series production paradigm, says Mediapro partner Taxto Benet.
For years, Globomedia produced content for Spain’s three nationwide broadcast networks. Now its production partners span the globe, from many of the most important U.S. companies such as HBO and Netflix, to Mexico’s Televisa, Sweden’s Dramacorp, Italy’s Palomar, Finland’s Yle, Argentina’s two biggest broadcasters Telefe and Artear, plus Spain’s Mediaset España, Atresmedia and Tve. Mediapro also has four shows in development with U.K. producers, says Laura Fernández Espeso, the Mediapro Studio co-head of TV.
For years, Spanish broadcasters fully financed series, retaining...
- 4/8/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Profiles of some of Mediapro’s production milestones, and select titles on its 2019 production slate. Tve has also just announced season four on the Mediapro co-produced cult time-travel adventure “The Department of Time.”
Mondays In The Sun, 2002
Produced with Elías Querejeta, directed by Fernando León, “Sun” was Mediapro’s first big movie hit. It was a San Sebastian Golden Shell winner, and took in €9.8 million ($11 million) at Spain’s box office. It also sported a breakout performance by Javier Bardem in a portrait of Spain’s unemployed told with compassion and humor.
Comandante, 2003
Produced with Spain’s Morena Films and Pentagrama, film featured the best of Oliver Stone’s three-day interview of Fidel Castro mixed with archival footage. “Lively and compulsive viewing,” said a Variety review.
The Secret Life Of Words, 2005
A high-water mark for filmmaker Isabel Coixet, Variety’s review said: “Sarah Polley gives a wonderfully searching performance. … Pic...
Mondays In The Sun, 2002
Produced with Elías Querejeta, directed by Fernando León, “Sun” was Mediapro’s first big movie hit. It was a San Sebastian Golden Shell winner, and took in €9.8 million ($11 million) at Spain’s box office. It also sported a breakout performance by Javier Bardem in a portrait of Spain’s unemployed told with compassion and humor.
Comandante, 2003
Produced with Spain’s Morena Films and Pentagrama, film featured the best of Oliver Stone’s three-day interview of Fidel Castro mixed with archival footage. “Lively and compulsive viewing,” said a Variety review.
The Secret Life Of Words, 2005
A high-water mark for filmmaker Isabel Coixet, Variety’s review said: “Sarah Polley gives a wonderfully searching performance. … Pic...
- 4/8/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
April 1994 As Spanish TV stations increasingly out-house services, Jaume Roures and Gerard Romy found Mediapro, with Taxto Benet’s encouragement, renting an office in Barcelona’s Sarria-district Riu de l’Or to organize the Andorra Intl. Jazz Festival.
Oct. 1994: From the near get-go, Medaipro begins handling sport event production and rights, starting with boxing, tennis and especially basketball.
Oct. 1997: Mediapro pacts with Telefonica to provide satellite uplink services.
Dec. 1997: Company’s first TV show, Andalucia Directo, a daily magazine on Canal Sur.
Dec. 1998: Mediapro’s pact with Audiovisual Sport to handle international rights to Spanish league soccer matches.
July 1999: Canal Barca and Real Madrid TV, dedicated soccer club channels, launch with Mediapro backing.
Oct. 1999: Mediapro buys its first mobile units.
June 2000: A former head of Audiovisual Sports, an Atresmedia, Tvc co-venture, Tatxo Benet creates his own company which now merges with Mediapro.
Sept.
Oct. 1994: From the near get-go, Medaipro begins handling sport event production and rights, starting with boxing, tennis and especially basketball.
Oct. 1997: Mediapro pacts with Telefonica to provide satellite uplink services.
Dec. 1997: Company’s first TV show, Andalucia Directo, a daily magazine on Canal Sur.
Dec. 1998: Mediapro’s pact with Audiovisual Sport to handle international rights to Spanish league soccer matches.
July 1999: Canal Barca and Real Madrid TV, dedicated soccer club channels, launch with Mediapro backing.
Oct. 1999: Mediapro buys its first mobile units.
June 2000: A former head of Audiovisual Sports, an Atresmedia, Tvc co-venture, Tatxo Benet creates his own company which now merges with Mediapro.
Sept.
- 4/8/2019
- by John Hopewell and Emilio Mayorga
- Variety Film + TV
The Mediapro Group – the Barcelona-based multinational – is unveiling The Mediapro Studio, with 34 scripted series already in production worldwide.
The new production company will be based in Fuencarral, northern Madrid, just a few miles from Netflix’s soon-to-open European production hub. It will be overseen by Javier Méndez as chief content officer and by Laura Fernández Espeso and Javier Pons as its joint heads of TV. Mediapro co-founder Jaume Roures and partner Tatxo Benet will serve as its presidents.
The productions going through The Mediapro Studio span titles with HBO, Canal Plus and Sky Italia (“The New Pope”), Disney (“Cazadores de Milagros”), DirecTV Latin America (“Todo por el juego”), Viacom Intl. Studios (“Noobees”), Turner Latin America (“Las Bravas” ), Vice (“Border Republic”) and Amazon Prime Video, which has acquired “Caronte,” produced for Mediaset España.
Other production partners include Mexico’s Televisa, Italy’s Palomar (“270 Days”), Sweden’s Dramacorp (“The Head”), Finland...
The new production company will be based in Fuencarral, northern Madrid, just a few miles from Netflix’s soon-to-open European production hub. It will be overseen by Javier Méndez as chief content officer and by Laura Fernández Espeso and Javier Pons as its joint heads of TV. Mediapro co-founder Jaume Roures and partner Tatxo Benet will serve as its presidents.
The productions going through The Mediapro Studio span titles with HBO, Canal Plus and Sky Italia (“The New Pope”), Disney (“Cazadores de Milagros”), DirecTV Latin America (“Todo por el juego”), Viacom Intl. Studios (“Noobees”), Turner Latin America (“Las Bravas” ), Vice (“Border Republic”) and Amazon Prime Video, which has acquired “Caronte,” produced for Mediaset España.
Other production partners include Mexico’s Televisa, Italy’s Palomar (“270 Days”), Sweden’s Dramacorp (“The Head”), Finland...
- 3/19/2019
- by John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
Madrid — Mediapro, one of Europe’s biggest independent film-tv groups, has tapped Spanish writer-showrunner Diego San José, co-scribe of the smash-hit “Spanish Affair” movie franchise, to develop exclusive new TV fiction contents.
San José has previously been involved in two Mediapro projects, as co-writer and co-creator of political comedy “Vota Juan,” a co-production with Turner España aired on TNT, and co-writer of Borja Cobeaga’s “Fe de Etarras,” Netflix’s second original Spanish film, released in 2017.
He joins an already large list of content creatives tapped by Mediapro in recent years with the aim of strengthening its growing role as a key TV fiction powerhouse in Spain and the international market. That team takes in Emmy-winning Ran Tellem (“Homeland”), Iván Escobar (“Vis a vis”), Javier Olivares (“The Department of Time”), Marc Vigil (“Red Eagle”), Fernando González Molina (“The Boat”) and Daniel Burman (“Edha”), among dozens of other screenwriters and directors.
San José has previously been involved in two Mediapro projects, as co-writer and co-creator of political comedy “Vota Juan,” a co-production with Turner España aired on TNT, and co-writer of Borja Cobeaga’s “Fe de Etarras,” Netflix’s second original Spanish film, released in 2017.
He joins an already large list of content creatives tapped by Mediapro in recent years with the aim of strengthening its growing role as a key TV fiction powerhouse in Spain and the international market. That team takes in Emmy-winning Ran Tellem (“Homeland”), Iván Escobar (“Vis a vis”), Javier Olivares (“The Department of Time”), Marc Vigil (“Red Eagle”), Fernando González Molina (“The Boat”) and Daniel Burman (“Edha”), among dozens of other screenwriters and directors.
- 3/4/2019
- by Emiliano De Pablos
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Cuban-Spanish cosmonaut comedy Sergio & Sergei is directed by Ernesto Daranas.
WestEnd Films has boarded world rights to Sergio & Sergei, the Cuban-Spanish comedy co-starring Ron Perlman.
Cuban director Ernesto Daranas’ (Behavior) 1991-set film, currently in post-production and inspired be real events, follows Sergei, the last Soviet Cosmonaut, who is floating aimlessly above the planet on the space station Mir following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
One night on the radio he makes a connection with Sergio, a Marxism philosophy professor in Havana who is struggling to make ends meet in a now crumbling Cuba.
Tomás Cao (Habana Blues, Viva) stars as Sergio and his daughter Mariana is played by Ailín de la Caridad Rodriguez.
Héctor Noas plays Sergei and Ron Perlman rounds out the cast.
Jaume Roures and Javier Méndez from Mediapro are respectively producing and executive producing, alongside producers Ramón Samada, Joel Ortega and executive producers Adriana Moyá and Danilo León.
The screenplay...
WestEnd Films has boarded world rights to Sergio & Sergei, the Cuban-Spanish comedy co-starring Ron Perlman.
Cuban director Ernesto Daranas’ (Behavior) 1991-set film, currently in post-production and inspired be real events, follows Sergei, the last Soviet Cosmonaut, who is floating aimlessly above the planet on the space station Mir following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
One night on the radio he makes a connection with Sergio, a Marxism philosophy professor in Havana who is struggling to make ends meet in a now crumbling Cuba.
Tomás Cao (Habana Blues, Viva) stars as Sergio and his daughter Mariana is played by Ailín de la Caridad Rodriguez.
Héctor Noas plays Sergei and Ron Perlman rounds out the cast.
Jaume Roures and Javier Méndez from Mediapro are respectively producing and executive producing, alongside producers Ramón Samada, Joel Ortega and executive producers Adriana Moyá and Danilo León.
The screenplay...
- 2/10/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
Former Globomedia and Imagina exec will oversee international strategy for The Young Pope co-producer.
Spanish film and TV production and financing outfit Mediapro has hired Laura Fernández Espeso as head of international content.
Fernández Espeso will be responsible for the company’s international strategy including co-productions, in house production, distribution and worldwide. She will report to content director Javier Méndez.
Fernández Espeso joins from production outfit Globomedia, where she was international development director and managing director of film. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, having previously worked at Spain’s Imagina Group.
Mediapro’s previous credits include Woody Allen titles Midnight In Paris, Blue Jasmine and To Rome With Love. It has recently looked to ramp up its TV offering and was a co-producer on high-end drama The Young Pope.
Mediapro Group, which has offices in 33 cities across four continents, had a turnover last year of $1.68bn (€1.5bn).
Spanish film and TV production and financing outfit Mediapro has hired Laura Fernández Espeso as head of international content.
Fernández Espeso will be responsible for the company’s international strategy including co-productions, in house production, distribution and worldwide. She will report to content director Javier Méndez.
Fernández Espeso joins from production outfit Globomedia, where she was international development director and managing director of film. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, having previously worked at Spain’s Imagina Group.
Mediapro’s previous credits include Woody Allen titles Midnight In Paris, Blue Jasmine and To Rome With Love. It has recently looked to ramp up its TV offering and was a co-producer on high-end drama The Young Pope.
Mediapro Group, which has offices in 33 cities across four continents, had a turnover last year of $1.68bn (€1.5bn).
- 9/28/2016
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
Fernández Espeso will oversee international strategy for The Young Pope co-producer.
Spanish film and TV production and financing outfit Mediapro has hired Laura Fernández Espeso as head of international content.
Fernández Espeso will be responsible for the company’s international strategy including co-productions, in house production, distribution and worldwide. She will report to content director Javier Méndez.
Fernández Espeso joins from production outfit Globomedia, where she was international development director and managing director of film. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, having previously worked at Spain’s Imagina Group.
Mediapro’s previous credits include Woody Allen titles Midnight In Paris, Blue Jasmine and To Rome With Love. It has recently looked to ramp up its TV offering and was a co-producer on high-end drama The Young Pope.
Mediapro Group, which has offices in 33 cities across four continents, had a turnover last year of $1.68bn (€1.5bn).
Spanish film and TV production and financing outfit Mediapro has hired Laura Fernández Espeso as head of international content.
Fernández Espeso will be responsible for the company’s international strategy including co-productions, in house production, distribution and worldwide. She will report to content director Javier Méndez.
Fernández Espeso joins from production outfit Globomedia, where she was international development director and managing director of film. She has more than 15 years’ experience in the industry, having previously worked at Spain’s Imagina Group.
Mediapro’s previous credits include Woody Allen titles Midnight In Paris, Blue Jasmine and To Rome With Love. It has recently looked to ramp up its TV offering and was a co-producer on high-end drama The Young Pope.
Mediapro Group, which has offices in 33 cities across four continents, had a turnover last year of $1.68bn (€1.5bn).
- 9/28/2016
- by tom.grater@screendaily.com (Tom Grater)
- ScreenDaily
IFC Films has acquired the U.S. rights to WestEnd Films’ “A Perfect Day,” directed by Spanish filmmaker Fernando León de Aranoa. The film, which premiered in Cannes, stars Benicio del Toro, Tim Robbins, Olga Kurylenko, Mélanie Thierry and Fedja Stukan. Set in the Balkans in the mid-’90s, the film follows a group of aid workers as they try to resolve a crisis in an armed conflict zone. León de Aranoa, who co-wrote the script with Diego Farias, also produced under his Reposado banner with Jaume Roures of MediaPro and executive producers Patricia de Muns and Javier Méndez. Also Read: Cannes Report,...
- 5/20/2015
- by Matt Donnelly
- The Wrap
Fernando León de Aranoa’s film premiered in Director’s Fortnight this week and stars Benicio del Toro, Tim Robbins, Olga Kurylenko, Mélanie Thierry and Fedja Stukan.
A Perfect Day is based on a screenplay by de Aranoa and Diego Farias about aid workers in a Bosnia.
de Aranoa of Reposado produced with Jaume Roures of MediaPro. Patricia de Muns and Javier Méndez served as executive producers.
IFC negotiated the Us rights deal with WestEnd Films.
A Perfect Day is based on a screenplay by de Aranoa and Diego Farias about aid workers in a Bosnia.
de Aranoa of Reposado produced with Jaume Roures of MediaPro. Patricia de Muns and Javier Méndez served as executive producers.
IFC negotiated the Us rights deal with WestEnd Films.
- 5/20/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Today, Winston Baker, the leading global producer of entertainment finance conferences, celebrates its seventh anniversary and has announced their “6th Annual International Film Finance Forum” lineup. Winston Baker will host this momentous event on May 15, 2015, during the 68th Festival de Cannnes at the prestigious Carlton Hotel located on the Boulevard de La Croisette in Cannes, France.
"One of our recent keynotes, John Sloss, the founder of Cinetic Media, said it best: ‘Everything is changing -‐ the form of the content, the way it's being financed, the way it's being delivered, the way it's being consumed.’ His sentiment captures why we continue to offer our forums around the world. We need to keep industry professionals informed about the latest money-‐making trends and strategic developments in the entertainment and media sectors as they relate to finance and revenue generation,” said Katherine Winston, Co-‐Founder and Managing Partner, Winston Baker.
As part of Winston Baker’s Film Finance Forum® series, this unique event will be a half-‐day program geared towards global strategies for financing films, mitigating risk, aligning interests with partners worldwide, and identifying viable distribution in the age of “watch it when you want and where you want it.” “We see an increasing number of digital channels entering the market every month," said Ray Bell, serial entrepreneur, Founder/CEO of Digital Film Cloud Network, and a forum speaker. “The move to the cloud is having a profound impact on how film financing, rights licensing, and distribution is and will be performed."
In addition to featuring a session on the latest digital strategies, Winston Baker will be presenting a director’s keynote panel with Lone Scherfig, the director of the award-‐winning films "An Education," "One Day" and "Italian For Beginners" along with Ariel Vromen, the writer and director of the critically acclaimed film “The Iceman.”
The speaking faculty will also feature producers, distributors, financiers, agents, and executives who have worked on notable and award-‐winning films such as "12 Years a Slave," "American Hustle," "Black Swan," "Cake," "Dallas Buyers Club," "Django Unchained," "End of Watch," "Gosford Park," "Iron Lady," "Looper," "Midnight in Paris," "Silver Linings Playbook," "The Artist," "The Butler,""The Constant Gardener," "The Hurt Locker,""The Imitation Game," "The King's Speech," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," "Zero Dark Thirty" and more.
These professionals include:
-- Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hyde Park Entertainment
‐- Tom Ara, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Llp
-‐ Joseph Calabrese, Global Chair, Entertainment, Sports and Media Practice, Latham & Watkins Llp
-‐ Jeffrey Chan, Co-‐Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Distribution Workshop
-‐ Joseph Chianese, Executive Vice President, Ep Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners
-‐ Guillaume de Chalendar, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Media & Entertainment, Bank Leumi
-‐ Cristina Garza, Vice President, Mundial
-‐ David Glasser, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Weinstein Company
-‐ Micah Green, Co-‐Head, Film Finance and Sales Group, Creative Artists Agency
-‐ Vincent Grimond, Chief Executive Officer, Wild Bunch
-‐ Mark Hutchison, Partner, Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno
-‐ Robert Jones, Co-‐Managing Director, The Fyzz Facility
-‐ David Jourdan, Senior Vice President, International Business Development, Im Global
-‐ David U. Lee, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Leeding Media
-‐ Yansong Li, President, iQiYi Motion Pictures
-‐ Bill Lischak, Co-‐President, OddLot Entertainment
-‐ Javier Méndez, Executive Producer and Head of Content, Mediapro Group
-‐ John Penotti, President, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment / Vice Chairman, Ivanhoe Pictures
-‐ Lisa Schwartz, Evp, Distribution, Operations and Business Development, IFC Films and Sundance Selects
-‐ Nigel Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer, Whitehorse Pictures
Every year, the Cannes forum hosts a targeted group of 150 to 200 film financiers, producers, sales agents, buyers, and seasoned advisors. The Winston Baker forum is an effective way to stay connected with active industry deal-‐makers and make new contacts at a film festival that hosts thousands of people each year. Sponsors and partners of the forum include Im Global, Digital Film Cloud Network, Vine Alternative Investments, Entertainment Partners, Leumi, Latham & Watkins Llp, Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno, Greenberg Traurig Llp, The Fyzz Facility, FilmFestivals.com, ProductionHub, Stage 32, TrueSpark, Variety, and Wift Germany.
For more information, visit: http://filmfinanceforum.com/conferences/cannes/
To register now, visit: http://filmfinanceforum.com/conferences/cannes/registration/...
"One of our recent keynotes, John Sloss, the founder of Cinetic Media, said it best: ‘Everything is changing -‐ the form of the content, the way it's being financed, the way it's being delivered, the way it's being consumed.’ His sentiment captures why we continue to offer our forums around the world. We need to keep industry professionals informed about the latest money-‐making trends and strategic developments in the entertainment and media sectors as they relate to finance and revenue generation,” said Katherine Winston, Co-‐Founder and Managing Partner, Winston Baker.
As part of Winston Baker’s Film Finance Forum® series, this unique event will be a half-‐day program geared towards global strategies for financing films, mitigating risk, aligning interests with partners worldwide, and identifying viable distribution in the age of “watch it when you want and where you want it.” “We see an increasing number of digital channels entering the market every month," said Ray Bell, serial entrepreneur, Founder/CEO of Digital Film Cloud Network, and a forum speaker. “The move to the cloud is having a profound impact on how film financing, rights licensing, and distribution is and will be performed."
In addition to featuring a session on the latest digital strategies, Winston Baker will be presenting a director’s keynote panel with Lone Scherfig, the director of the award-‐winning films "An Education," "One Day" and "Italian For Beginners" along with Ariel Vromen, the writer and director of the critically acclaimed film “The Iceman.”
The speaking faculty will also feature producers, distributors, financiers, agents, and executives who have worked on notable and award-‐winning films such as "12 Years a Slave," "American Hustle," "Black Swan," "Cake," "Dallas Buyers Club," "Django Unchained," "End of Watch," "Gosford Park," "Iron Lady," "Looper," "Midnight in Paris," "Silver Linings Playbook," "The Artist," "The Butler,""The Constant Gardener," "The Hurt Locker,""The Imitation Game," "The King's Speech," "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," "Zero Dark Thirty" and more.
These professionals include:
-- Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hyde Park Entertainment
‐- Tom Ara, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig Llp
-‐ Joseph Calabrese, Global Chair, Entertainment, Sports and Media Practice, Latham & Watkins Llp
-‐ Jeffrey Chan, Co-‐Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Distribution Workshop
-‐ Joseph Chianese, Executive Vice President, Ep Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners
-‐ Guillaume de Chalendar, Senior Vice President, Global Head of Media & Entertainment, Bank Leumi
-‐ Cristina Garza, Vice President, Mundial
-‐ David Glasser, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Weinstein Company
-‐ Micah Green, Co-‐Head, Film Finance and Sales Group, Creative Artists Agency
-‐ Vincent Grimond, Chief Executive Officer, Wild Bunch
-‐ Mark Hutchison, Partner, Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno
-‐ Robert Jones, Co-‐Managing Director, The Fyzz Facility
-‐ David Jourdan, Senior Vice President, International Business Development, Im Global
-‐ David U. Lee, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Leeding Media
-‐ Yansong Li, President, iQiYi Motion Pictures
-‐ Bill Lischak, Co-‐President, OddLot Entertainment
-‐ Javier Méndez, Executive Producer and Head of Content, Mediapro Group
-‐ John Penotti, President, Sidney Kimmel Entertainment / Vice Chairman, Ivanhoe Pictures
-‐ Lisa Schwartz, Evp, Distribution, Operations and Business Development, IFC Films and Sundance Selects
-‐ Nigel Sinclair, Chief Executive Officer, Whitehorse Pictures
Every year, the Cannes forum hosts a targeted group of 150 to 200 film financiers, producers, sales agents, buyers, and seasoned advisors. The Winston Baker forum is an effective way to stay connected with active industry deal-‐makers and make new contacts at a film festival that hosts thousands of people each year. Sponsors and partners of the forum include Im Global, Digital Film Cloud Network, Vine Alternative Investments, Entertainment Partners, Leumi, Latham & Watkins Llp, Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno, Greenberg Traurig Llp, The Fyzz Facility, FilmFestivals.com, ProductionHub, Stage 32, TrueSpark, Variety, and Wift Germany.
For more information, visit: http://filmfinanceforum.com/conferences/cannes/
To register now, visit: http://filmfinanceforum.com/conferences/cannes/registration/...
- 5/5/2015
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Winston Baker will host its annual international program during the 68th Festival de Cannes at the prestigious Carlton Hotel located on the Boulevard de la Croisette. This particular forum will be a half-day program on the afternoon of May 15, 2015 geared towards global strategies for financing films, mitigating risk, aligning interests with partners worldwide, and identifying viable distribution in the age of “watch it when you want and where you want it.”
Winston Baker’s 2015 Cannes forum will be featuring outstanding speakers such:
· David Glasser, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Weinstein Company
· Ray Bell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Film Cloud Network
· Lisa Schwartz, Evp, Distribution, Operations and Business Development, IFC Films and Sundance Selects
· Tanya Wexler, Director and Partner, Co-Op Entertainmet
· Micah Green, Co-Head, Film Finance and Sales Group, Creative Artists Agency
· David Jourdan, our Svp of International Business Development, Im Global
· Javier Méndez, Executive Producer and Head of Content, Mediapro Group
· Joseph Calabrese, Partner, Latham & Watkins Llp
· Mark Hutchison, Partner, Nksfb | Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno
· Tom Ara, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
· Joseph Chianese, Executive Vice President, Ep Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners
· Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hyde Park Entertainment
· Bill Lischak, Chief Operating Officer, Odd Lot Entertainment
· Robbert Aarts, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Fintage House
· Tom Ara, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
· Cristina Garza, Vice President, Mundial
· Yansong Li, President, iQiYi Motion Pictures
Key topics of discussion at the forum will include:
- View From the Director’s Chair: Banking on Content vs. Talent
- Is it Real Movie Money or Just Another Big Yacht Passing By?
- Staying Ahead of the Growing Co-Production Curve
- Breaking into the China Market: Power Players and Strategic Partnership Opportunities
- Distribution Re-Defined: Selling Films and Making Money in the On-Demand Age
At the end of the forum, a private reception will be hosted for speakers, sponsors, and registered attendees.
Attendee Profile:
Each year, the Cannes forum hosts a targeted group of between 150 and 200 film financiers, producers, sales agents, buyers, and seasoned advisors. The Winston Baker forum is an effective way to stay connected with award winning producers and active industry deal-makers, as well as make new contacts at a film festival that hosts thousands of people each year.
In 2014, attendance at the Marché du Film reached a record 11,806 registered participants, including 1,927 buyers for 5,036 companies. 116 countries were represented that year, with 8 new countries making an appearance. In such a huge market, there is no better way to establish visibility with the right contacts than by attending a high-level film finance and distribution conference.
More information on programming is available on the International Film Finance Forum website.
Registration Details:
As a partner of the forum, we are offering you the opportunity to save big when registering for this high-caliber conference. Simply click here and enter promo code: Sbuzz and save 30% by April 30, 2015!
Additional discounts:
- 25% Discount: Available for member registration from May 1 – May 8, 2015
- 10% Discount: Available for member registration from May 9 – May 14, 2015
- No discounts will be available on the day of the conference
Customer Service Contact:
Kerry Cunniffe
Winston | Baker
Phone: +1-646-763-1300
Email: cs@winstonbaker.com...
Winston Baker’s 2015 Cannes forum will be featuring outstanding speakers such:
· David Glasser, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Weinstein Company
· Ray Bell, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Digital Film Cloud Network
· Lisa Schwartz, Evp, Distribution, Operations and Business Development, IFC Films and Sundance Selects
· Tanya Wexler, Director and Partner, Co-Op Entertainmet
· Micah Green, Co-Head, Film Finance and Sales Group, Creative Artists Agency
· David Jourdan, our Svp of International Business Development, Im Global
· Javier Méndez, Executive Producer and Head of Content, Mediapro Group
· Joseph Calabrese, Partner, Latham & Watkins Llp
· Mark Hutchison, Partner, Nksfb | Nigro Karlin Segal Feldstein & Bolno
· Tom Ara, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
· Joseph Chianese, Executive Vice President, Ep Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners
· Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Hyde Park Entertainment
· Bill Lischak, Chief Operating Officer, Odd Lot Entertainment
· Robbert Aarts, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Fintage House
· Tom Ara, Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig
· Cristina Garza, Vice President, Mundial
· Yansong Li, President, iQiYi Motion Pictures
Key topics of discussion at the forum will include:
- View From the Director’s Chair: Banking on Content vs. Talent
- Is it Real Movie Money or Just Another Big Yacht Passing By?
- Staying Ahead of the Growing Co-Production Curve
- Breaking into the China Market: Power Players and Strategic Partnership Opportunities
- Distribution Re-Defined: Selling Films and Making Money in the On-Demand Age
At the end of the forum, a private reception will be hosted for speakers, sponsors, and registered attendees.
Attendee Profile:
Each year, the Cannes forum hosts a targeted group of between 150 and 200 film financiers, producers, sales agents, buyers, and seasoned advisors. The Winston Baker forum is an effective way to stay connected with award winning producers and active industry deal-makers, as well as make new contacts at a film festival that hosts thousands of people each year.
In 2014, attendance at the Marché du Film reached a record 11,806 registered participants, including 1,927 buyers for 5,036 companies. 116 countries were represented that year, with 8 new countries making an appearance. In such a huge market, there is no better way to establish visibility with the right contacts than by attending a high-level film finance and distribution conference.
More information on programming is available on the International Film Finance Forum website.
Registration Details:
As a partner of the forum, we are offering you the opportunity to save big when registering for this high-caliber conference. Simply click here and enter promo code: Sbuzz and save 30% by April 30, 2015!
Additional discounts:
- 25% Discount: Available for member registration from May 1 – May 8, 2015
- 10% Discount: Available for member registration from May 9 – May 14, 2015
- No discounts will be available on the day of the conference
Customer Service Contact:
Kerry Cunniffe
Winston | Baker
Phone: +1-646-763-1300
Email: cs@winstonbaker.com...
- 4/25/2015
- by Peter Belsito
- Sydney's Buzz
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