Spain’s South International Series Festival Launches First Edition in Cadiz

As earning significant profile for shows in a packed marketplace has become one of Europe’s most pressing industry concerns, a new and ambitious TV series festival is launching in Cadiz, southern Spain, as an initiative of Mediaset España and backed by shows from other key players on the Spanish TV scene, such as The Mediapro Studio and Movistar Plus+.

Speakers from the Spanish-speaking world take in writer-director-producer Armando Bo (“El Presidente”), an Oscar winning scribe for “Birdman, or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance,” and Daniel Écija, an executive producer on key hits in the last decade in Spain such as the multi-genre free-to-air series “Estoy Vivo,” and “Locked Up” “(Vis a vis,” a key into its lift-off into premium drama selling worldwide. 

Some titles screening at Cadiz are already celebrated, such as Russell T. Davies’ “Nolly,” starring Helena Bonham-Carter. 

Also in the Coming Next section is Norwegian political satire “Power Play,” a 2023 Canneseries winner exploring the mechanisms of power as it focuses on the rise of Norway’s first female Prime Minister, Gro Harlem Brundtland.

Season 2 of “Wrong Side of the Tracks,” another Coming Next title, weighs in as Netflix’s most-ached non-original show from Spain. 

Fest opens Friday Oct. 7 with “La ley del mar,” a miniseries from national broadcaster RTVE about a Spanish fishing boat which became the first to rescue sub-Saharan immigrants adrift in the Mediterranean.  

The Festival boasts four industry forums – South Lab, South Hub, Business & Action and Pitch & Play – plus a section on Unscripted: New Formats & Docs, including true crime series. 

Rocked by the reach of iconic titles such as “Money Heist” and “Elite,” which still occupy five of Netflix’s Top 10 most watched non-English language shows ever, few countries in Europe have repositioned series with such force as central to post-pandemic economic recovery and cultural discourse.

“This is good timing for the industry, for talent, creativity and audiences. It’s a good time for series as culture, entertainment and business,” said fest director Joan Álvarez.

“There isn’t progress without culture, that’s clearly our position,” echoed Cádiz mayor Bruno García.    

“Good festivals contribute to the success of the mainstream  series industry. South International Series Festival was born with that objective: to communicate and bring added value to series,” Álvarez added. 

The inaugural South International Series Festival edition will take place in Cádiz over Oct. 6-12, 2023. 

Main fiction section titles:

“Anima Gemella” (“Soulmate,” Italy) 

Produced by Endemol Shine and RTI, set to premier before 2024 on Italy’s Channel 5.  Four episodes starring Daniele Liotti (“Un Passo dal Cielo”) and Clara Mastalli. A tormented doctor ready to remarry finds a medium who can get him in touch with his deceased ex-wife. 

“Beguinas” (Spain)

Produced by commercial Spanish broadcaster Atresmedia and Buendía Studios, an Atresmedia and Movistar Plus+ joint venture. This 10-part tale of a twelfth century group of women which helped the needy. Founded in Belgium, they quickly became a force in Europe.

“Carthago” (Israel) 

Awarded special interpretation award at this year’s Canneseries, based on true events at a WWII internment camp in Africa. The story of a Palestinian comedian deported by British authorities to Carthago, produced by 24 Drafts Studio and Israel Public Broadcaster KAN.

“Galgos” (‘Greyhounds,’ Spain)

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

“La ley del mar” (Spain)

Starring a tony Spanish cast, seen together in “Maixabel,” of Luis Tosar and Blanca Portillo. Produced by Studio 60, national broadcaster RTVE and Valencian TV channel Á Punt5. Based on true events, the story of how in 2006 a fishing boat, the Francisco y Catalina, rescued 51 immigrants in the Mediterranean. The boat remains stranded for 10 days, awaiting a diplomatic solution from the European Union.   

“Monstrous” (South Korea)

Developed by Studio Dragon, Climax Studio and South Korea’s streaming TVING, which played part of a South Korea focus at 2022’s Canneseries. This supernatural horror-thriller follows archaeologists who unveil a chilling mystery. Led by actor-director Koo Kyo-hwan (“D.P.,” “Scape from Mogadishu”) and Shin Hyun-been, a winner at 2022’s Korea Drama Awards (“Reflection on You”).

“Of Money and Blood” (France)

Based on the book “D’argent et de sang” by journalist Fabrice Arfi on the carbon tax fraud that happened when fictitious companies bought carbon quotas sold to other French companies for tax fraud. This crime-thriller drama was produced by Curiosa Films and aired on France’s Canal+, starring Niels Schneider (“Heartbeats”) and Vincent Lindon (“Titane”).

“Nolly” (U.K.)

The latest from Russell T. Davies, an ITVX series produced by ITV Studios backed Quay Street Productions and starring Helena Bonham Carter (“The Crown”) plays Noele Gordon playing hotel owner Meg Richardson in British soap opera “Crossroads.” “Whenever it allows itself to take a breath, “Nolly” approaches the depth and texture of Davies’ best work,” Variety wrote. 

“Power Play” (Norway) 

Broadcast by NRK/NDR and produced by Motlys and Fremantle production house Novemberfilm and always a frontrunner for the top award at this year’s Canneseries, which it won. Series stars Kathrine Thorborg Johansen (“The Quake”) as Norway’s first female P.M., Gro Harlem Brundtland. ‘She was good and they hated that,” director Yngvild Sve Flikke told Variety.

“Serrines, madera de actor” (Spain)

Aired by Prime Video and produced by Mediaset Spain and Producciones Mandarina, the series stars Antonio Resines (“Los Serrano”) and Jorge Sanz (“Belle Epoque”). An acid comedy-parody turning on Serrines, an actor now on the skids who has yet to win fame or critical respect.

“Wrong Side of the Tracks” Season 3 (“Entrevías,” Spain) 

A Netflix hit produced by Mediaset Spain and Alea Media, starring José Coronado (“Smoke & Mirrors,” “Way Down”) A vigilante drama-thriller turning on a combat veteran grandfather who launches war on a local drug cartel. Pity the cartel.