South Spain shines in the spotlight with its international series festival

Celebrating storytelling at its best

Cadiz’s South International Series Festival burst onto the scene last year, backed by industry giants Mediaset España and Movistar Plus+, showcasing some of Spain’s most acclaimed series. As the festival gears up for its 2024 edition, it’s clear that this Andalusian event is rapidly becoming a key player in the world of serialized storytelling.

A shift in schedule and a focus on France

Next year, South Series will take place post-Mipcom, aligning itself with the global TV market calendar more strategically. With France as the guest country, the festival is poised to attract greater international attention and potentially boost attendance figures significantly.

Spain’s rich tradition in TV markets

For years, Spain has been a hub for major TV markets, including the summer Conecta Fiction and the recent Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid. What sets South Series apart, however, is its celebratory atmosphere, reminiscent of prestigious events like Canneseries or the Monte-Carlo Television Festival. Beyond the usual industry roundtables and networking sessions, South aims to highlight some of the world’s best new series, fostering an environment that appreciates the art of storytelling over mere commercial success.

Embracing creativity and reaction

From its inception, South Series sought to offer a unique experience. The aim was to gather industry professionals in an environment that celebrates not just the business aspect, but also the creative joy of series production. “Deals are made here every day, but we also want producers and talent to see how audiences are watching and reacting to their series,” says the festival’s industry director. This approach allows creators to witness firsthand the impact of their work, a practice long established for films but relatively new for TV series in Spain.

Diverse screening sections

South Series features five main screening sections:

• Official Fiction
• Official Non-Fiction
• Jewelry (for already-released series deserving another look)
• Panorama (dedicated to popular Spanish shows)
• South (highlighting Andalusian-rooted titles)

The jury panels

This year’s fiction jury will be led by BetaSeries CEO, who will deliberate alongside writer-director Ramón Salazar, producer Juan Parodi, screenwriter Virginia Yagüe, and actor Ana Torrent. The non-fiction jury, headed by screenwriter Ángeles González Sinde, will include producer Anna Saura and Chilean screenwriter-director Julio Rojas.

Highlights of the 2024 lineup

The 2024 competition features standout titles from both domestic and international creators. Notable Spanish entries include the period dramedy “La vida breve” and the internal affairs drama “Asuntos Internos.” Among international titles, Steven Knight’s British band drama “This Town,” and the Colombian drama “Escupiré sobre sus tumbas” are generating significant buzz.

The heartbeat of Andalusia

By hosting the festival in Cadiz, organizers aim to decentralize Spain’s film and TV production industry, traditionally centered in Madrid and Barcelona. “It’s important for us to be close to our audiences,” says a leading executive producer from Movistar Plus+. This move highlights how regional settings can offer fresh perspectives and direct audience engagement, contributing to the evolution of Spain’s audiovisual landscape.

Enhancing audience connection

Audience reactions at last year’s edition were overwhelmingly positive, sometimes even surpassing the enthusiasm seen at Canneseries. The presence of stars and creators made the experience more tangible and rewarding for attendees. Titles like “The Left-Handed Son,” a Canneseries winner made in Andalusia, and San Sebastian standout “Querer,” showcase the high-quality productions emerging from regions outside the traditional hubs.

Local impact and global ambition

The Andalusian government sees South Series as an opportunity to strengthen the region’s audiovisual industry and position Andalusia as a prime filming destination. The festival’s presence bolsters the local economy, supports tourism, and creates jobs, both short-term through event participation and long-term through ongoing productions.

Official competition sections for South Series 2024

Official fiction section

• La vida breve (Cristóbal Garrido, Adolfo Valor, Spain)
• This Town (Steven Knight, U.S., United Kingdom)
• Asuntos internos (Pedro García Ríos, Rodrigo Martín Antora, Spain)
• Nautilus (James Dormer, United Kingdom)
• Sea Shadows (Jonathan Rio and Monica Rattazzi, France)
• Muertos S.L. (Alberto Caballero, Daniel Deorador, Julián Sastre, Nando Abad, Spain)
• Oderbruch (Christian Alvart, Adolfo J. Kolmerer, Germany)
• Dogpack (Edgar Medina, Portugal)
• The Big Jump (José Rodríguez, Spain)
• Joan (Richard Laxton, U.K.)
• La Favorita 1922 (Ramón Campos, Gema R. Neira, Paula Fernández, Curro Serrano, Spain)
• Escupiré sobre sus tumbas (Mónica Botero, Carlos Mario Urrea, Colombia)

Official non-fiction section

• Luz en la oscuridad (Carles Porta, Spain)
• Xuxa, a Life on TV (Cassia Dian, Monica Almeida and Pedro Bial, Brazil)
• SAC, en la mente del criminal (Eduardo López-Jamar, Spain)
• In(visible) (Gonzalo Lamela, Panama, Uruguay)
• Leonardo da Vinci (David McMahon, Sarah Burns, U.S.)
• The History of Reggaeton (Omar Acosta, Daddy Yankee, U.S.)
• Alive: The Andes Plane Disaster (Oliver Price, United Kingdom)
• On Thin Ice: Putin vs. Greenpeace (Chloe Campbell, Alice Mcmahon-Major, United Kingdom)
• Dead in the Water (Niamh Kennedy, United Kingdom)

Jewelry section

• Las noches de Tefía (Miguel del Arco, Rómulo Aguillaume, Spain)
• Pancho Villa, El Centauro del Norte (Rafa Lara, Mexico)
• The Offer (Michael Tolkin, U.S.)
• Dieciocho (Hammudi Al-Rahmoun Font, Spain)
• All Creatures Great and Small (Andy Hay, Metin Hüseyin, Brian Percival, United Kingdom)
• Querer (Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, Eduard Sola, Júlia de Paz, Spain)

Panorama section

• Detective Touré (Carlos Vila, Esteban Crespo, Violeta Salama, Spain)
• La que se avecina (Alberto Caballero, Laura Caballero, Daniel Deorador, Spain)
• What Are You Waiting For (David Martín-Porras, Salvador García, Spain)

South section

• Blanca Bocanegra (Julio Blez, Spain)
• El hijo zurdo (Rafael Cobos, Spain)
• Canal Sur Special: Wild Andalusia. The Land of the Iberian Lynx (Nacho Ruiz, Spain)
• Canal Sur Special: Tartessos, a Kingdom Between Two Seas (José Antonio Hergueta, Spain)
• The Marquess (José Ramón Ayerra, Begoña Álvarez Rojas, Spain)
• En fin (David Sainz, Spain)
• The Trades of Cinema (Antonio Cadenas Vidal, Spain)

Did you enjoy this article? Share it on your social channels and let us know your thoughts! Don’t miss out on the latest updates! Follow us on social media to stay informed about the newest releases.