Spanish TV’s future was on display in Anadalusia’s Cádiz. The South International Series Festival, which drew close to 13,000 participants, signaled key shifts: a push for global reach, the rise of identity-driven storytelling, new awards, and Andalusia’s industrial push. Here are seven takeaways on where the business is heading, if the Festival is anything to go by.
Internationalization: The Next Big Challenge
Festival director Carles Montiel called internationalization the festival’s next “obsession.” With nearly 13,000 attendees, South already feels like a pretty weighty addition to the fest circuit. Montiel sees further growth potential by turning Cádiz into a true crossroads for the global series. The festival has steadily courted international attention – last year it welcomed “House” creator David Shore, and this edition drew Diane Kruger (“Little Disasters,” “Inglorious Bastards,” “Troy”) and “Narcos” creator Chris Brancato – underscoring South’s rising profile on the global circuit.
Gender and Identity Shape the Conversation
Rather than just a prizewinner, British series “What It Feels Like for a Girl” became shorthand in Cádiz for how gender and identity are transforming scripted drama. Paris Lees’ blend of YA, genre and social realism resonated strongly with jurors and audiences, showing how deeply personal storytelling can travel globally when framed through genre lenses. South confirmed that identity-driven narratives are not a niche but a key driver of international TV.
“Invisible” Highlights Production Alliances
The Disney+ original “Invisible”, produced by Seville’s Áralan Films and Madrid’s Morena Films, screened at South as part of the Sur sidebar. The project, a top Spanish content performer at the platform since its December release, illustrates how alliances between global streamers and local producers are reshaping Spanish drama economics. Áralan and Morena first teamed on Benito Zambrano’s Goya-winning “Out In The Open” (“Intemperie,”) and their renewed partnership shows how local know-how and global platforms can create sustainable pipelines — a model already spawning new joint projects.
Spain’s Own Emmy-Style Awards on the Horizon
The launch of the Círculo de Profesionales de las Series Españolas (CPSE), backed by Womack Group, sets the stage for the new Premios Anillos de Oro. Marketed as the first awards devoted exclusively to Spanish series and their professionals, they aim to become a national benchmark with global projection. “These awards are born to bring prestige to all Spanish series,” said Joan Álvarez, director of South’s first two editions and former head of Spain’s Film Academy. If successful, the initiative could give Spanish series more of the dedicated recognition long enjoyed by film.
Andalusia’s Bigger Bet on Production
Andalusia’s regional government has increased audiovisual funding threefold, from €2 million ($2.1 million) to €6 million ($6.4 million) since spring, strengthening the appeal of the regional film and TV industry for potential partnerships. The return of Andalusia’s driving force, Canal Sur Televisión, to TV drama production – teaming with Womack Studios and Different Entertainment to develop “The Rock,” a 1960s historical thriller set against the closure of the Gibraltar-La Línea border under Franco – shows how Andalusian stories and industrial ambitions are being leveraged for both local resonance and international appeal.
Industry Conversations Map the Future
South’s professional program zeroed in on the forces reshaping the audiovisual sector. In “The Future of Series,” execs from Mediaset España, 3Cat and Atresmedia pointed to consumer shifts and the hunt for sustainable models. Legal specialists debated the challenges of adapting real events, while writer-director Borja Cobeaga (“Spanish Affair”) unpacked comedy as a balance of satire and tenderness. In “The Growing Value of Series,” creators including Jorge Coira (“Hierro”) and Marina Efrón (“La chica invisible”) highlighted how the rise of the showrunner and the universal power of local storytelling are redefining prestige TV.
Popular Appeal Anchored in Local Icons
South celebrated Andalusia’s own with a tribute to actor-director-producer Paco León, one of Spain’s most bankable and beloved figures. His award, followed by the screening of a classic episode of “Aída” – a landmark of Spanish free-to-air TV in which he starred —– drew one of the festival’s warmest receptions. The moment revealed how South bridges prestige with mass appeal, strengthening its bond with audiences at home.
Diane Kruger Credit: Reyna
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