Key Spanish TV Titles at Berlin, From Alex de Iglesia Dystopian Sci-fi to a RTVE Super-Production

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At the Berlin Film Festival, Spain’s diverse television offerings include a showing of “Red Flags,” produced by Atresmedia. This series delves into the complex sexual and emotional growth of four teenagers from Generation Z, a journey marked by pain.

Selected titles at Berlin: 

Berlinale Market Selects

“Honor,” (Atresmedia TV, Portocabo)

I’m captivated by the Spanish adaptation of the Israeli TV series “Kvodo,” where Dario Grandinetti, a brilliant actor known for his role in “Talk to Her,” steps into Bryan Cranston’s shoes from the Showtime re-do “Your Honor.” In this gripping and profound series, Grandinetti portrays a principled judge who embarks on a desperate mission to save his son, after an accidental hit-and-run incident claims the life of the son of a ruthless drug lord. Portocabo (“Hierro,” “Rapa”) collaborates with Atresmedia TV to bring this intense and thought-provoking drama to life, as described by José Antonio Salso from Atresmedia.

“Internal Affairs,” (“Asuntos Internos,” RTVE-Mediacrest)

Exploring the path of Spain’s first female police inspector in a 1979-set series, this captivating show stands out for its intense thriller elements, high-quality production, and a fresh perspective on police thrillers from a female point of view. It further delves into the journeys of three women – police inspector Clara Montesinos, upper-class widow Ana, and submissive maid – as they strive for empowerment and emphasize essential values. This series portrays an emotional account of the journey towards self-empowerment that Spanish womanhood has undertaken and continues to traverse.

“Sanctuary,” (“Santuario,” Pokeepsie Films, Atresmedia) 

Created at Pokeepsie Films, a Banijay company in collaboration with Atresmedia, this captivating series titled “Sanctuary” is set against the backdrop of climate change and AI, offering a chilling dystopian thriller. Engineer Valle and heavily pregnant Pilar join forces to uncover the true intentions behind Sanctuary, a seemingly idyllic domed birthing facility that, with its monumental architecture and loudspeaker announcements, suggests a more ominous purpose from the start. Skillfully directed by Rodrigo Ruíz-Gallardón and Zoe Berriatúa.

Spanish Thrillers

“Shades” (Secuoya Studios and SkyShowtime)

A mystery thriller, brimming with stars, that combines suspense and character development at a rapid pace. The story follows a renowned psychiatrist who invites six of his patients to a secluded vineyard for treatment. However, when a tragic incident occurs, an astute police officer delves into the patients’ past traumas to uncover the truth. Actors Elsa Pataky, Maxi Iglesias (from “Valeria”), Enrique Arce (“Money Heist”), Hovik Keuchkerian (“Reina Roja”), and Juana Acosta (“La templanza”) are among the cast. Sergio Cánovas of Stellarmedia (“Girls Night Out”) is the creator-director, while Beta Film handles international distribution.

This fast-paced mystery thriller features a psychiatrist inviting his patients to a vineyard for treatment. When something bad happens, a detective investigates their past traumas to find out who’s responsible. Elsa Pataky, Maxi Iglesias (from “Valeria”), Enrique Arce (“Money Heist”), Hovik Keuchkerian (“Reina Roja”), and Juana Acosta (“La templanza”) are some of the stars. The creator-director is Sergio Cánovas from Stellarmedia, and Beta Film handles international distribution.

Spanish Connection

“Dark Waters, (“Aigües de Foscor,” Spain, Iceland)

The initial collaboration between Spain and Iceland, titled “Barcelona’s Lastor Media, Cataluña Federation Studios, and Iceland’s New Media ARC,” brings forth the first joint production. In this production, a park ranger named Arnau discovers the body of a woman bearing an uncommon birthmark similar to his own and his daughter’s. This discovery sets in motion a supernatural enigma. Originally conceived by Maria Rocher, it is produced by Nacho Manubens from Federation Spain, along with renowned Spanish producers Juan Solá and Mark Albela.

“Pink Noise,” (Spain, Chile)

A band of remarkable women from history, fronted by Marie Curie, resurface in a world controlled by man-eating cats, hidden in the secret layers of the deep internet. This is an eccentric and visually stunning animated series that combines historical figures with a digital dystopia. It can be described as ‘Monty Python’ meets ‘Robot Chicken’, according to co-creator Alvaro León. The production is jointly done by Spain’s Lamola Studio and Bernadita Ojeda at Chile’s Pájaro.

An animated series featuring famous women from history (led by Marie Curie) fighting against man-eating cats in a dystopian world set in the deep web. It has a quirky and visually appealing style, reminiscent of ‘Monty Python’ and ‘Robot Chicken’, as described by co-creator Alvaro León. The series is produced by Spain’s Lamola Studio and Chile’s Pájaro.

“Truth North” (Spain, Finland) 

In “True North,” a production jointly developed by Aurora from Spain and Jamedia from Finland, directed, written, and helmed by Anna Blom, Layla, an Egyptian refugee living in southern Spain, finds herself embroiled with two troubled sisters from Scandinavia. This situation triggers a gripping cycle of manipulation and power struggle. According to Blom, the series combines the suspenseful elements of Nordic crime dramas with the passionate flair characteristic of Spanish productions.

“The Wheel,” (“La Roda,” Spain)

In “The Platform,” “Isaac,” and “The Astronaut Lovers,” directed by Carles Torrens (“Apocalypse Z”) and written by Ana Analkim and Marta Ros, the showrunners Angeles Hernandez & David Matamoros present Irene, a character from Barcelona. In this story, a corpse discovered in a public park is composed of parts from four different bodies that have been sewn together. This case will lead Irene to transition from being a victim to becoming an executioner. As Matamoros explains, “We found Irene’s character intriguing because she embodies both goodness and darkness, and her guilt makes her exceptionally skilled at what she does.

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2025-02-17 12:47