Spain Brings Co-Production Market to Toronto’s Industry Program

As an ardent admirer of the dynamic world of cinema, I can’t help but be enthralled by the vibrant story unfolding between Spain and Canada, two powerhouses of global filmmaking. The recent Do It the Spanish Way! International Co-production Forum in Toronto serves as a tantalizing glimpse into the grand spectacle that awaits us all in 2026 when Spain’s official content market finally graces our screens.

At the upcoming event, Spain is offering a sneak peek to Toronto’s industry participants of the grand spectacle that awaits in September 2026 when their festival officially debuts its content market, complete with a co-production forum, a fully booked seminar on incentives, a well-attended pavilion, and an impressive delegation from the film industry.

On September 6th, the third edition of the “Do It the Spanish Way!” International Co-production Forum took place, where five Spanish film producers, each with their projects at different stages of development and already having partners and some funding in place, connected with a diverse group of Canadian and international producers and distributors.

The morning gathering, attended by over 75 individuals, kicked off with an introduction and showcase of seven key aspects. Following this, the event transitioned into engaging one-on-one interactions. It was mentioned that each Spanish producer met with a minimum of eight companies, according to EbMaster.

I’m thrilled about the prospect of Spain teaming up with other nations, and particularly Canada, as we share an abundance of talent and financial resources,” I exclaim, expressing my keen interest in finding a co-production partner from Quebec for my company’s female-led genre project, “Strangers.

As a movie critic, I find myself increasingly captivated by the growing collaboration between Toronto International Film Festival and Spain. This year alone, nine of their productions have graced our screens as part of the festival lineup, including “Daniela Forever” by Nacho Vigalondo and Mike Leigh’s “Hard Truths.” Given Spain’s significant role as a co-producer and a dominant force in global streaming content, it’s clear that we are witnessing a tighter bond between the festival and this vibrant cinematic nation than ever before.

Diana Cadavid, who serves as the international programmer for films from Latin America, Spain, Portugal, the Caribbean, and the Latin Diaspora at the Toronto Film Festival, was the moderator for this year’s Forum event and played a more prominent role compared to previous years. She stated during an interview with EbMaster on Friday that “Spain has had a significant presence at TIFF for quite some time now, and over the past three years, its program featuring works-in-progress has been undergoing changes.

Previously, we’ve exchanged feedback, but this year has been particularly thrilling for us. An open call was issued by the Spanish government organizers inviting submissions. After sifting through numerous entries, they narrowed down the list to a group of potential productions, or pre-selections. Subsequently, we were tasked with choosing projects that we believed would resonate most with our audience.

As our movie market event is finally coming to life, I can’t help but feel excited about the possibility of more countries joining in with similar programming. It has me wondering, what are your thoughts on how quickly we might see the results after our Spain co-production event?

list of the producers, companies, and collaborators involved in the 2024 Spanish Way International Co-Production Forum taking place in Toronto.

Ana Eiras Domínguez, Sábado Películas

In Toronto, there’s a romantic comedy titled “With You,” directed by Dani de la Orden who also works on “Elite.” This film revolves around a one-night stand in Ibiza that unexpectedly extends when the two lovers find themselves having to flee from a mysterious organization.

Araceli Pérez Rastrilla, La Vida

Pérez Rastrilla showcased “Strangers” (translated as “The Healing”), a horror drama by Gigi Romero, which follows the story of a woman whose partner alleges to have discovered a spiritual remedy for his mysterious, incurable ailment.

In Joaquin León’s work, titled “The Great Power” or “El Gran Poder,” we find a unique blend of dark humor. This story revolves around a character who enlists the aid of a man named Jesús to assist her in purchasing a prized brooch. However, an unexpected turn of events leads this woman to become possessed.

Carles Torras Pérez, Zabriskie Films

Title “The Bind” (“Le Lein”), by Zarbriskie, presents Alejandro Rojas’ dramatic narrative. It centers around a news reporter on the run who encounters a heavily pregnant border control agent at a pivotal juncture, an event that significantly alters their individual destinies.

José Esteban Alenda, Solita Films

Solita Films, a collaborator behind the Sundance-selected film “The Fishbowl,” presents “Three Ages” (or “Tres Edades”), a drama by Jiajie Yu Yan. In this story, a 7-year-old boy meets his parents in Barcelona, and the challenges that come with trying to establish an emotional connection between them are portrayed.

Additionally, as stated by Solita, “I Won’t Die for Love” (Yo no moriré de amor) is a dramatic work penned by Marta Matute that portrays the resistance of a young woman to assume the role of a caregiver when her mother is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Patricia Uclés Iranzo, Estrela Audiovisual

Shingle unveiled “Centelles’ Suitcase,” a historically-biographical documentary film by Pilar Pérez Solano, which unearths tales connected to an obscure collection of graphic photos from the mid-20th century taken by photojournalist Agusti Centelles.

2024-09-08 13:47

Spain Brings Co-Production Market to Toronto’s Industry Program

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