Jurors from Mubi, Movistar Plus, Beta Film, Arte France, ZDF Studios will pick the best pitch out of 11 international projects
Acclaimed Catalan filmmaker Carlos Marques-Marcet (“10,000 km,” TIFF Platform winner “They Will Be Dust”), with his first showrunning gig, and sisters Mireia and Joana Vilapuig (“Selftape”) will rub shoulders with creators from Galicia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Mexico and Portugal at the second edition of iSerielizados Mind the Gap co-pro series contest.
The international series pitch, due to unspool Oct 21 in Barcelona, is the pièce de résistance of series festival Serielizados’ fast-expanding industry confab Serielizados Pro, running Oct. 21-24.
On the heels of last year’s flawless launch of Mind the Gap, set up to boost top-tier series in their financial stage of financing, more than double the number of projects from a bigger geographical spread were submitted this year.
Out of the 11 selected titles, eight came from open calls, and three were invited by European industry partners Seriencamp, ECAM Forum and Iberseries.
“It’s been more challenging for our selection committee but also extremely exciting,” said Victor Sala, Serielizados Pro honcho who welcomed new collaborations with the Baltics, through Latvia’s entry “The Man Behind a Mask,” and the sustained ‘love affair’ between Finland and Spain.
“Apart from Spain – obviously!, we received the largest number of projects from Finland – five or six”, said the industry chief who picked with his team the Finnish ‘crime “Bloodwine” from Helsinki-filmi (“The Summer Book,” “Codename-Annika”) and psycho drama “Dangerous Woman” from Gutsy Pictures (“L/Over”). Sala also underscored Helsinki-based Tekele’s involvement in the Spanish dramedy “Not Girls”, first original series produced by top Catalan banner Fasten Films (“The End of It”).
“We are really happy that renowned Catalan directors and showrunners trust Mind the Gap as a place to find partners,” added Sala, referring to “Callback,” co-penned by the Vilapuig sisters with Diego Vega, and “Act of Faith,” the first TV show created by Goya and Toronto Platform winning helmer Marques-Marcet.
While “Callback” deals with “the grey areas of abuse where aggression is subtle and it’s difficult to establish clear roles between victim and agressor,” according to Jordina Casals from Funicular Films (“This is Not Sweden”), “Act of Faith” offers a new twist to the political thriller. Indeed, the show centers not on the real cases of undercover cops that infiltrated social movements in Spain, but on the victims, friends and lovers who felt betrayed.
“Storytellers remind us that the world is not easy to grasp, that reality is more complex than we initially thought,” noted Sala, himself co-writer of Serielizados’ opener “In Vitro (HBO Max-3Cat) which offers a kaleidoscopic – even ironic – look at fertility in the 21st century.
This year’s international jury which will hand out the €5,500 ($6,300) prize for Mind the Gap best project takes in Mubi’s Ben Driscoll, Movistar Plus’ Susanna Herreras, Beta Film’s Peter Lohner, ZDF Studios’ Susanne Frank and Arte France’s Virginie Béjot. An additional €2,000 ($2,300) Konga Music Agency Award will be bestowed to the best Spanish project.
Other Serielizados Pro highlights take in masterclasses with showrunner Steven Moffat (“Sherlock,” “Doctor Who”) and producer Sue Vertue, “In Treatment” creator Hagai Levi, whose latest show “Etty “will bow in competition at Serielizados, and seasoned Spanish scribes Isabel Peña (“The Beloved,” “The New Years”), and Eduardo Villanueva (“Riot Police,” “La Ruta”).
Movistar PlusRodrigo Sorogoyen’s regular writing partner Peña and Villanueva will discuss their latest show — the Movistar Plus Original “El Castillo” which will bow in Barcelona on the heels of its world premiere out of competition in San Sebastian.
In another inspiring session sponsored by Seriel Eye, German creator and showrunner Alexander Lindh will discuss a world without prisons, portrayed in his high-end show ”A Better Place,” competing at Serielizados for best international series.
Tracker of market trends and networking facilitator, the boutique Serielizados Pro will also host discussions about the state of European series development, production, distribution, new digital strategies, with key industry players including The Mediapro Studios’ Béatrice Nouh, DR Sales’ Ella Glantz, Oble’s Katia Sol, RTVE Play’s Alberto Fernández and Tallinn TV Beats’ Roosa Toivonen among others.
Turning the lens on the thriving Catalan audiovisual industry, Serielizados organisers will invite the 300-plus attendees to a session on the state of series production in the region, and a case study on the two successful co-productions “In Vitro,” (3Cat-HBO Max) and “Segunda temporada” (Filmin), the festival’s opening and closing bets.
To honor the best of the best Spanish series, a new Audiovisual 451 Award will be handed out for its inaugural session to HBO Max’s acquisition and 3Cat’s drama departments for their joint efforts to deliver “some of the most relevant series in recent years, such as “Pubertat,” “Ravalear” and this year’s “In Vitro,” distinguished by their compelling themes and high production values,” said Audiovisual 451 journalist Irene Jiménes. ” In times of fierce industry competition, budget constraints and editorial cancellations, it is admirable that a global platform and a public broadcaster have overcome their differences to make these co-productions a reality,” she added.
Serielizados Pro is backed by ICEC (Catalan Institute for Cultural Companies), DAMA, Triodos Bank, PROA, Konga Music Agency, Sarao Music, Serial Eyes, and Antaviana and AVisual Pro.
The 13th edition of the series festival will run Oct.19-28 in Barcelona and on the upscale streamer Filmin Nov. 10-22.
“Act of Faith,” (“Acte de fe,” 4X45’, Spain)Written, directed by Carlos Marques-MarcetProduced by Suica Films and Abacus
In his first series as a creator, multi-awarded Catalan auteur Marques-Marcet has taken as starting points real cases of left-wing pro-independence activists who were infiltrated by undercover cops in Spain, to deliver a suspense drama about intimacy, trust and betrayal. “At its heart lies a question we have all asked ourselves: Do I really know the people I love?”, says Suica Films’ Alba Bosch.
“Bloodwine,” (“Veriviini,” 6X45’, Finland, France)Written by Katri Järvelä, Tua HarnoProduced by Helsinki-filmi, Finland for MTV Finland, with France’s CineFrance
“Bloodwine” is a delicious crime series set in the lush world of French vineyards, exquisite palates, and the unique million-dollar business wine fraud. We want the audience to watch the series and then look at their glass of wine thinking: what’s actually in my glass,” says Helsinki-filmi head of drama Mia Ylönen,
“Callback,” (4X40’, Spain)Created and written by Joana Vilapuig, Mireia Vilapuig and Diego Vega,Produced by Funicular Films (“This is Not Sweden”) and Left Tackle Films.
In their second series set in show business after “Selftape,” the Vilapuig sisters focus on Fran, a filmmaker who accuses Román, her actor and producer of abuse, in the middle of the premiere of her directorial debut at a European Film Festival. “At its core, ‘Callback’ explores a relationship marked by an abuse of power and how a personal conflict can become a broader social and political debate,” says Funicular Films’ Jordina Casals.
“Dangerous Woman,” (6X42’, Finland)Written by Kevin Rundle from an idea by Gutsy Pictures founder Marika MakaroffProduced by Gutsy Pictures
After the Canneseries 2025 entry “L/over” which turned on coercive control and its dramatic effects, Gutsy Pictures’ new psychological drama looks at a woman’s track record as a violent person. But is she really a villain or a victim?
“El Observatorio,” (6X45’, Spain)Project selected at ECAM Forum 2026 where it won the Serielizados AwardCreated-written by Laura Roqué, Eloy Zamora and Luis Sorolla
A drama comedy set in Andalusia, 2011. In a small village of a Sierra Morena threatened by depopulation, sheep graze alongside a colossal astronomical observatory. The only people working there are astrophysicists Sara and Gabi. When a light suddenly appears in the sky, Sara believes the light could be her late father communicating with her. “Our project explores what happens to us when our belief system enters into a crisis,” says Roqué who is seeking a producer and financial partners.
“Gusgus,” (6X55’, Iceland, Benelux)Project selected at Seriencamp where it scooped the Co-Production Pitch Award.Created and written by Arni & Kinski, Lawrence Inglee
Produced by Truenorth Nordic for RÚV, in co-production with Lumière, BeneluxA semi-autobiographical show about electronic band GusGus. How nine young artists set out to become the biggest band in the world, until one member’s private tragedy fractures their ascent. “Against our lead characters deeply personal journey through grief is the extraordinary world of Iceland in the 1990s: a small, isolated island where musicians, filmmakers and artists seem to be inventing a new reality,” says band co-founder Stefan Arni.
“Historia de Espías, The Obedient Assassin,” (6X60’, Mexico, Spain)Project selected at IberseriesCreated and written by Salvador Rizo, with co-writer Alessandro PederzoliDirected by Horacio Alcalà
Produced by The Maestros, Mexico, with The Aurora Project, a Spanishanthology TV show based on the spy book series by John P. Davidson. In Season 1, “The Obedient Assassin,” the story turns on the former Soviet Union agency NKVD’ s efforts to assassinate Leon Trotsky in exile in Mexico. “Our ambition is to build a map of real espionage across nationalities and decades, with a different story every time,” says producer Pederzoli.
“Karbo FC,” (6X45’, Spain)Created by Sonia MéndezProduced by Cósmica Productions, Accidental Films
A first TV drama produced by Galicia-based Cósmica, based on an idea by the banner’s co-founder, football fan, writer and director Sonia Mendez (“As Neves”). A feelgood coming of age tale based on true events, about a group of working class girls who defy prejudice in 1980s Spain to live their dream-playing football for the Karbo FC.
“Line,” (“Linha,” 6X30′, Portugal)Created by Hermano MoreiraProduced by Manilha Filmes (Hotel Amor”) and SPi (“Cold Haven”)
At an ecstatic dance festival, almost nothing is what it seems. The lines between racism, sexual harassment and drug addiction are very thin and shift depending on the perspective from five different characters.
“The Man Behind a Mask,” (Latvia)Created by Anna Kalnina, Serge SerpuhovsProduced by Baltic Pine Films, Latvia
Based on the true story of a Latvian doctor, a medical pioneer, innovator and rule-breaker whose career intersected medicine, politics and power. “At its core, ‘The Man Behind a Mask’ is about a healer forced to become an instrument of the state, a man torn between his calling to heal and his duty to serve the system,” says Serpuhovs, executive producer at Riga-based production and servicing outfit Baltic Pine Films.
“Not Girls,” (“Noies no,” Spain, Finland)Written by Indigo Carbajal, Jana Jubert, Tomàs BayoDirected by Celia GiraldoProduced by Fasten Films, Spain for 3Cat, in co-production with Tekele, Finland
The first original series from top Spanish banner Fasten Films present at Cannes this year with “The End of It,” “Strawberries,” “Rehearsals for a Revolution.” A bold contemporary dramedy set in Barcelona’s vibrant music and cultural scene in which members of a pop-rock band learn to deal with ambition, jealousy, desire and belonging.