Iberseries & Platino Industria Unveils Selected Projects for the Sixth Edition of the Co-production and Financing Forum in Madrid

The sixth edition of Iberseries & Platino Industria (I&PI) has officially announced the Ibero-American projects in advanced stages of development selected to participate in its prestigious Co-production and Financing Forum. This year’s initiative, a cornerstone of the international audiovisual calendar, will bring together ten television series and ten feature films. The primary objective of the forum is to catalyze the search for financing, identify strategic partners, and secure international agreements through a series of intensive one-to-one meetings. These sessions connect creators with a high-level network of producers, streaming platforms, distributors, sales agents, investment funds, and institutional financiers, fostering the creation of new alliances for projects with significant international co-production potential.

The event, which has established itself as the premier meeting point for the Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking audiovisual industries, will take place from September 29 to October 2 in Madrid. Organized by EGEDA (Audiovisual Producers’ Rights Management Association) and the Fundación Secuoya, in collaboration with FIPCA (Ibero-American Federation of Film and Audiovisual Producers), the forum serves as a critical bridge between European and Latin American markets, leveraging Madrid’s growing status as a global hub for content production.

A Diverse Slate of Feature Film Co-productions

In the feature film category, the selection committee chose ten projects that reflect the current trend toward multi-country collaboration. These projects highlight the synergy between European technical infrastructure and Latin American narrative richness. Among the selected works is “Hotel Nacional,” a collaborative effort between Spain’s Cinescalas, Cuba’s i4Films, and Brazil’s TV Zero. This project exemplifies the cross-continental spirit of the forum, bringing together three distinct cinematic traditions.

The Southern Cone is also well-represented with “Los inexpertos,” a co-production between Chile’s Quijote Films and Argentina’s Gentil Cine. Argentina maintains a strong presence despite regional economic shifts, showcasing “Por qué volvías cada verano” from Mostra Cine. Additionally, the project “Tres mujeres” involves an ambitious four-way partnership including Las Hormigas Negras and Damita Joe from Spain, Ginevra Film from Italy, and Sombra Cine from Argentina.

Further enriching the feature film slate are projects like “Malmirada,” which involves a complex production structure including Inercia Películas and Continente Pictures (Colombia), Ringo Media (Spain), and Dibona Films (France). The inclusion of French and Italian partners underscores the forum’s success in attracting interest from beyond the immediate Ibero-American sphere. Other notable selections include “Preso por amar” (Belgium and Uruguay) and “Vuelve siempre, Sebastiana,” a co-production involving Mexico’s Gatodrácula Cine and The Maestros Cine alongside Spain’s Argia Films.

The domestic Spanish industry continues to demonstrate its creative vitality with three solo-developed projects: “Asalto” by Intemperie Films & Theatre, “Carro seco” by Los Hermanos Polo Films, and “Los ciegos” by The Aurora Project. Furthermore, the film “1999,” produced by Anonymous Content (Spain), will participate as a guest project through a strategic agreement with the BIF Market, demonstrating the inter-connectedness of global film markets.

High-End Series and International Television Trends

The series category of the Co-production and Financing Forum highlights the industry’s shift toward high-concept, episodic storytelling designed for global streaming audiences. Four projects with regional participation were selected for this track: “Allegados” (Chile-Mexico), “Escuelas de las Américas” (United States-Panama), “Historias de espías” (Mexico-Spain), and “Maestro del engaño,” developed by Colombia’s Red Collision Studios.

The inclusion of “Escuelas de las Américas” is particularly noteworthy as it signals the growing involvement of U.S.-based production entities in Spanish-language narratives, reflecting the demographic and cultural importance of the Hispanic market in North America. Additionally, the project “Canten P*tos” by Uruguay’s Criatura Cine will join the forum as a guest participant via an agreement with Ventana Sur Series, the largest audiovisual market in Latin America.

The selection of these series reflects a broader industrial movement toward "local-for-global" content—stories rooted in specific cultural contexts but possessing universal themes capable of attracting international subscribers on platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Max.

The Selection Committee and Evaluation Criteria

The task of curating the projects fell to a distinguished committee of industry veterans. The panel included Joanna Lombardi, a renowned showrunner and former Head of Fiction for Movistar+ in Latin America; Karina Dolgiej, an executive from TV Film International with extensive experience in distribution and acquisitions; and Bernardo Bergeret, a foundational figure in the regional industry as the co-founder of Ventana Sur and the genre-focused Blood Window.

The committee’s evaluation process focused on three primary pillars: artistic quality, commercial viability, and co-production feasibility. In an era of tightening production budgets and shifting streaming strategies, the forum prioritizes projects that have a clear vision for international distribution and a robust financial structure. The presence of projects in "advanced stages of development" ensures that the meetings during I&PI result in tangible deals rather than just networking opportunities.

Historical Context and Industrial Impact

Since its inception, Iberseries & Platino Industria has evolved from two separate entities—Iberseries, focused on television, and Platino Industria, focused on the broader film business—into a unified powerhouse. This merger reflected the reality of a converged media landscape where film and television professionals often share the same talent pools and financing sources.

The forum has a proven track record of moving projects from the pitching table to the screen. Previous participants that have successfully reached production or theatrical release include the Chilean feature “Hangar Rojo” by Juan Pablo Sallato, the Argentine thriller “Pepita la pistolera” by Lucía Puenzo, the Uruguayan-Argentine co-production “Caza y pesca” by Guillermo Carbonell, and the Mexican film “Los sueños que compartimos” by Valentina Leduc Navarro.

The success of these titles serves as a proof of concept for the forum’s model. By providing a curated environment for "One-to-One" meetings, I&PI reduces the "noise" of traditional film markets, allowing for more focused and productive business interactions.

The Strategic Importance of Madrid as a Content Hub

The choice of Madrid as the permanent host for I&PI is no coincidence. The Spanish capital has aggressively positioned itself as the leading audiovisual hub in Europe. This effort is supported by the Madrid Film Office and Madrid Film Region, both of which provide institutional backing to the event.

According to recent industry data, Spain has seen a significant increase in international shoots and co-productions, driven by attractive tax incentives (which can reach up to 30% for international productions) and a highly skilled workforce. For Latin American producers, Spain serves as the natural gateway to the European Union, offering access to E.U. subsidies and a stable regulatory environment. Conversely, for European producers, the forum provides a streamlined entry point into the diverse and rapidly growing markets of Latin America.

Broader Economic Implications and Future Outlook

The sixth edition of I&PI arrives at a pivotal moment for the global audiovisual sector. While the industry faces challenges such as the restructuring of streaming services and the rising cost of production, the demand for high-quality Spanish-language content remains at an all-time high. With over 500 million Spanish speakers worldwide, the cultural and economic "soft power" of Ibero-American content is a significant driver of international trade.

The Co-production and Financing Forum addresses a critical need in the industry: the diversification of funding. By moving away from a reliance on single-source financing and toward multi-country co-production models, filmmakers can mitigate financial risks and ensure broader distribution footprints. The forum also encourages the exchange of best practices regarding intellectual property, digital rights management, and new technologies like AI in production.

As the industry prepares for the September event, the focus remains on the tangible outcomes of these creative partnerships. The projects selected for 2024 represent not just the future of Ibero-American cinema and television, but also the continued resilience and adaptability of an industry that remains a vital component of the global creative economy.

The sixth edition of I&PI is supported by various entities, including FIPCA, and continues to be a flagship initiative for EGEDA and Fundación Secuoya. As the dates approach, the industry looks toward Madrid to set the pace for the next year of international co-productions, solidifying the bonds between the diverse nations that make up the Ibero-American audiovisual space.