News

Alonso Aguilar, head of Mexico Originals at Amazon Studios and showrunner/director Jorge Michel Grau regaled participants of the Madrid confab Iberseries & Platino Industria with a first look at the trailer of Prime Video Latin America’s most expensive production to date, “Every Minute Counts” (“Cada Minuto Cuenta”).

The new original series, that turns on the devastating earthquake that hit Mexico City on Sept. 19, 1985 made use of the Unreal Engine virtual screen technology first used by Disney’s “The Mandalorian,” unprecedented for Mexico, or Latin America for that matter.

“The technology has been used in smaller productions in Latin America but not at this scale,” Aguilar told Variety, who added that they have two ongoing projects, a movie and series, currently in production, that are also tapping into the 3D virtual technology that was originally developed by Ilm and Epic Games.

Pre-production for “Every Minute Counts” took six months and another six months to shoot,...

Exclusive: Production has begun on Cada Minuto Cuenta, a new Prime Video drama series set against the backdrop of Mexico’s catastrophic earthquake in 1985 that claimed the lives of at least 5k people. Osvaldo Benavides, Maya Zapata, Jesús Zavala and Antonio de la Vega will star in the production set to premiere in 2024.

From director, Jorge Michel Grau, Cada Minuto Cuenta narrates how, as a result of the terrible earthquake of 1985 In Mexico City, a doctor tied to his past, a journalist in search of fame, and a family in crisis will be forced to risk their lives in extreme situations to save themselves — alongside thousands of others who were buried. In their titanic rescue efforts, every minute becomes an opportunity to rewrite their own destiny.

Additional cast includes Miriam Balderas, Azalia Ortiz, Mónica Del Carmen, Gabriela Cartol, Luis Fernando Peña, Zamia Fandiño, Damayanti Quintanar, Daniel Martínez and Pamela Vargas.

Exclusive: Eugenio Derbez and Ben Odell have set the comedy series Put@s Redes Sociales at Prime Video, starring Paulina Gaitán and Azul Guaita. Jorge Ulloa directs the series which explores human relationships in the era of likes.

Put@s Redes Sociales tells the story of Amanda (Gaitán), a decadent YouTuber of children’s content who has just turned 30, which makes her “over the hill” on the internet. She’s willing to do anything to stay relevant on social networks, from filtering her own nude photo to risking her life. She does all this to dethrone the number-one influencer of the moment: Vicky Moo (Guaita), who also happens to be her younger sister.

The cast also includes Hernán Mendoza, Jesús Zavala, Melissa Hallivis, Beng Zeng Wong, Hugo Catalán, Nataly Valencia, Bárbara Torres, Paola Fernández, and Jorge Enrique Abello.

“With this series, we confirm our commitment to new,...

TelevisaUnivision is putting the polish on ViX+ for the premium streamer’s debut next month — and will try to persuade Spanish-speaking audiences to pay for another service in their monthly mix.

The Hispanic programming powerhouse, formed through the merger of Univision and Televisa, is launching ViX+ on July 21 in the U.S and across Latin America. Its will cost 6.99 per month in the U.S. and MX119 per month in Mexico.

TelevisaUnivision touts its entry into the premium streaming wars as the biggest dedicated Spanish-language service in the market: ViX+ is slated to feature more than 10,000 hours of ad-free entertainment programming in its first year and up to 7,000 hours of live sports, including live soccer matches and coverage in the U.S. and Mexico of world’s top leagues and tournaments.

ViX+ will include more than 70 original series and movies in the first year. Originals available at launch include premium series “María Félix,...

Exclusive: The Salma Hayek Pinault-produced film Quiero Tu Vida (I Want Your Life) for TelevisaUnivision‘s Vix+ announced its leading cast as production begins in Mexico City.

The romantic fantasy feature stars Erick Elías, Zuria Vega, Bárbara de Regil, Jesús Zavala and Natalia Téllez (Logout and Te Acuerdas de Mí).

Quiero Tu Vida follows Nico (Elías), a young soccer player whose promising career comes to a sudden end when he suffers a devastating injury on the field. Eight years later, Nico turns into a bitter man who keeps fantasizing about what his life could have been.

When the universe magically gives him an opportunity to live the life he always dreamed of, Nico learns that fame and glory can be deceitful and sometimes happiness...

Jesús Zavala (“Club de Cuervos”) and Sofía Espinosa (“Gloria”) have been tapped to lead the Spanish-language adaptation of NBCU’s hit series “Superstore.”

Titled “Supertitlán,” it will be co-directed by showrunner César Rodríguez (“Compañeros”) and Joserra Zúñiga (“Chumel”).

The English-language original, which reached 33.7 million viewers in its final season 6, was created by Justin Spitzer (“The Office”) and produced by Universal Television, in association with Spitzer Holding Company, Miller Green Broadcasting and The District.

“Supertitlán” is Universal Studio Group’s first co-production partnership in Mexico and its first Spanish-language title.

Joining Zavala and Espinosa in the Spanish-language version are Luz Aldán (“La Casadelas Flores”), Ricardo Peralta (“Sobreviví”), Carlos Orozco (“Plan Sexenalen”), Aldo Escalante (“El Señor de los Cielos”), Erika Franco (“Margarita”), Azalia Ortíz (“Dodo”), Martín Barba (“Cuatro Lunas”), Roberta Burns (“Dibujando el Cielo”), Francisco de la Reguera (“Sr. Ávila”), Viviana Serna (“Señor de los Cielos”), Amanda Farah (“La Casa de las Flores...

Headed by Alberto Müffelmann and Gerardo Gatica, Mexican indie production house Panorama Global has boarded Luis Javier Henaine’s feature “Desaparecer del todo,” a Moonlight Pictures production co-produced with Pablo Zimbron’s Varios Lobos.

The supernatural thriller, based on true events, explores witchcraft in Mexico through the eyes of a tabloid crime photographer.

Varios Lobos and Panorama previously co-produced Henaine’s popular comedy “Ready to Mingle,” and it’s a relationship Müffelmann was eager to rekindle.

“It is not just a business thing either,” he elaborated. “We understand one another well in a creative manner as well as for the economic and financial aspects. We work hand-in-hand. I think we’ve grown together. They came to us as a smaller company, but they are growing at the same time that we are.”

Also announced at Los Cabos, “Moonwalker,” is co-directed by Rodrigo Guardiola (“Zoé: Panoramas”) and Gabriel Nuncio (SXSW player “Cumbres”) of production house Bengala,...

Lantica Pictures, the former Indomina, is in post on their first project under the multi-picture agreement with Pantelion Films announced this past 2014 Cannes. Pantelion Films will head up domestic and international distribution through the second partnership agreement between the two companies.

"Cómplices," (Accomplices) which is now in advanced post-production stage, is a romantic comedy which marks the company’s first Dominican-shot film under the multi-picture deal signed with Pantelion Films.The film tells the story of an uncle who is forced to take his despondent nephew under his wing as they go on an exotic adventure to the Dominican Republic. The movie was directed by Luis Eduardo Reyes and produced by Leo Zimbrón, producer of the Mexican hit "Pulling Strings," with Sandra Condito and Lantica Pictures, Lantica Media’s production company. "Cómplices" features Mexican actors Arath De La Torre and Jesús Zavala as well as Dominican stars Liche Ariza, Paula Ferry, Sharlene Taulé and Claudette Lalí.

“The completion of principal photography on our first project under the multi-picture agreement with Pantelion Films is an achievement of which we are quite proud,” commented Antonio Gennari, CEO of Lantica Media. "It’s another step forward in strengthening the Dominican film industry and allowing the world to see what we have to offer”.

Paul Presburger, CEO of Pantelion Films added, “We had a wonderful experience working with Lantica Pictures and their team. We look forward to continuing to produce great films in the Dominican Republic with Lantica Media​."

"Cómplices" was produced entirely in the Dominican Republic, taking advantage of the diverse range of locations the country has to offer, as well as the powerful incentives provided by the country’s Cinema Law.

More about Lantica Pictures

Lantica Pictures is a film production company based in the Dominican Republic destined to be a leading competitor in the international marketplace. Lantica Pictures develops, finances and produces original content for both English and Spanish language audiences. Projects in development for 2015 include three English-language features as well as four additional Spanish-language films.

Lantica Pictures is an operating unit of Lantica Media (www.lantica.media), an innovative media company that invests across several segments of the entertainment industry.

More about Pantelion

Pantelion Films is the first major Latino Hollywood studio and the new face of Hispanic entertainment. Launched in 2010, Pantelion releases include the breakout hit "Instructions Not Included," the recent box office success "Cantinflas," which achieved the highest per screen average of any film in nationwide release on its opening weekend, as well as films such as "Pulling Strings," "Casa de mi Padre" and "From Prada to Nada."...

Romantic comedy, starring Arath De La Torre [pictured], is Lantica Pictures’ first Dominican-shot film under multi-picture deal signed with Pantelion Films.

Lantica Pictures has announced that principal photography has wrapped on Cómplices.

Directed by Luis Eduardo Reyes, the romantic comedy is the company’s first Dominican-shot film under the multi-picture deal signed with Pantelion Films. It is produced by Leo Zimbrón with Sandra Condito and Lantica Pictures, the production arm of Lantica Media.

Pantelion Films will head up domestic and international distribution through the second partnership agreement between the two companies, announced at Cannes last year.

Antonio Gennari, CEO of Lantica Media, commented: “The completion of principal photography on our first project under the multi-picture agreement with Pantelion Films is an achievement of which we are quite proud. It’s another step forward in strengthening the Dominican film industry and allowing the world to see what we have to offer.”

“We had a wonderful experience working with Lantica...