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Speaking at Madrid confab Iberseries & Platino Industria, Walt Disney Latin America execs, led by Leonardo Aranguibel, VP head of production operations & strategy and Mariana Perez, head of general entertainment, unveiled some of Disney+’s upcoming shows, all co-produced with multinational production company Btf Media.

Participants of the Madrid industry event were treated to a sneak peak of Disney+’s “Between Walls” pilot, starring Aislinn Derbez and Christian Vázquez, along with clips of their other upcoming shows: bio drama “The Incredible Story of Juana Pastrana,” fact-based series “Frida” and comedy “Mama Cake.”

The shows are just a cross section of the company’s average output which has produced some 24 titles this year across its unscripted, factual/comedy as well as kids & family areas this year, said Aranguibel. In a nod to changing viewer tastes and shorter attention spans, Perez noted that they’ve leaned towards shorter episode lengths.

Mama Cake

Set in Mexico City,...

Max executives believe it’s not just the volume of subscribers enhancing their business, but the streamer’s “ambitious” storytelling.

Mariano Cesar, senior vp general entertainment content and programming strategy for Latin America and U.S. Hispanics at Max parent Warner Bros. Discovery, dived into the company’s business model during his keynote session at the international market and networking event Conecta Fiction & Entertainment in Toledo, Spain, on Thursday.

Max only launched in Latin America and the Caribbean in February this year. Cesar spoke about the streamer’s “recipe” for success going forward — and notably, came to the conclusion there isn’t one. But Max’s mission is to keep “fighting for relevance.”

Cesar then expanded on what he meant. “Talking about stories that mean something for people now…. How can we tell stories that are meaningful for the audience? [We don’t want] to go unnoticed. But there’s no single recipe. We...

Even Robert De Niro could not resist the great script for Disney mini-series Nada.

Leonardo Aranguibel, VP, head of production operations & strategy at Disney for Latin America, and Mariana Pérez, VP, head of development & production for the same patch, sat down with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss what they called their “mission” for The Walt Disney Company in Latin America – but not before explaining how the veteran actor was brought aboard the Argentinian comedy drama.

Nada, which premiered on Disney’s streaming service Star+ in October last year, follows wealthy food critic Manuel Tamayo Prats (Luis Brandoni) who faces crisis after the death of his housekeeper. Set in Buenos Aires, the series is narrated by Manuel’s old friend, Vicent Parisi (De Niro), who eventually travels to the city to help his old friend.

“We sent the script to Mr. De Niro,” Aranguibel says at the international market and networking...

The Disney-backed “How to Be a Carioca,” from “Ice Age” creator Carlos Saldanha, and “Allende, the Thousand Days,” an adventurous Chilean-Spanish pick-up from Spanish pubcaster Rtve, will both world premiere at Iberscreenings, catching new evolution on the Spain-Portugal-Latin America TV scene.

A comedy, showrun by Saldanha, consolidating his exploration of live action after Netflix’s 2021 “Invisible City,” “Carioca,” whose first episode will be screened at I&pi, is produced by the Star Original Productions label, bowing soon on Star+ in Latin America and on the Walt Disney Company’s streaming services globally, such as Disney+ Spain.

An international co-production, “Allende, the Thousand Days” was originated by Chile’s Parox (“Invisible Heroes”), partnered by Spain’s Mediterráneo Media Entertainment and Argentina’s Aleph, Mente Colectiva and HD Argentina. A character focused chronicle of Allende’s three years in government before Pinochet’s 1973 military coup, the series has been acquired for broadcast by Chile’s Tvn,...

Carlos Saldanha’s Disney comedy series How to be a Carioca will screen for the first time at the Iberseries & Platino Industria event in October.

The first episode of the Star Original Productions-badged comedy will play at the fest, which is held in Madrid. Saldanha and co-creator Joana Mariani will feature on a panel for the show alongside Leonardo Aranguibel, VP of Production, Head of Production Operations and Strategy, The Walt Disney Company Latin America.

The Portuguese-language comedy series follows an American writer who has to learn the quirks of Rio de Janeiro’s people after moving to the Brazilian city.

The show is set to launch on Star+ in Latin America and Disney’+’s streaming services, including Disney+ worldwide.

How to be a Carioca follows an American writer who has to learn the quirks of Rio de Janeiro’s people after moving to the Brazilian city. It stars the...

The Walt Disney Company Latin America team took to the stage at the 2nd Iberseries & Platino Industria event in Madrid to unveil trailers or clips of their upcoming Star+ slate that includes “Nada,” with Robert de Niro playing a key role, “Ringo, el Campeon del Pueblo,” “Pancho Villa, El Centauro del Norte” and “How to Be a Carioca,” directed by “Rio” and “Ferdinand the Bull” director Carlos Saldanha.

These were just a few of the upcoming original programs destined for the company’s fledgling Latin American streaming platform Star+, which features live sports, general and adult entertainment, particularly locally-produced content.

The Walt Disney Company Latin America was among the first of the studios to produce local content in the region, making Latino versions of “Desperate Housewives” and “Grey’s Anatomy” to start, said Leonardo Aranguibel, VP, head of production operations & strategy, The Walt Disney Company Latin America. It’s come a...

Executive produced by Salma Hayek Pinault and directed by Rodrigo García (“Nine Lives”), in its second scene, Star Plus Productions’ “Santa Evita” has Dr. Pedro Aru arriving at Eva Perón’s home to embalm her corpse.

Many directors would dispatch his arrival in brief transition shots. García, however, uses eight – to capture the rain on he fateful day of July 26, 1952 (a shot from above of drenched black umbrellas packing out the screen), glimpse the poverty of the crowd lining the road and frame the first hints of Perón’s near sanctification in death with crowds keeping vigil outside the house’s gates, candles in hand.

Previewed at Conecta Fiction, Episode One of “Santa Evita” weighs in as classic Disney Latin America adult audience fare, an heir to 2018’s “Selena’s Secret” and 2019 “Monzón.”

A passion project of Mariana Pérez at The Walt Disney Company Latin America’s which has been 10 years in the making,...

Underscoring a push into more ambitious productions in Latin America, Star Plus, The Walt Disney Company’s year-old general entertainment and sports streaming service in the region, presented an early banner production, “Santa Evita,” at Conecta Fiction & Entertainment in a gala screening on June 22.

Attendees of the Toledo, Spain-based forum got an exclusive preview of the pilot episode to the seven-part limited series, which is set to bow July 26 on Star Plus Latin America, Hulu in the U.S. and Disney’s Star label in the rest of the world.

“Santa Evita” anticipates more “true life fiction” shows that Star Plus is developing, based on larger-than-life figures in Latin America’s culture and history.

“We’re serving several markets, and in order to connect with our audiences, we’re developing stories about people they know, whose stories they know,” said Leonardo Aranguibel, VP, head of production operations & strategy, The Walt Disney Company Latin America,...

Fabula-Fremantle’s “Santa Maria,” Leticia Dolera’s “Puberty” and “Fata Morgana,” a Western thriller executive produced by Béla Tarr, all feature at this year’s vastly expanded Conecta Fiction & Entertainment.

In further news announced Monday, Conecta Fiction will also stage the European premiere of Star Plus’ “Santa Evita,” executive produced by Salma Hayek Pinault and José Tamez, starring Natalia Oreiro, Ernesto Alterio, Darío Grandinetti and one of Disney’s most anticipated titles Spanish-language titles.

“Santa Evita” tells the true events-based and extraordinary story of the odyssey of Argentine First Lady Eva Perón’s embalmed body over three decades, her elevation to near sainthood saying much about Argentina and Latin America at large.

A panel discussion will be lead by the key cast, directors Rodrigo García and Alejandro Maci and the executives who led its production – Mariana Pérez, VP, development and production, Twdc Latin America, and Leonardo Aranguibel, VP, production, Twdc Latin America.

“Now, we’re producing over 100 projects, we’ve calculated we’ll be working on nearly 130 projects next year to supply both our platform networks,” The Walt Disney Company LatAm’s Leonardo Aranguibel commented at a Ventana Sur panel on Tuesday.

How can Disney try to ensure quality at such a massive production levels? “We look for the best talents, not only in front of the cameras but also behind,” Aranguibel answered.

Most streaming platform execs would say the same.

So showcases like Ventana Sur’s SoloSeries are likely to flower in the next few years. In their first collaboration at SoloSeries, this year Netflix and Ventana Sur are offering Ar$500,000 to the winner among five drama series from upcoming Argentine women creators. In addition, all projects will receive advice on their work from Carolina Leconte, director of original series for Latin America at Netflix.

“To tell authentic, unique stories, it...

Disney has renewed for a second season Argentine psychological drama “Limbo – Hasta Que Lo Decida,” one of the companies earliest Star Plus Originals in Latin America.

The new order was announced this Saturday Oct. 9 by Leonardo Aranguibel, VP of production at the Walt Disney Company LatAm, in Cannes just after the world premiere of “Limbo” at Canneseries, where the 10-part series was the first to bow in main competition.

The decision to order Season 2 was made given the results of the first 10 episodes, now in post-production, and selection for Canneseries, Aranguibel explained.

Produced by Star Original Productions in partnership with Pablo Bossi’s Pampa Films and Gloriamundi Producciones, the series is developed by Argentina’s Mariano Cohen and Gastón Duprat, writer-directors of the Venice feature “Official Competition,” starring Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas, and “The Distinguished Citizen.” “Limbo” is directed by Agustina Macri (“Soledad”) and Fabiana Tiscornia (“La reina del...

Disney Plus has made good on its promise to deliver a varied and ambitious original programming lineup in Latin America where it launched on Nov. 17.

More than 70 original productions are in various stages of development and production in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, Disney’s four biggest markets.

One of them, doc-series “Sobrevolando,” is already available on the streaming giant, and features Brazilian actor Rodrigo Santoro, Mexican artist Jay de la Cueva and Argentine musician Fito Páez hosting their respective versions in Brazil, México and Argentina.

The National Geographic series gives a bird’s eye view of Latin America’s stunning landscapes, from the frigid Beagle Channel in South America to the balmy Caribbean Sea, and explores the geography, history and culture of eight regions in Latin America.

Tráiler: https://youtu.be/RvtYUGcnhOI

Other shows, ranging from fiction, talk shows, documentaries, and live programs aimed at all members of the family,...

Focused on Latin America and U.S. Hispanic markets, last week’s MipCancun Online Plus market-conference was a boutique affair, attracting 600 delegates from 500 companies and 44 countries.

Far more than MipTV and even Mipcom, however, MipCancun’s lineup of speakers marked a virtual who’s who of relevant leading industry figures, led by the top executives for Latin America at companies shaping the region’s film-tv future: Netflix’s Francisco Ramos; Disney Plus’ Leonardo Aranguibel; ViacomCBS Intl. Studios and Networks Americas’ J.C. Acosta; Amazon Prime Video’s Pablo Iacoviello; NBCUniversal Telemundo’s Marcos Santana; and Sony Pictures Television’s Ana Bond.

Wrapping Friday, 2020’s MipCancun kicked off on Nov. 17 as Disney Plus launched across Latin America. That seems appropriate. One subject dominated most keynote and panels, one way or another: The impact of the still ongoing Ott revolution on Latin America’s production sector. Below, find 10 takeaways from MipCancun 2020’s conference.

Disney Plus, which launches Tuesday across Latin America, will see the U.S. streaming giant dive into local production, ramping up its already muscular original production output in the region, Disney Latin American executives said at a MipCancun Online panel on Tuesday.

Concurrently, Disney Kids’ young adult and family programming looks set to add slightly edgier shows to its world-beating lineup, and National Geographic will continue to sport more contemporary shows in Latin America, the executives added.

The global streaming platform already has 70 original shows in development in Latin America — Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia, its four biggest markets — Disney Plus said in a press statement on Tuesday.

That, however, may only be a beginning. Disney rests on three pillars: General entertainment, targeting adults; kids, young adults and family; and factual entertainment, said Leonardo Aranguibel, head of production operations and strategy at Walt Disney Company, Latin America, in the MipCancun...

In today’s Global Bulletin, the BBC picks up Awkwafina’s latest series, Tove Lo preps her acting debut, HBO Nordics and Australia’s ABC make executive hires, Conecta Fiction Reboot and Mip Cancun share details for their updated events, and Banijay closes a first-look deal with U.K. production company Nineteen11.

Acquisition

BBC Three has picked up comedy series “Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens” from ViacomCBS International Studios and will make it available to stream exclusively on BBC iPlayer in the U.K. later this year.

The 10-part series stars the popular actor-rapper Awkwafina, a Golden Globe winner for her work in “The Farewell,” and is based on her own real-life story growing up in Queens, New York. It co-stars “SNL” alum Bowen Yang, Bd Wong (“Mr Robot”) and Lori Tann Chinn (“Orange is the New Black”).

Lucia Aniello, Natasha Lyonne and Steven K. Tsuchida direct the series, produced...

Disney-owned production company Buena Vista Original Productions has announced a new series inspired by the life of legendary Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa, titled “Centauro del Norte” (Centaur of the North).

A fictionalized version of Villa’s life story, the series will begin with the historical figure, real name Doroteo Arango, as a young bandit during his adolescence in the Mexican pueblo of Durango, and tracks his rise and eventual establishment as the most influential player in the Mexican Revolution before his eventual death, resulting from an ambush.

The 10-hour series, produced with Mexico’s Btf, will film on location across Mexico, in many places made famous through Villa’s exploits.

Looking to shed a light on lesser-known parts of Villa’s life, the series will take a multi-layered look at his historical legacy, his interpersonal contradictions and his life before becoming a revolutionary. Described in a press release as: “cruel,...

Miami — It’s official. Two of the Argentine industry’s biggest name actors, Natalia Oreiro (“Gilda”) and Ernesto Alterio (“Clandestine Childhood”), are attached to star in “Santa Evita,” produced by Salma Hayek and co-directed by Rodrigo García (“Nine Lives”), who will also produce.

Confirmed by Buena Vista Original Productions on the eve of this year’s Natpe conference in Miami, which kicks off Tuesday, Jan. 21, the seven-part drama series looks like the one of the biggest in the pipeline from Latin American – in terms of talent attached, expectation, and its central on-screen figure: Legendary Argentine First Lady Eva Perón.

Eight years in the works, but now the first series to go into production at Disney’s new Buena Vista Original Productions label in Latin America, headed by Leonardo Aranguibel and Mariana Pérez – and a passion project of Pérez’s when she drove original production at Fox Networks Group Latin America...

Cancun, Mexico — Graced by the showrunners of “Narcos,” “Sr. Avila” and “Hernán” and multiple senior industry figures, MipCancun boasts a distribution market, co-production forum and powerful conference line-up – and for once the possibility for delegates to attend at least some of the presentations.

Based on 18 sessions, from Erik Barmack’s keynote to plenary and insight sessions, and on-stage conversations and presentations and other events, here are 20 takeaways from a robust 8th MipCancun, the first under new director Benedicte Touchard de Morant, with attendance up 20% on a first count, which caught Spain’s and Latin America’s scripted production sectors in an growth vortex:

1.Spanish Language: Production Builds

The big debating point at this year’s MipCancun was not if Spanish-language scripted production would grow. It was by how much. The answer came in various fashions: Prognostications by panelists, led by keynote speaker Erik Barmack, Netflix’s former head of international originals,...

In this week’s International TV Newswire, “Hierro” breaks records in Spain, Sky readies fora diabolic Mipcom, Nent realigns, reflecting new market realities, Buena Vista drills down on gender crime, Drg, All3Media and EndemolShine strike production or sales deals.

Renewed, “Hierro” Triumphs in Spain

Movistar+, the pay TV unit of Telefonica, Europe’s third biggest telecom, has a hit on its hands. It says much, moreover, about Europe’s still building drama series scene.

This week, “Hierro,” a crime drama first seen at Seriesmania, was renewed for Season 2, and confirmed by Spain’s Movistar as its most-viewed of its first Original Series releases to date, judged over its first 80 days.

The result is a triumph for the series’ creators, Portocabo producer Alfonso Blanco and screenwriter Pepe Coira, plus director Jorge Coira. It also vindicates Movistar+ entry into international co-production, here with upscale French network Arte, Galicia-based Portocabo and the Lagardère Group’s Atlantique Productions,...

Madrid — The 3rd Conecta Fiction, Europe’s biggest Latin American TV co-production forum, wrapped last week in Pamplona after four days of dealing, debate and gastronomic delectation. Following 10 Takeaways from an intense and buoyant event, driven by the unfaltering growth of high-end production in Spain and most of Latin America:

1.Platform Pivot

The writing was on the wall, or more precisely the big screen of an auditorium at Pamplona’s luxurious Baluarte congress center, from the get-go of Conecta Fiction. Drama and mini-series production near tripled in Germany over 2014-18, according to Spain’s Gabinete de Estudios de la Comunicación Audiovisual (Geca). It near doubled in France last year, up to 27 titles, from 13 in 2017. Yet traditional TV viewing is still falling among young audiences, down 28.4% and 20.1% among 14-12s and 13-24s in Spain, for example, said Geca’s Luis de Zubiaurre Wagner, citing Kantor Media. The real money shot...

Pamplona, Spain — Disney’s Leonardo Aranguibel, producer of “Until I Met You” and “Selena’s Secret,” may have another winner on its hands. Produced by the Buena Vista Production Group, “Monzón,” a chronicle of the Argentine’s boxing legend’s arrest and trial, accused of murdering wife Alicia Muniz, opened on Turner Latin America’s Space on Monday June 17 to a bullish rating. That made it, after the primetime offering of Telefe and Artear the most-watched program of the day in Argentina, despite Space being cable TV not free-to-air.

“Monzon” was the only Latin America series to be chosen for SeriesMania in March and played to warm applause at Conecta Fiction’s closing prize ceremony on June 19. The Buena Vista Production Group produces with Pampa Films, headed by Pablo Bossi, who serves as showrunner. Producer of some of the iconic titles of the New Argentine Cinema, such as Nine Queens and Chinese Takeaway,...

On Wednesday evening the Spanish city of Pamplona was overrun, not by bulls, but by hopeful TV creators who had spent the early week pitching their projects at Conecta Fiction, and who anxiously waited to find out the titles which would take home silverware.

Meanwhile, “Monzón,” a Disney-Pampa-Incaa production portraying the tragic violence of Argentine boxing legend Carlos Monzón, impressed a Pamplona audience a first episode screening at the prize ceremony.

David Miranda Hardy’s “The Frontier” scooped the Arpa Lawyers Consultancy Prize of 10 hours of consultancy and legal advice. His first project following Chilean hit series “Bala Loca,” in many ways one of the game-changers for Chilean high-end drama in both quality and format, “The Frontier” beat out a field of 10 finalists which competed in this week’s Pitch CoPro Series.

Developed by novelist and screenwriter Simón Soto, the series turns on Detective Manuela Valencia,...

Disney Media Distribution Latin America (Dmdla) has unveiled two new original TV series projects, teaming with high-profile producers on the Latino TV drama scene.

“Cazadores de milagros,” a 13-episode TV series, co-produced by Disney with Spain’s Mediapro Group, Mexico’s Btf Media and Miami-based Somos Productions, will combine fiction and reality.

Partnering with Naím Media Group, Disney is co-developing “Americana,” a 10-episode series set in late 19th century Brazil.

Produced by Btf in Mexico, “Cazadores” focuses on a skeptical journalist who needs a scoop to save his career, a young and brilliant heiress of a media empire, and an enigmatic clairvoyant, torn between faith and necessity.

Their destinies cross on a unique mission that will force them to question their doubts and certainties about faith as they investigate real cases of potential miracles. Sometimes, this particular team will find a scientific explanation to them; on other occasions, reason falls short when explain events.