This week Madrid hosts the sixth edition of Iberseries & Platino Industria, whose packed program features a presentation on Thursday, October 1, of six series projects created by seven screenwriters in partnership with Fundación SGAE, Spain’s leading collective management organization for intellectual property rights.
The series will be highlighted at a pitching session where the projects will be presented to producers, buyers, investors and other audiovisual professionals. Organizers describe the event as “an opportunity to promote production, financing and international exposure for new fiction works, while reinforcing Iberseries & Platino Industria’s goal of linking creative talent with industry stakeholders across the Ibero‑American audiovisual sector.”
Below, THR examines the six series concepts being pitched at the Madrid event.
La librera by Virginia Burgos (Seville) and Juan Sánchez (Madrid)
Synopsis: In the early 1990s, a woman establishes the nation’s first LGBT bookstore. Over the ensuing decades the shop evolves into both a sanctuary and a hub for political activism within the community. When the neighborhood she nurtured ultimately rejects her, she is forced to confront a pivotal question: what becomes of a pioneer when her purpose no longer resonates with those she served?
Takeaways: The narrative explores the challenges faced by a pioneering LGBT figure as her community’s needs shift, raising the question of whether audiences will be drawn to uncover her story and the broader changes affecting her.
Avión by Miguel Cavadas (Vigo)
Synopsis: Avión, a Galician village, epitomizes the classic emigration narrative of leaving in poverty and returning wealthy. In winter it reflects the harsh realities of rural decline and aging, while in summer it transforms into a vibrant festival marked by affluence, ranchera music, and Mexican symbols, swelling its population fourfold as former emigrants reunite to celebrate their success. This setting becomes a crucible where two contrasting worlds—community versus individualism, past versus present, Galicia’s modest pensions and Mexico’s opulence—collide, prompting a dramatic exploration of cultural and economic tensions.
Takeaways: The series eschews a lighthearted musical motif in favor of a darker, socially charged drama that compels viewers to examine the underlying tensions within Galicia.
El capricho by Alberto Grondona
Synopsis: El capricho is a satirical historical comedy that depicts three powerful women—Queen María Luisa of Parma, the Duchess of Alba, and the Duchess of Osuna—contending for influence at the Spanish court in the 18th century. Their struggles for power, image, and desire unfold against a backdrop of a nation teetering on collapse, all observed through the sharp, ironic lens of Francisco de Goya, who transforms courtly intrigue into a mirror reflecting modern times.
Takeaways: A female‑driven, comedic “Game of Thrones” infused with Spanish flair and dramatic twists is poised to captivate audiences, though its themes may echo contemporary anxieties about societal collapse.
Teléfonos fijos by Ángel Mirou
Synopsis: In Bilbao’s Recalde district, landline phones begin ringing in the dead of night, awakening residents who still maintain traditional home phones. When answered, callers speak the voices of deceased relatives, friends, or acquaintances. The only common thread among these phantom callers is their death. As the characters grapple with whether these calls reveal an afterlife or a sophisticated technological hoax, their lives are irrevocably altered.
Takeaways: The premise invites audiences to question the reliability of perception in an era saturated with digital deception and artificial intelligence, leaving viewers to wonder whether what they hear—or see—can truly be trusted.
La edad menor by Roberto Osa
Synopsis: Set in a dystopian Madrid where children assume legal guardianship over their parents, María challenges the system when her mother is admitted to La edad menor, an irreversible process that reduces adults to a childlike state. Her brother, caught between familial loyalty and the allure of authority, watches as a grim revelation uncovers that neither defiance nor self‑sacrifice can prevent the encroaching oblivion.
Takeaways: The concept of youth governance raises provocative questions about authority and morality, prompting reflection on whether such a system could function in reality, while hinting at darker implications that warrant careful scrutiny.
Trueque by Pedro Pablo Picazo
Synopsis: Three tightly knit friend‑families each grapple with the daily challenges of raising teenagers. With each household possessing a solution for the others’ offspring, they contemplate a bold experiment: swapping their children. The narrative explores the unpredictable consequences of such an exchange.
Takeaways: The premise subverts the classic family‑comedy trope, proposing a fresh and chaotic scenario where swapping teenagers becomes the catalyst for unexpected comedic and dramatic outcomes.
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