Ventana Sur Founder Bernardo Bergeret Leads Forum Selection Committee

For the first time in the five-year history of the Iberseries & Platino Industria’s Co-Production and Financing Forum, a selection committee has been formed, comprising Ventana Sur/BloodWindow founder Bernardo Bergeret, showrunner Joanna Lombardi and TV Film International partner Karina Dolgiej.

According to the forum’s general coordinator Rodrigo Ros, the new committee “shortlisted 40 projects based on viability, international potential, solid financing plans with at least 30% financing secured, international partner appeal, co-production potential, relevant team experience and distinctive market appeal.”

Looking back at the forum’s past five years, Ros pointed out that nearly 20 feature and series projects presented in the past have secured financing, been produced and released across Ibero-American territories.

Among the TV projects are Rodrigo Susarte’s “Patagonia” (Chile-Spain), premiering in Spain on Movistar Plus+ with international distribution by ZDF Studios; “Past Waters” (Portugal-Spain); and Katherina Harder ‘s Chilean period drama “The Danger of Loving You,” produced by Parox and which premiered on TVN Chile in August.

This year’s crop presents a diversity of genres, “spanning true stories, horror, folk horror, comedy, family and sports dramas, historical stories and thrillers, reflecting a deliberate commitment to variety rather than a single market direction,” Ros said.

The Co-Production Forum will take place Sept. 30–Oct. 1, with private one-to-one meetings for features on Sept. 30 and series on Oct. 1.

Feature Films:

 “Carreau” (“Carro Seco,” Javier Polo, Spain, France)

The dark thriller follows two detectives investigating a serial killer targeting wealthy property speculators with heavy-metal pétanque balls, as Barcelona’s housing crisis divides public opinion over justice and vigilantism. French company Halley Production joins Spain’s Los Hermanos Polo Films and Lastcrit as a co-producer. Supported by ICAA, IVC and TV3, pic combines social urgency with dark humor. Polo calls it “a film that challenges the viewer with an uncomfortable moral dilemma.”

“Hotel Nacional” (Diego Corsini, Spain, Cuba, Brazil)

Diego Corsini’s drama follows a grieving Brazilian and a Spanish doctor who meet at Havana’s iconic Hotel Nacional, where veteran bartender Rubén becomes their confidant. Jorge Perugorría, star of “Strawberry and Chocolate,” and Brazilian star Thiago Lacerda are confirmed to join the cast. Backed by ICAIC, with distribution confirmed in Brazil and Spain, the film explores loneliness, guilt and redemption. Corsini describes it as “a film about lonely souls seeking to heal their wounds.”

“Last Round: I Want It All” (“Asalto: Lo Quiero Todo,” Emilio Martínez-Borso, Spain)

This dark coming-of-age story follows 13-year-old Nina, who moves in with her father and stepmother after her mother’s breakdown, becoming obsessed with her stepmother and her own emerging identity. “Elite” star Ester Expósito is circling the project, with Goya-nominated DP Gris Jordana attached. Supported by Colombia’s FDC and multiple development awards, the film explores “dark comedy body horror” through a young girl’s fractured relationship with femininity and desire.

“The Amateurs” (“Los Inexpertos,” Felipe Solari Yrigoyen, Chile, Argentina)

Felipe Solari Yrigoyen’s ensemble crime comedy is in development from Chile’s Quijote Films and Argentina’s Gentil Cine. Set at an eccentric film convention in Patagonia, the film follows eight interconnected chapters after a prized Maltese Falcon statuette and a mysterious Russian guest disappear. Selected for the Venice Gap-Financing Market and Iberseries, the feature debut has received Argentina’s first-time directors fund and Chile’s production film fund, with shooting planned for 2028.

 “The Blind” (“Los Ciegos,” Horacio Alcalá, Spain, Mexico, Belgium)

12 blind people are abandoned in a remote forest after their elderly priest-guide dies, while a mysterious presence begins claiming those who seek help. Written by Horacio Alcalá, Yolanda Barrasa and Joaquin Meneses, the sensory thriller is produced by The Aurora Project, Spectrum Films and Ginger Pictures. In development, it has Creative Europe MEDIA Slate Development support. Alcalá describes it as “a sensory thriller where genre and Maeterlinck’s poetry meet.”

“Three Women” (“Tres Mujeres,” María Eugenia Lombardi & Viviana Calò, Spain, Italy, Argentina)

“Vuelve Siempre Sebastiana” (Alessandro Pederzoli, Mexico, Spain)

Alessandro Pederzoli’s folk-horror feature debut is in pre-production from Mexico’s Gatodrácula Cine and The Maestros Cine, with Spain’s Argia Film co-producing. Starring Raúl Briones as José Leaño, the 90-minute film follows a 14-year-old girl who turns to a mirrored carnival costume after a sexual assault. Principal photography is set for March 2027 in Chihuahua. Producer Regina Blandón says the film asks audiences to watch Sebastiana “take something back and build her own armor.”

TV Series:

“Archipelago” (“Artxipielagoa,” Oier Aranzabal & Aythami Castellano, Spain)

 “Creep” (Joana Areal, Portugal)

Ukbar Filmes’ six-part crime noir miniseries, based on a real 1990s Lisbon case, follows Police inspector Ana on the trail of serial killer while battling toxic masculinity in the police force. The production is seeking 30% of financing, key crew and talent for 1–2 co-protagonists, including international investigators. Created by Mário Cunha and directed by Joana Areal, the series targets global true-crime and Scandi-noir audiences, with strong female-led appeal and international market potential.

 “Master of Deception” (“Maestro del Engaño,” Deivis Cortés Pulido, Colombia)

“Not Girls” (“Noies no,” Celia Giraldo, Spain)

Fasten Films’ first original series follows Marina, a member of struggling Barcelona pop-rock band Guspira, who secretly plans a solo career after years of disappointment. When the band lands a major festival slot, she gives them one last chance, setting ambition, jealousy and desire against friendship and creative dreams. Adrià Monés produces, with Indigo Carbajal, Jana Jubert and Tomàs Bayo writing. 3Cat has joined the dramedy, which is targeting 2027–28 production.

“School of the Americas” (“Escuela de las Américas,” Óscar Godoy, Abner Benaim, Panama, U.S./ Spain)

“Sing You Bastards!” (“Cantén P*tos,” Manuel Soriano, Uruguay)

“Spy Stories” Season 1: “The Obedient Assassin” (“Historias de espías,” Horacio Alcalá, Mexico, Spain)

“The Bends” (“A 200 Metros,” Julio Soto Gúrpide, Spain)

“The Inspector” (“O Inspector,” Fernando Vendrell, Portugal)

 “The Primal Horde” (“La Horda Primitiva,” Natacha Caravia, Tatiana Mereñuk, Spain, U.S)

Day Dream Entertainment and NonStop’s eight-part dark comedy thriller is in development, with 30% financing secured and a 10–20% Spanish tax rebate guaranteed. When a patient of Julia’s daughter is murdered and her medical file disappears, the family becomes prime suspects. Two grandmothers investigate alongside their granddaughter and a police officer. The project is seeking international partners or platforms to close 60% of financing and expand its European, U.S. and Latin American reach.