Markets

RTVE Showcase wrapped up its fifth edition (held in Madrid from May 8th to 10th, 2024) with two dynamic days dedicated to presenting its latest productions to an audience of 300 professionals from 30 countries.

In the panel discussing Trends in Spanish production, moderated by José Pastor, Director of Film and Fiction at RTVE, the industry landscape in Spain was scrutinized.

Ángeles González-Sinde, a seasoned screenwriter and director, tackled the challenge of discerning trends in a landscape where platform structures are constantly evolving and content choices are influenced by algorithms, public opinion, and other factors often overlooked in analyses. She stressed the importance of maintaining content continuity to establish connections with audiences, contrasting it with productions that end abruptly after one season. Pilar Blasco, CEO of Banijay Iberia, attributed this trend to shrinking budgets, which compel producers to create shorter series to attract attention.

Ramón Campos, Executive Producer at Bambú Producciones, advocated shifting focus away from fleeting trends towards creating content that resonates with audiences over time. Daniel Écija, founder of The Good Mood, echoed this sentiment, advocating for storytelling grounded in current, relatable experiences rather than chasing distant trends.

José Manuel Lorenzo, President and Founder of DLO Producciones, highlighted the distinctiveness of Spanish fiction, emphasizing its versatility and storytelling prowess. José María Irisarri, founder and president of Onza TV, stressed the importance of evoking emotion and truth in storytelling, underscoring the need for production companies to be receptive to distributing their intellectual properties (IPs) to reach wider audiences.

In analyzing popular formats, participants noted the surge in popularity of the true crime genre, attributing its success to its ability to delve into recognizable societal issues. They cautioned against saturating the market with such content, emphasizing the importance of maintaining reflective narratives.

The subsequent panel, Fiction with a female perspective, moderated by journalist Elena S. Sánchez, underscored the significance of increasing female representation in production roles and acknowledged the work still needed in this area.

Screenwriter Virginia Yagüe presented data indicating progress in recent years but highlighted persistent disparities. She pointed out the unequal distribution of resources, with female directors typically receiving half the budget of their male counterparts. Director Samantha López highlighted the tendency to pigeonhole women into smaller projects, while Director Violeta Salama expressed frustration over the perceived tokenization of female directors.

Creator and showrunner Aurora Guerra rejected the notion of rivalry between male and female storytellers, emphasizing the need for equitable opportunities. Screenwriter and showrunner Javier Olivares called for a greater female presence in decision-making roles, stressing the importance of diverse perspectives in storytelling. Actress Itsaso Arana echoed the importance of incorporating female and gender perspectives in scripts and casting to avoid perpetuating stereotypes.