Euro-Atlantic Series Co-Pro Pitch Program Launches at Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid

The Birth of a New Collaboration

As the global entertainment landscape continues to evolve, so too must the mechanisms that foster international co-productions. In Madrid, the Iberseries & Platino Industria confab has launched the Euro-Atlantic Series Co-Pro Pitch Program, an ambitious new initiative designed to bring together European television projects and key industry stakeholders. This program is not just another conference—it's a strategic move aimed at accelerating the financing, production, and distribution of series in development.

"This is a different initiative from [Iberseries'] Coproduction & Financing Forum, but it maintains the same essence: connecting projects with key partners and accelerating the financing, production and distribution processes of projects in development," said Rodrigo Ros, the program's general coordinator.

The pitch program unfolds across a series of one-to-one and one-to-many meetings on Tuesday, September 29, followed by a public presentation at the Cineteca Matadero on Wednesday, September 30, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. This carefully orchestrated schedule allows for meaningful dialogue between creators, financiers, and broadcasters, ensuring that projects don't just get attention—they gain traction.

Backed by Industry Veterans

The first edition of the Euro-Atlantic Series Co-Pro Pitch Program is backed by prominent production companies and features a selection committee composed of seasoned industry professionals. These individuals bring deep experience from the European audiovisual landscape, including:

• Laura Miñarro, VP of international business and coproduction at Buendía Estudios (Spain)
• Diego del Pozo, head of fiction at Atresmedia Televisión (Spain)
• José Fragoso, programming head at RTP1 and RTP Internacional (Portugal)
• Georges Huercano, development and co-productions manager at RTL (Belgium)

The program's commitment to quality is evident in its carefully chosen participants. From Spain, Belgium, France, Portugal, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Canada, and Uruguay, along with two additional projects invited through collaboration agreements with Göteborg Film Festival and Seriencamp, the program showcases a truly diverse and cross-cultural approach.

Series That Tell Diverse Stories

Nine series projects have been selected to showcase the gamut of genres and storytelling approaches across Europe. These projects span from drama to comedy, history to contemporary social issues. Let's take a closer look at some standout series:

"Callback" (Spain)

This fiction series from Spain's Funicular Films and Left Tackle Films revolves around director Fran who, at the premiere of her debut feature at a festival, accuses her lead actor and producer Roman of abuse. Written by Joana Vilapuig, Mirela Vilapuig, and Diego Vega, and produced by Marta Baldó, "Callback" has already been selected to participate at the Berlinale Series Match.

"Heartbeats" (Spain)

Malvalanda's docu series follows eight elite female athletes as they navigate pregnancy, motherhood, and the demands of professional sport. With development funding from the Community of Madrid and created by María del Puy Alvarado, Azucena Garanto, and Alexa Portillo, the series is planned for 2027/28 production. The creators describe motherhood in elite sport as "a novelty and a feat." This series speaks to the resilience and strength of women in high-stakes environments.

"In Memoriam – Season 2" (Canada, Belgium)

The eight-part thriller drama follows six young engineers whose decade-old hazing ritual resurfaces when a former colleague's will summons them to Spain, where a series of trials exposes the truth behind a murder. Cineflix Rights is attached as distributor, and with Crave financing, the project seeks European broadcasters, co-production partners, and additional financing. Season 1 was Crave's #1 launch series and won Best Drama Series at the Berlin TV Series Festival.

"The Invisible Ink" (Belgium, Uruguay)

César Díaz's bilingual political thriller is backed by Belgian company Need Productions and Uruguay's Guay Films, with Cimarrón Uruguay in advanced talks to join as a production and financing partner. The series follows an exiled revolutionary forced to return to Uruguay and confront his past. Selected for Series Mania's Series Makers and ACE Series, the project combines political suspense with family drama. Its producers call it "a rare bridge between two regions."

"King of Hearts" (Belgium)

De Wereldvrede's historical coming-of-age drama follows King Baudouin's early years on the throne, amid Belgium's political crisis, family tensions, and Congo's independence. VRT has joined as a development co-producer, with script funding from VAF. The series spans Brussels, Leopoldville, Rome, and Madrid, connecting Belgium's monarchy with Cold War geopolitics and Catholic influence. Producer Gilles De Schryver describes it as "by nature an international story," designed as a prestige drama with global appeal.

"Las Palmas My Love" (France, Spain)

The romantic comedy is in development as a French-Spanish co-production between Quad Drama and Secuoya Studios. Iris Bucher produces, with ZDF already committed. The project follows a French pop star on the verge of a breakdown who assumes a new identity in the Canary Islands, where she falls for a widowed chef. Bucher describes it as a "Romeo and Juliet situation," combining romance, comedy, and emotional twists with strong international appeal.

"Listen to My Lips" (Portugal, Brazil)

Six-part character-driven drama from creator-actress Sofia Mirpuri follows Vera, a 29-year-old actress whose progressive hearing loss forces her to confront a life spent in the shadow of her director boyfriend. Set in contemporary Lisbon, the series combines humor, ambition, and disability representation. Mirpuri plays the lead. With pilot and series bible completed, the project is seeking writers' room financing, international co-production partners, and a broadcaster, streamer, sales agent, or distributor.

"Sangria" (Sweden, Finland, Spain)

The heist comedy from Strive Stories, Sons of Lumiere, and The Aurora Project follows a 51-year-old housekeeper and three discarded workers who take on an AI billionaire after automation costs them their livelihoods. Jaakko Hutchings is attached to star. The project has Creative Europe MEDIA slate support. Director and producer Horacio Alcalá calls it "a heist comedy where the weapons are an apron, a lemon, and 30 years of being invisible."

"Summer of Love" (Germany)

The six-part romantic workplace dramedy is being developed by Germany's Just Make It Production with Polyphon Film. Set in 1967 Hamburg, it follows three women who turn a shipyard computer into Germany's first matchmaking agency. A German public broadcaster has expressed interest in joining as a minority partner, with discussions underway. Producer Sabine Tettenborn calls it "a warm, funny workplace dramedy" exploring love, identity, and intimate data.

Why This Matters for the Future of European TV

The Euro-Atlantic Series Co-Pro Pitch Program isn't just about bringing projects to market—it's about creating a sustainable ecosystem where storytelling can thrive. It reflects a broader industry shift toward international collaboration, especially in an era where audiences crave content that resonates across borders.

These projects are not only pushing creative boundaries but also challenging traditional narratives and exploring complex themes like gender, identity, and social justice. From the political intrigue of "The Invisible Ink" to the emotional depth of "Listen to My Lips," the program's selection speaks to the evolving sophistication of European television storytelling.

For creators and financiers alike, this initiative offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers who understand the nuances of cross-cultural production. It's a testament to the growing importance of platforms that bridge the gap between European and Atlantic markets, fostering not just investment but also shared vision.

The Next Chapter

As the Iberseries & Platino Industria confab continues in Madrid from September 29 to October 2, we can expect more than just pitches. The Euro-Atlantic Series Co-Pro Pitch Program is laying the groundwork for a new era of collaboration—one that recognizes the power of storytelling to unite cultures and transcend borders.

The series projects featured here represent only a fraction of what's possible when talent meets opportunity. In a world where content consumption is increasingly global, these initiatives are crucial for ensuring that the stories we tell—and the voices that tell them—remain diverse, dynamic, and authentically European.