Industry

The inaugural edition of Series Match: Germany & Ibero-America recently took place, marking a new collaboration between the Berlinale Series Market and Iberseries & Platino Industria. Held within the European Film Market in Berlin, the initiative gathered top-tier production companies, creators, and industry leaders to advance high-end scripted projects with global potential.

The primary goal of the event is to streamline co-production for projects in their early development phases, fostering stronger ties between Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. Participating German firms included UFA Fiction, Zeitsprung Pictures, Studio Zentral, and SKP Entertainment. On the Ibero-American side, the forum featured Movioca and Boutique Filmes from Brazil, Villano from Chile, Alterna Media from Uruguay, and Spain’s Funicular Films.

The two-day program, hosted at the Studio Babelsberg Lounge, focused on creative exchange and strategic partnerships. Among the highlights, SKP Entertainment, led by Alexander Keil and Stefan Stuckmann, introduced "The Runaway", a series based on the autobiography of a heavy metal guitarist in Brazil, and the political thriller "The Manhunt", which follows a journalist investigating digital manipulation of historical crimes. Keil noted that the Spanish-speaking market offers a strategic edge for joint development and financing, especially given the current investment trends of global streaming platforms.

Other ambitious projects showcased included "El Abuso", directed by Fernando Meirelles and César Charlone, centered on a massive prison break in Uruguay in 1971. Also featured were "Monika – Victory or Death", a transcontinental co-production, and "A casa das setes mulheres", a contemporary female-led reimagining of a Brazilian classic by Angela Chaves.

The selection also touched on diverse genres, including psychological dramas like "Tierra quemada", thrillers such as "Assassinos no Paraiso", and industry-centric stories like "Callback". Representatives from the Brazilian house Movioca emphasized that this space is essential for connecting with potential partners and expanding the international footprint of Ibero-American content.

By establishing this first edition, Series Match positions itself as a key strategic bridge between Europe and Latin America, facilitating financial and creative synergies across the German, Spanish, and Portuguese-speaking markets.