Iberseries & Platino Industria Embraces Asia and Europe

According To The variety Madrid-based confab Iberseries & Platino Industria, now on its fifth edition, welcomes South Korea as this year’s Country in Focus and has invited the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) to become a strategic partner. This groundbreaking alliance reaffirms the annual event’s international ambition as it broadens its role to serve as a bridge between Asia, Ibero-America and Europe. “We’ve gone from being a transatlantic event to becoming an international one,” said co-director Samuel Castro, who handles the TV industry side while co-director Juan Alía manages film. Players from ZDF, RAI and Beta are also among the participants this year. KOCCA’s presence at Iberseries will include pitching sessions, conferences and an exclusive showcase of Korean titles with high global appeal. “I say this both as a cinephile and as someone who devours series: I believe Korean content has really connected with European and North American audiences. Korean storytelling aligns well with our own content style and I think that can help facilitate content sales, acquisitions and even co-productions,” said Castro. While Iberseries will continue to offer its core programs – co-production forums, pitch sessions, screenings and expert panels – it will be introducing new talks on trends such as remakes and strategies to boost Latin American content’s worldwide reach, said Castro. Meanwhile Mexican comedian-producer Eugenio Derbez will deliver a keynote address and later lead talks on his Prime Video program, “Traveling with the Derbez,” now on its fifth season. He caps his visit with a talk alongside “Money Heist” lead Pedro Alonso and the cast of “El Juicio,” also produced by his 3Pas Studios, that explores the pursuit of a sexual abuse case. “We’ve opened up the programming to include content and platforms that want to discuss unscripted content, with companies led by Mediapro and HBO focusing on unscripted formats — which is something new for us,” he said, adding that Iberseries was also hosting a special conference with TikTok, YouTube and Twitch. “As an event, we need to be ready to offer producers real business opportunities in that evolving space,” he reflected. Another hot-button topic, AI, will also be covered, with the Madrid Audiovisual Cluster, an economic interest group comprising over 100 Madrid-based companies, leading discussions on artificial intelligence. It will focus on specific cases, production workflows and technical procedures for visual effects (VFX). “The conversation will center on how artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, rather than engaging in the controversy around AI replacing professional jobs,” Castro pointed out. On the film side, Alia observed how the Ibero-American audiovisual industry has undergone a rapid transformation in recent years. “Today, key trends include the consolidation of international co-productions, which help expand audiences and optimize resources; the growing commitment of streaming platforms to locally produced content with global appeal, and the increasing professionalization of creative and technical teams,” he said. Reflecting on the challenges facing Ibero-American filmmakers today, Alía noted that access to financing and sustainable production models remains difficult, especially in an increasingly competitive environment. “Distribution is another key hurdle – ensuring their work reaches both cinemas and streaming platforms to connect with broader audiences,” he noted. “A further challenge lies in adapting to the evolving dynamics of the global market, which increasingly values diverse voices and the ability to resonate with international audiences without losing local identity,” he observed, adding: “In this context, platforms like Iberseries & Platino Industria play a crucial role. They provide opportunities for co-production, training and visibility, helping creators overcome these barriers and strengthen their presence in the global industry.” To that end, Iberseries plans to expand training workshops and pitch sessions, as these are among the most in-demand activities for accredited participants, Alía said, adding: “As the event continues to grow, our goal is to offer an increasingly diverse range of options that respond to participants’ needs and help them make the most of their experience at Iberseries.”