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En la nueva película del hispano-chileno, Julio Peña da vida al joven Cervantes. © Disney

¡Grandes noticias! La película El cautivo, de Alejandro Amenábar (Los otros), tendrá su estreno mundial en el Festival Internacional de Cine de Toronto (TIFF), que se celebra del 4 al 14 de septiembre, dentro de la sección Special Presentations. No es la primera vez del cineasta hispano-chileno en el certamen canadiense: Mar adentro y Mientras dure la guerra se presentaron en la misma sección.

El cautivo se sitúa en el año 1575 cuando el joven Miguel de Cervantes, herido en combate naval, es capturado en alta mar por corsarios argelinos a su regreso a España. Consciente de que le espera una muerte cruel en Argel si no paga pronto su rescate, Miguel descubre un refugio inesperado en su pasión por contar historias. Sus fascinantes relatos devuelven la esperanza a sus compañeros de prisión y acaban atrayendo la atención de Hassan,...

Estreno en cines en septiembre. © Disney

Ya tenemos el primer tráiler y póster de la película El cautivo, de Alejandro Amenábar.

El cautivo se sitúa en el año 1575 cuando el joven Miguel de Cervantes, herido en combate naval, es capturado en alta mar por corsarios argelinos a su regreso a España. Consciente de que le espera una muerte cruel en Argel si no paga pronto su rescate, Miguel descubre un refugio inesperado en su pasión por contar historias. Sus fascinantes relatos devuelven la esperanza a sus compañeros de prisión y acaban atrayendo la atención de Hassan, el misterioso y temido Bajá de Argel, con quien empieza a desarrollar una extraña afinidad. A medida que crece el conflicto entre sus compañeros de prisión, Miguel, impulsado por su inquebrantable optimismo, comienza a idear un audaz plan de fuga.

La película está protagonizada por Julio Peña (Berlín) y Alessandro Borghi (Las ocho montañas...

Estreno en cines este otoño. © Disney

Ya tenemos primer tráiler de la película El cautivo, de Alejandro Amenábar.

El cautivo se sitúa en el año 1575 cuando el joven Miguel de Cervantes, herido en combate naval, es capturado en alta mar por corsarios argelinos a su regreso a España. Consciente de que le espera una muerte cruel en Argel si no paga pronto su rescate, Miguel descubre un refugio inesperado en su pasión por contar historias. Sus fascinantes relatos devuelven la esperanza a sus compañeros de prisión y acaban atrayendo la atención de Hassan, el misterioso y temido Bajá de Argel, con quien empieza a desarrollar una extraña afinidad. A medida que crece el conflicto entre sus compañeros de prisión, Miguel, impulsado por su inquebrantable optimismo, comienza a idear un audaz plan de fuga.

La película está protagonizada por Julio Peña (Berlín) y Alessandro Borghi (Las ocho montañas) junto a Miguel Rellán...

The sophomore edition of Spain’s South International Series Festival, unspooling in Cadiz from Oct. 25-30, will spotlight Andalusia’s burgeoning audiovisual sector.

More than twenty festival activities will focus on the Andalusian audiovisual sector, with industry panels, screenings and talks highlighting the strength of the region’s output.

While presenting this year’s festival poster, Sisf’s director Joan Alvarez declared that Andalusia is entering its “Hollywood moment.” The buzzy timing in the region sees not only increased production in the South but also greater support from local bodies such as Junta Andalusia and Andalusia’s public broadcaster Canal Sur, plus the creation of events like the South International Series Festival, which offers a gathering place for local industry heads.

“We believe it’s a great opportunity for European producers to focus on what is going on in Andalusia,” Head of Programming and Industry at Sisf Carles Montiel told...

Netflix’s hit Spanish comedy series “Machos Alfa,” “Alpha Males” in English, got the green light for a fourth season in Spain and a fourth international adaptation in Germany, joining other in-production adaptations of the show in France, the Netherlands and Italy.

“Machos Alfa” is the story of four middle-aged friends experiencing midlife crises in parallel as they attempt to adapt to modern sensibilities regarding masculinity. It was created and is written by Alberto and Laura Caballero, Spanish sitcom royalty who both worked on the iconic series “Aquí no hay quien viva” and “La que se avecina.”

The series launched in December 2022 and quickly became one of Spain’s most popular comedy series, where it ranked in Netflix’s top 10 for 13 weeks. Season 2 launched in February of this year, and Season 3 recently wrapped production, although no release date has been announced yet.

Germany’s version of “Machos Alfa,” which is currently untitled,...

Amazon hosted its annual Prime Video Presents event in Madrid this afternoon, where the streaming giant made a raft of announcements, including new theatrical features, true crime docuseries, returning drama programs and the next season of Spain’s uber-popular singing competition “Operación Triunfo.”

Ricardo Carbonero, director of Prime Video in Spain and Portugal, and Maria José Rodríguez, head of Amazon Studios’ Spanish Originals, were in attendance. Joining them were local stars Mario Casas (“Tres metros sobre el cielo”), Elena Anaya (“The Skin I Live In”), Malena Alterio (“Aquí no hay quien viva”), Najwa Nimri (“Money Heist”), Anna Castillo (“Nowhere”) and Maxi Iglesias (“Los artistas: primeros trazos”). Also in attendence were several of the streamer’s current filmakers, including Dani de la Torre (“La sombra de la ley”), Paula Ortiz (“La novia”), Hugo Stuven (“El desafio”) and Ginesta Guindal (“Élite”).

Prime Video Presents, Madrid

According to the streamer, the first half...

Descubre todos los detalles de la película. © Disney

Comienza el rodaje de “El Cautivo”, la nueva película de Alejandro Amenábar (“Los Otros”) que narra las vivencias y aventuras del joven Miguel de Cervantes durante su cautiverio en Argel.

La película se sitúa en el año 1575 cuando el joven Miguel de Cervantes, herido en combate naval, es capturado en alta mar por corsarios argelinos a su regreso a España. Consciente de que le espera una muerte cruel en Argel si no paga pronto su rescate, Miguel descubre un refugio inesperado en su pasión por contar historias. Sus fascinantes relatos devuelven la esperanza a sus compañeros de prisión y acaban atrayendo la atención de Hassan, el misterioso y temido Bajá de Argel, con quien empieza a desarrollar una extraña afinidad. A medida que crece el conflicto entre sus compañeros de prisión, Miguel, impulsado por su inquebrantable optimismo, comienza a idear un audaz plan de fuga.

As other major European broadcasters, Spain’s Atresmedia is making a large bet on its VOD content offer, focused around the high-profile streaming service Atresplayer, which ambitiously re-launches July 5.

Just until a few years ago, European TV giants treated their streaming operations to bedrock linear lineups. Those days have gone. At Annecy, BBC and France Télévisions were talking up their streaming services as their future. ITV and Germany’s Rtl are bowing their biggest plays on Ott operations, Itvx and Rtl+, respectively, powering up strong subscriptions’ hikes.

Belgium’s Vrt currently estimates “almost a 50/50 split” in its acquisitions budget as it focusing on “finding unique series that viewers wouldn’t expect from a public broadcaster for its streaming service,” Sven Van Lokeren, head of international fiction series acquisition at Belgium’s Vrt told Variety at February’s London TV Screenings.

In Spain, leading broadcaster Atresmedia is no exception. Atresplayer represents...

“El agua,” (Elena López Riera)

A Directors’ Fortnight title, the feature debut of Locarno winning López Riera (“Los Que Desean”), a fantasy-laced village-set critique of gender violence. S.A. Elle Driver

“Alcarràs,” (Carla Simón)

The 2022 Berlin Golden Bear winner, Simón’s follow-up to “Summer 1993” and the flagship title for Catalonia and Spain’s newest filmmaking generation. S.A. MK2 Films

“Amazing Elisa,” (Sádrac González-Perellón)

The next from 2017 BiFan Grand Jury Prize winner González-Perellón (“Black Hollow Cage”), once more mixing fantasy and family dynamics as Elisa, 12, plans revenge after her mother’s tragic death. S.A. Filmax

“The Beasts,” (Rodrigo Sorogoyen)

One of 2022’s most awaited Spanish titles, playing Cannes Premiere, a Galicia-set thriller from Oscar-nominee Sorogoyen (“Mother”), produced by Arcadia, Caballo Films and Le Pacte. S.A. Latido Films

“The Communion Girl,” (Víctor García)

A revenge thriller involving an urban legend about a girl in a communion dress. S.

Madrid will provide the backdrop for a new production starring two comic actors at the peak of their powers, Carlos Areces and Fernando Tejero. Late March saw filming get under way in the Spanish capital and surrounding area for El club del paro, a new project for David Marqués following the hugely successful co-screenwriting gig that was 2018’s Champions — directed by Javier Fesser and Spain’s highest-grossing (and most lauded) film of the year, taking almost €20 million at the box office. For his latest project, Marqués has turned his writing skills to devising a plot peopled by characters played by Carlos Areces (recently seen in One Careful Owner), Fernando Tejero (featured in 2020 musical My Heart Goes Boom!), Adrià Collado (who appeared alongside Tejero in the TV series Aquí no hay quien viva), Eric Francés (Rosa’s Wedding), Javier Botet (who could forget his turn in the pitch-black Amigo), María...

A burgeoning film-tv hub and shoot locale in Spain, Navarre is proving a hotbed for new companies and projects which are now helping the region to gain bigger visibility abroad. Some start-up, or standout Navarre-based outfits expected to attend this week’s on-site Conecta Fiction in Pamplona:

Adhokers Navarra

Created by Beatriz Acinas and José Luis Tejedor, Adhokers has offices in Madrid and Pamplona and produces TV contents and commercials. Upcoming projects include TV series “Encuentros en Villa Lancaster” and “Manual de usar y tirar.”

Apolo Films

Founded by legendary animation creator-entrepreneur Claudio Biern Boyd, indie studio Apolo has operated in Navarre since 2018, focusing on toon features inspired by well-known international brands. On Jan. 21, it will release in Spain swashbuckling adventure “Dogtanian & The Three Muskehounds,” the newest installment in the the 40-year-old iconic TV property. “Dogtanian” is helmed by Apolo creative director Toni García and written by “Puss in Boots...

Stepping out in promotion of tolerance, Sofia Vergara showed off her curves at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Friday night (October 8).

Wearing a low-cut green animal-print top with a black skirt and matching platform shoes, the Colombian actress happened to be on hand to partake in The 6th Annual Glsen Respect Awards.

Aside from starring on the hit ABC show "Modern Family," Miss Vergara is also currently set to produce a brand new comedy for the family-friendly network.

While no release date has been set thus far, reports tell that the show will be based on the Spanish series Aquí no hay quien viva (No one lives here).

Stepping out in promotion of tolerance, Sofia Vergara showed off her curves at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California on Friday night (October 8).

Wearing a low-cut green animal-print top with a black skirt and matching platform shoes, the Colombian actress happened to be on hand to partake in The 6th Annual Glsen Respect Awards.

Aside from starring on the hit ABm show "Modern Family," Miss Vergara is also currently set to produce a brand new comedy for the family-friendly network.

While no release date has been set thus far, reports tell that the show will be based on the Spanish series Aquí no hay quien viva (No one lives here).

In case you haven’t noticed, it’s pilot season and tons of projects are being developed and picked up in preparation for the next fall TV season. Two more have just been added into the mix. First up, Deadline reports Kevin Bacon is developing a comedy series at HBO with an eye towards starring in it. Based on Clint McCown’s 1995 book The Member-Guest, the series will follow a burned-out golf pro of a 9-hole course who just wants one more shot at the tour. His comeback is constantly sidelined as he deals with the needs of the members of the Middle-American country club who are grappling with dashed dreams of their own. Writer/producer Steve Pink (High Fidelity) will write the script, and it sounds like yet another great series to look forward to on cable.

Hit the jump for details on a new series from resident Modern Family hottie Sofia Vergara.

Daniel Radcliffe has been a vocal supporter of The Trevor Project for quite some time, so it’s no surprise he’s speaking out about the epidemic of Glbt teen suicides from bullying. “Learning about the suicide deaths of Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh, Asher Walker, Billy Lucas and Justin Aaberg has been heartbreaking for me. These young people were bullied and tormented by people that should have been their friends. We have a responsibility to be better to each other, and accept each others' differences regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ability, or religion and stand up for someone when they're bullied."

Ben Silverman, the man many say nearly destroyed NBC, is set to produce I Hate This Place with Modern Family’s Sofia Vergara. Based on a Spanish program called Aquí no hay quien viva, it centers on a building superintendant and wacky tenants.

MTV continues to take...

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is reportedly finalising a deal with ABC to produce a new comedy project. Deadline claims that the actress will work with producer Ben Silverman on an adaptation of popular Spanish series Aquí no hay quien viva, loosely translated as 'I Hate This Place'. The original show follows a father and son who share an apartment building with their eccentric relatives and must (more)...

Exclusive: Ben Silverman is returning to scripted television via the same route that made him an independent producer. ABC is finalizing a deal for a single-camera comedy based on the popular Spanish series Aquí no hay quien viva (loosely translated as I Hate This Place). Silverman will executive produce with Sofia Vergara, star of the network's Emmy-winning family comedy Modern Family. Craig Doyle has been tapped to write the adaptation, which marks the first broadcast scripted project for Silverman's Iac-based company Electus which he launched last summer following his rocky two-year tenure at NBC. I Hate This Place is a multi-cultural and multi-generational comedy in the tone of Modern Family and set in an apartment building. It follows the lives of an old school father and his corner-cutting son who must somehow work together to manage the outrageously eccentric tenants of the building that has been in their family for generations.

A lesbian police officer and her forensics expert girlfriend sneaking a quickie at work. A lesbian doctor and a female nurse house-hunting together after finally reuniting. A young woman trying to figure out how to tell her boyfriend of eight years that she's fallen in love with a woman.

No, this isn't the lineup of an American gay TV channel — this is what you'll see on some of the most popular national primetime series in Spain.

While the American primetime television landscape is virtually barren when it comes to lesbian and bisexual visibility — with very few lesbian/bi characters on broadcast TV, and only slightly more on cable or premium channels — lesbian/bi characters are flourishing on mainstream Spanish TV shows.

Spanish TV wasn't always this inclusive. Only 10 years ago, Lgbt characters were primarily limited to smaller shows on regional channels, with a few exceptions such as the lesbian couple...