How Barcelona’s Serielizados Grew From a University Project to One of Spain’s Most Important TV Festivals, and Its Ever Greater International Edge (EXCLUSIVE)

The journey of Barcelona’s Serielizados festival is a compelling narrative of passion, foresight, and adaptation. What began as a modest university project has blossomed into one of Spain’s most significant television festivals, now boasting an increasingly robust international presence and an influential industry platform.

From University Dream to National Hub

In 2013, Serielizados took its first steps as an online magazine, a final-year university project conceived by co-founders Betu Molero and Víctor Sala. The initial vision was to create a digital space dedicated to TV series, complemented by smaller events like masterclasses where showrunners could introduce their work. This online presence eventually paved the way for a more ambitious undertaking: a festival designed to connect directly with their growing online audience.

At a time when global streaming giants like Netflix, Prime Video, and HBO had not yet established a foothold in Spain, and awareness of other international series festivals was limited, Serielizados emerged as a pioneering initiative. The co-founders’ decision to launch a festival proved prescient, tapping into a nascent but passionate fan base for serialized storytelling.

Key Milestones and Strategic Evolution

A pivotal moment in Serielizados’ early development arrived in 2015 with the visit of acclaimed showrunner Dan Harmon (known for “Rick & Morty” and “Community”). This event significantly elevated the festival’s profile, garnering considerable media attention and audience awareness.

The subsequent arrival of Netflix in Spain in late 2015, followed by HBO a year later, further catalyzed the growth of the Spanish series landscape, which Serielizados adeptly navigated. The festival now collaborates with virtually every major platform in Spain, offering a curated program that blends premieres with independent series, accessible both physically at the festival and online through its partnership with Spanish streamer Filmin.

Víctor Sala emphasizes that Serielizados offers more than just premieres and Q&As. The festival’s DNA is rooted in a broader goal: to elevate TV series to the realm of high culture by showcasing a diverse program that includes classics, documentary series, and even podcasts.

A Curated Program for a Diverse Audience

The selection process for Serielizados is meticulous, with a key criterion being that national series must have a Spanish or Catalan premiere, while international shows need to have been distributed in their domestic country within a year. The festival prides itself on selecting “the best of the best shows from around the world,” prioritizing strong storytelling and visionary works across all genres.

The curation is often a collaborative effort with broadcasters and platforms, aimed at promoting upcoming shows and generating anticipation. Serielizados also champions series without prior Spanish distribution; in some instances, shows that premiered at the festival, such as “A Better Man” and “Reykjavik Fusion,” have subsequently secured distribution deals in Spain.

The Filmin Partnership: Democratizing Access

A significant strategic evolution for Serielizados came in 2020 with its collaboration with Filmin, spurred by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. This partnership ensured the festival’s continuity and, unexpectedly, transformed its reach. By going online, Serielizados expanded its audience beyond Barcelona, making the festival accessible across Spain.

This hybrid model (on-site and online) has been a resounding success, with the festival now drawing over 205,000 online viewers in addition to its physical attendees. The Filmin collaboration has also empowered Serielizados to make bolder editorial choices, bringing a wider array of international and independent series to a larger Spanish audience.

Embracing an Ever Greater International Edge

Serielizados has developed a noticeable appreciation for Nordic content, with a significant portion of its international competition often hailing from the region. Shows like “The Danish Woman,” “Reykjavik Fusion,” “A Better Man,” and “A Life’s Worth” exemplify this focus. The festival actively fosters these connections, collaborating with institutions like the Göteborg Film Festival, the Swedish Institute, and the Swedish Embassy in Spain.

The festival consistently attracts global talent, evident in masterclasses by figures such as Benedikt Erlingsson and Henriette Steenstrup. A particularly notable achievement was hosting a masterclass with Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under,” “True Blood”), a collaboration with the Geneva International Film Festival, underscoring Serielizados’ commitment to working with other European festivals.

Spotlighting Spanish Drama

While Serielizados initially focused on international shows and showrunners, hosting luminaries like Dan Harmon, David Simon, Vince Gilligan, and Jesse Armstrong, its attention has increasingly turned to national productions. The exponential growth in storytelling and visual quality within Spanish drama, particularly following the global success of Netflix’s “La casa de papel” (“Money Heist”) in 2019, made this shift crucial.

The festival now dedicates substantial programming to Spanish content, with several shows competing in the Spanish official competition. Recent editions have opened with significant co-productions like “The Anatomy of a Moment” (Movistar Plus+ and Arte France) and featured works from acclaimed showrunners like Diego San José (“Jakarta”). The festival also highlights diverse narratives, such as the young adult Catalan show “Sense FilTRES,” which explores themes of identity and self-realization.

Moreover, Serielizados actively showcases regional productions, exemplified by the world premiere of Basque series like “Argi Gorriak” and screenings of “Zeru Ahoak,” reflecting the fruitful results of regional broadcast efforts and incentives.

Beyond Fiction: The Rise of Docu-Series

Reflecting a growing global appetite for factual storytelling, documentary series have carved out a special and expanding place at Serielizados. The festival highlights a selection of compelling titles, including “The Agent,” “The Black Swan,” “La Fugida,” “Nazi Cartel,” and “Missing in Murcia,” demonstrating the format’s increasing prominence across streaming platforms.

Serielizados Pro: Nurturing Industry Connections

Beyond its public program, Serielizados has significantly expanded its industry arm, Serielizados Pro. This strategic move aims to enhance the festival’s relevance for the Spanish and Catalan audiovisual industry. The introduction of initiatives like the “Mind the Gap” co-production pitch session underscores this ambition.

Unlike larger, more expansive industry events, Serielizados Pro focuses on a tailored, “boutique” approach, fostering quality conversations and networking opportunities among decision-makers. This initiative capitalizes on increased funding for Catalan series and co-productions, recognizing that the Spanish market continues to experience a boom in original content, a contrast to declines observed in other territories.

The industry section also delves into the unique characteristics of the Spanish market, such as co-productions between national broadcaster RTVE and regional stations, examples of which have been showcased at previous festivals (e.g., “This is Not Sweden,” “Dieciocho,” “Zeru Ahoak”).

The Future of Serielizados

Looking ahead, Serielizados’ co-founders are considering new ventures. Among the potential next steps is a move into production, including documentaries. While still in its early stages, this potential expansion highlights the festival’s ongoing evolution and ambition within the ever-changing landscape of television and serialized content.

Conclusion

From its humble beginnings as a university project and online magazine, Barcelona’s Serielizados festival has undergone a remarkable transformation. Through strategic partnerships, a commitment to diverse and high-quality programming, and an astute understanding of industry trends, it has solidified its position as a vital cultural and professional hub for television in Spain. With its growing international reach and a proactive approach to industry engagement, Serielizados continues to shape and celebrate the art of serialized storytelling, cementing its place as an indispensable event for both audiences and professionals.