Madrid-based Confab Iberseries & Platino Industrial, currently based in the 5th edition, welcomed Korea as the country this year and invited the Korean Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) to its strategic partner.
This groundbreaking alliance reaffirms the international ambitions of the annual event as it expands its role as a bridge between Asia, Ibero-American and Europe.
“We’ve gone from a transatlantic event to an international event,” said co-director Samuel Castro, who handles the television industry side while co-director Juan Aria manages the film. ZDF, RAI and beta players are also one of the participants this year.
Kocca’s presence in the Iberseries includes pitching sessions, meetings and an exclusive showcase of Korean titles.
“I say this as both a cinema and a series devourer. I think Korean content really connects with European and North American audiences. Korean storytelling blends well with our own content style and helps to promote content sales, acquisitions and even co-production,” Castro said.
The Iberseries will continue to offer core programs such as a co-production forum, pitch sessions, screenings and expert panels, but will introduce new talks on trends such as remakes and strategies to boost the global reach of Latin American content.
Meanwhile, Mexican comedian producer Eugenio Derbez will now give a keynote address on his prime video program “Travel with the Derbez” in its fifth season, and will later give a leading speech. He concludes his visit with the cast of “Eljucio,” which explores the pursuit of sexual abuse cases, along with the cast of “Eljucio,” produced by the 3PAS studio.
“We say it’s new to us, along with companies led by MediaPro and HBO, with companies focusing on non-scripted formats. The Iberseries has opened programming to include content and platforms that we would like to discuss with companies led by Undiapro and HBO.
“As an event, we need to be prepared to provide real business opportunities for producers in that evolving space,” he recalls.
Another hot button topic, AI, will also lead the debate on artificial intelligence in the audiovisual cluster in Madrid, an economic interest group consisting of over 100 Madrid-based companies. Focuses on specific cases, production workflows, and technical procedures for visual effects (VFX).
“Conversation centers around how artificial intelligence can be a useful tool, rather than engage in controversy that replaces professional work,” Castro pointed out.
On the film side, Aria observed a rapid change in the Ibero-American audiovisual industry in recent years. “Today, major trends include the integration of international co-production, which helps to expand audiences and optimize resources. These include the increased commitment of streaming platforms to locally produced content with global appeal, and the increased specialization of creative and technical teams,” he said.
Looking back at the challenges faced by Ibero-American filmmakers today, Alía noted that fundraising and accessing sustainable production models remains challenging, especially in a competitive environment. “Distribution is another important hurdle. It ensures that their work reaches both cinemas and streaming platforms and connects with a wider audience,” he said.
“A further challenge is adapting to the evolving dynamics of global markets, which increasingly cherishes the ability to resonate with an international audience without losing their diverse voices and local identity,” he said.
Therefore, Iberseries plans to expand its training workshops and pitch sessions. As these are one of the most in-demand activities for certified participants, he added, “As the event continues to grow, our goal is to provide an increasingly diverse option to meet the needs of participants and to maximize their experience with iverse.”
