Iberseries & Platino Industria, the Madrid confab, is shifting its format, according to Samuel Castro, who co-directs the event. Instead of straightforward speaker-audience sessions, the gathering is now steering toward more business-oriented activities.
“Over the past few years, we’ve focused a lot on fairly one-way conversations with speakers talking to an audience but we’re now also starting to promote more B2B activities during the event: more business-focused opportunities and more spaces for people to meet and connect,” Castro said.
From Sept. 29 through Oct. 2, the sixth edition unfolds under the direction of EGEDA and Fundación Secuoya, working together with FIPCA, while the Madrid Film Office and Madrid Film Region take on sponsorship.
Business Activities Lead the Way
The event has added more pitch sessions, led by the new Euro-Atlantic Series Co-Pro Pitch program, which brings together European TV projects looking to advance their development. Screenwriter meetings are also on the schedule, this time in collaboration with the SGAE Foundation and DAMA.
Fourteen writers from Recreas, DAMA’s project incubator, will show off their work to the industry. The submission process brought in nearly 300 proposals for unreleased fiction, documentary and animation projects.
“All of this reflects the strategic shift we’re making this year. I’d like to say that now that we’re in our sixth edition, the event has truly evolved,” Castro said.
A number of new major players will be making their debut appearances at the event, among them the BBC, Arte, AppleTV+, Telefe Argentina and Colombia’s Caracol TV. The gathering is anticipating the presence of roughly 220 buyers and about 50 film commissioners.
The top-tier buyers include:
- Amazon MGM Studios/Prime Video
- Netflix
- AMC Networks
- Atresmedia
- Banijay Entertainment
- Canal+
- Disney
- Globo
- Mediaset
- Movistar Plus+
- ZDF Studios
AI Takes Center Stage
Castro said the event is framing itself within the wider discussion about regulation, adding that this year the gathering signed agreements with the SGAE Foundation and DAMA.
“The ability to create stories should always be based on a fully human, author-driven concept and development. AI should be used as a tool, not as an end in itself,” Castro pointed out.
Concepción Diaz, Google’s Head of AI Trainings EMEA, is leading a new AI Workshop for creators run by Juan Alia, who co-directs Iberseries & Platino Industria with his focus on cinema while Castro handles series.
“This year, ‘Pelagius,’ Spain’s first feature made with generative AI, world premieres at the event. Produced by Tiki Group, Elefantec Global and Recrea Films, the 97-minute historical epic also features animation while all voices were performed by Asturian actors,” Alia said.
Miguel Asensio Llamas directs and produces “Pelagius”, which centers on Asturian clans under the leadership of Pelagius rising up against the encroaching Umayyad Caliphate.
“What’s most interesting about initiatives like ‘Pelagius’ is the conversation they open up about the future of audiovisual creation. Generative AI is introducing tools that could transform development, production and post-production and we’re still very much in an experimental phase,” Alia noted.
Microdramas and Mexico’s Turn
Alia sees microdramas as another sign of changing viewing habits.
“Microdramas are another example of how viewing habits are changing. Designed for fast, mobile-first consumption, they’re gaining particular traction in certain markets,” he added.
This year Mexican cinema has been singled out for special attention, and Alia explained why she believed the selection made sense.
“That’s why Mexico was a natural choice this year. The aim is not only to celebrate its cinema, but to showcase the ecosystem behind it and create opportunities for business, co-production and international reach. Mexico has long been a cultural reference in Latin America; the next step is to make its industrial capacity more visible and better connected to the global market.”
Adriana Castillo, general coordinator, Platino Industria, agreed.
She spoke the words herself, “Mexico has highly experienced professionals, strong infrastructure, studios, production services, post-production and VFX and a proven ability to work on both national and international productions,”.
“We want Mexico to be seen not only through its films or its best-known names, but as a place where projects can be developed, partners found and long-term alliances built.”
“The value of the focus is precisely that: bringing the industry together with producers, studios, platforms, funds and institutions from other countries, and creating space for those conversations. Mexico already has a strong international presence; the goal is to turn that into more projects, more co-productions and lasting relationships.”
A Crowded Market With Big Changes Ahead
Alia reflected on the industry, noting that getting films and series to their audiences has grown harder in a crowded market, with financing having also become more complicated.
“Data is informing decisions, but shouldn’t replace creative judgment. The industry must also address sustainability, distribution and technological change, making spaces like Iberseries & Platino Industria vital for connecting markets, talent and projects,” he said.
“Getting films and series to their audiences is increasingly difficult in a crowded market, while financing has become more complex.”
The conference is expected to surpass last year’s 2,500 accreditations.
What We Make of It
The conference is moving toward business matchmaking and hosting an AI workshop led by Google’s AI lead, and the world premiere of “Pelagius,” which marks the first time a feature has been made entirely by AI. These changes show the event embracing modern production methods while keeping its emphasis on storytelling intact.
The buyers list reads like a who’s who of global television, and the addition of new international broadcasters signals the event’s growing reach. The AI focus is smart positioning — the industry is wrestling with regulation, and signing agreements with creator organizations shows the conference wants to be part of the conversation.
Two smaller trends, microdrama and the Mexican focus, match the same pattern even though they are smaller bets. Both are about new formats, new audiences and new ways to connect. The conference has changed its purpose too. It is no longer merely a place to listen to speakers; it has become a marketplace.
That is a good call.
Source material: “Madrid’s Iberseries & Platino Industria Pivots Toward More B2B Activities Where the Hot Button Issues of AI and Microdramas Also Take Center Stage,” Variety.
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