Influential Israeli creator Hagai Levi (“The Affair,” “Scenes From a Marriage”) and prominent Spanish TV-making duo Jorge and Alberto Sánchez-Cabezudo (“La Zona”) won best international and national series at Barcelona’s Serielizados for “Etty” and “Killing a Bear” respectively. The prizes for Serielizados two competitive sections were announced Saturday night at a Serielizados awards ceremony. Both series in six-parts reflect the boldness of their respective creators, who broke new ground within traditional genres.
In the French-Dutch-German show “Etty,” based on Dutch Jewish author Etty Hillesum’s diaries, Levi deliberately opted for a modern spin to the period piece in which we follow the passionate 27-year-old Etty as she embarks on a spiritual and emotional journey in a Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. In the Spanish show “Killing a Bear” (“Matar a un oso”) the Sánchez-Cabezudo brothers brought innovation to the crime genre, making a bear the victim, relating the crime from the POV of multiple characters, and expanding the number of prime suspects to a tight community of 262 Anti-Bears chat room in Spain’s idyllic high-Pyrenean Val d’Arán. Both series also stand out among the best shows that Europe currently has to offer, with the stamp of approval from quality-maker Arte France.
Indeed, the European cultural channel was a major backer of Levi’s historical drama – conceived as a feature film in six episodes – which world-premiered out of competition in Venice, was highlighted at Series Mania, and bowed in French cinemas May 6 before launching on Arte.tv on May 16. Shepherded by Les Films du Poisson, “Etty” is sold internationally by Studio TF1. The Movistar Plus Original, produced by the Sánchez-Cabezudo brothers’ Studio TF1-owned Kubik Films, will bow in Spain Dec. 1.
Besides the top win for “Etty,” Arte France also scooped best screenplay at Serielizados’ official International Selection Awards for the French comedy “Camarades” co-created and co-penned by Benjamin Charbit (“Under Control”) and Dominique Baumart (“The Bureau”). Another comedy wooed the international jury: BBC’s hit show “Ann Droid” for which its creator, Bafta-nominated Diane Morgan (“Mandy,” “Cun”), won best performance for her turn as the second-hand robot Linda. On the national competition front, all four selected series won accolades.
Next to “Killing a Bear,” the anticipated drama “Segunda Temporada” from the hot creators of Filmin’s “Autodefensa” – writer-director Miguel Ángel Blanca and co-writers Berta Prieto and Víctor Diago – scooped best screenplay. Bringing together a washed-up ghost-writer and a fading trap legend fresh out of jail, the show was developed as part of Serielizados Kick talent lab, before making it as a 7-30-minute drama produced by Barcelona-based Boogaloo Films and Canada. Paris-based Oble handles sales.
Beloved Spanish-acting queen Carmen Machi (“Aida,” “La Mesías”), bagged a fresh best actress nod for her performnce as tax inspector Sara Santano in the second season of the Movistar Plus-100 Balas’ “Celeste” Season 2 which bowed as a world premiere in Barcelona. Last year the show’s creator Diego San José and helmer Elena Trapé scooped two Serielizados wins for “Yakarta,” anode example of their inimitable downbeat but sharply observant humor. Elsewhere, the buzzy HBO Max-3Cat co-commissioned dramedy “In Vitro” which offers a witty and heart-warming look at fertility treatments, received a Special Mention.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
