Content Americas, the rapidly emerging trade event based in Miami, has revealed the contenders for its 2024 Content Americas CoPro Pitch and Content Americas Hispanic Kids Programming Pitch.
Reportedly, C21, the event organizer, received over 80 submissions for the CoPro Pitch and more than 50 for the Kids Pitch, showcasing the prowess of seasoned producers from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal.
The CoPro Pitch finalists include the scripted series “Hot Sur,” an adaptation of Laura Restrepo’s bestseller narrating the story of an undocumented Mexican immigrant caring for her bipolar sister in the U.S. This project comes from the Chilean powerhouse Fabula, led by Pablo and Juan de Dios Larrain, in collaboration with Fremantle. Spain’s The Mediapro Studio has submitted “El mal,” an 8-episode thriller inspired by real events, set in Barcelona during the pandemic lockdown, where a serial killer targets the homeless.
At the forefront of the Hispanic Kids Programming Pitch are the animated adventure “The Ballad of the Phoenix” from Manolo Caro’s Woo Films and the Spanish-Argentine adventure comedy “Norbert” from Spain’s Captain Araña and Aqui y Alli Films and Argentina’s Vista Sur.
These eight selected finalists for the CoPro Pitch and seven for the Kids Pitch will present their projects in live sessions during the annual event on January 23 and 24. Winners stand to receive $20,000 worth of marketing across C21Media’s digital, print, and event products to support their development and pre-sales promotion.
Now in its second edition, Content Americas, scheduled for January 23-25 at the newly renovated Hilton Miami Downtown, anticipates around 2,000 delegates, including 750 buyers. C21 editor-in-chief & managing director David Jenkinson emphasized the need for smart, cost-effective events in the content business, with C21 being a leading player delivering on that front.
Considered a promising new market in the Latin American landscape, Content Americas hosts various new events, such as pitches, an AI Academy afternoon, and the inaugural Rose d’Or Latinos Awards, an extension of Europe’s Rose d’Or Awards established in 1961.
Under the leadership of jury chairman Marcos Santana, CEO of Mas Ros Media, the awards ceremony is scheduled for January 23 at the Hilton Miami Downtown. Santana expressed humility at witnessing the scale and breadth of creativity across the sector and looked forward to celebrating the best of the best.
Reflecting on lessons learned from the first successful edition, Jenkinson acknowledged the shift in perception of the Hispanic market, emphasizing that Content Americas has elevated it from playing second fiddle to the North American business in Miami.
Eze Olzanski of EO Media highlighted the dual purpose of Content Americas, acting as a meeting point for key Latin American, U.S., and international players, and facilitating connections with local companies for co-production and distribution efforts.
The event features an impressive lineup of speakers and jurors, including ViX CEO Pierluigi Gazzolo, Secuoya Content Group’s Raúl Berdonés, Wild Sheep Content’s Erik Barmack, Banijay Americas CEO Ben Samek, Rubicon Global Media’s Chris Albrecht and Jorge Granier, and Warner Bros. Discovery’s head of content, Mariano César.
Prominent figures like Spanish director-producer Alex de la Iglesia, Pokeepsie Films co-founder Carolina Bang, and Argentina’s Oscar-winning Juan José Campanella participate in a panel on creative producers of the future.
Additionally, Floresta VP and managing director Adriana ‘Dida’ Silva, Boxfish TV president Diego Guebel, and The Mediapro Studio’s head of non-fiction content, Amparo Castellano, engage in a panel on unscripted co-production between Latin America and Spain. Telemundo’s Sandra Smester contributes to a U.S. Hispanic panel, and RTVE’s José Pastor joins a lineup of Spanish commissioners on the agenda.
