Serielizados TV Festival Prizes: Hagai Levi’s ‘Etty’ and ‘Astonishing’ ‘Killing a Bear’ Win Big as ‘El Observatorio’ Bags the Mind the Gap Pitch Prize

The 13th edition of the Serielizados TV Festival in Barcelona celebrated creative breakthroughs in television storytelling, spotlighting acclaimed works by international and Spanish creators. The festival’s awards ceremony, held recently, recognized Hagai Levi’s historical drama ‘Etty’ as the best international series, while the Spanish sibling duo Jorge and Alberto Sánchez-Cabezudo secured the national series prize for their innovative crime drama ‘Killing a Bear’ (‘Matar a un oso’).

Levi’s ‘Etty’ is a six-episode period drama that reimagines the wartime diaries of Dutch Jewish writer Etty Hillesum. This French-Dutch-German co-production infuses a modern sensibility into the narrative of Etty’s spiritual and emotional evolution amid Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. The series received support from Arte France, which also handled its French theatrical release and digital launch. International sales for ‘Etty’ are managed by Studio TF1, and the series has garnered attention at major festivals including Venice and Series Mania.

Conversely, ‘Killing a Bear’ offers a fresh take on the crime genre by focusing on a bear as the victim and exploring the case through multiple perspectives within a specific online community in Spain’s Val d’Arán region. Produced by Kubik Films with backing from Movistar Plus, this series premiered in Spain shortly after debuting at the Valladolid Film Festival. It exemplifies Arte France’s successful collaboration with Spanish platforms and producers, underscoring the vibrant cross-border exchanges flourishing in European television.

The festival’s international competition also celebrated Arte France’s involvement in the French comedy ‘Camarades,’ which took the best screenplay award. Meanwhile, BBC’s ‘Ann Droid,’ a comedy featuring Diane Morgan as a second-hand robot, garnered recognition for Morgan’s performance.

On the Spanish front, all four series selected for the national competition earned accolades. Alongside ‘Killing a Bear,’ the drama ‘Segunda Temporada’ was honored for its screenplay. Created by Miguel Ángel Blanca and co-writers Berta Prieto and Víctor Diago, this series merges the worlds of a washed-out ghostwriter and a former trap music artist. It was developed through the Serielizados Kick talent lab and is produced by Boogaloo Films with sales managed by Oble.

Veteran actress Carmen Machi received the best actress award for her role in the second season of ‘Celeste,’ a Movistar Plus and 100 Balas production. The series premiered at the festival and continues the trend of sharply observed storytelling by creators Diego San José and Elena Trapé, known for their previous successes at Serielizados.

The dramedy ‘In Vitro,’ co-commissioned by HBO Max and 3Cat, earned a Special Mention for its engaging portrayal of fertility treatments. Created by Marc Crehuet and Alejandra Guimerà, the series was praised for its broad appeal and potential for international adaptations. It launched simultaneously on HBO Max and 3Cat in Spain, achieving strong viewership on regional public television.

Beyond the screenings and awards, the festival featured masterclasses with notable figures including Hagai Levi, Steven Moffat, and Sue Vertue, alongside showcases like the Miniput quality TV festival. A highlight was the ‘Mind the Gap’ pitch competition, which awarded €5,500 to ‘El Observatorio,’ a project by Laura Roqué, Luis Sorolla, and Eloy Zamora. Set in a Sierra Morena village, the story revolves around astrophysicists investigating mysterious phenomena, blending scientific inquiry with personal drama. The project is currently in early development and seeking production partners.

Two additional pitch projects addressing themes of abuse received honorable mentions. These include the Finnish psychological drama ‘Dangerous Woman’ and the Spanish series ‘Callback,’ created by sisters Joana and Mireia Vilapuig. The latter also secured a €2,000 award from the Konga Music Agency.

Festival co-founder and programmer Betu Martínez Molero emphasized Serielizados’ growth as a premier platform for quality television in Southern Europe. The event attracted 18,000 attendees and featured more than 60 activities, including over 30 premieres. The festival’s curated approach fosters connections between local creators and international industry players, enhancing the visibility of both national and global productions.

Following the in-person festivities, the festival’s showcased series will be available on the streaming platform Filmin from November 10 to 22. This digital extension supports Serielizados’ mission to elevate innovative storytelling and broaden audiences for carefully selected television content.