Amazon (Still) Wants Hyper-Local Shows in Europe: ‘If We’re Commissioning a Big Spanish Show, I Need It to Be a Hit in Spain’

Katherine Tulich Netflix’s global hit drama series “Clickbait” was conceived and shot in Melbourne but the settings were California. If it were commissioned today, it would more likely have kept an Australian accent too.“Clickbait was commissioned out of the global team, but now that the ANZ team is operating, we are here to make Australian stories,” said Que Minh Luu, Netflix director of content, Australia and New Zealand recently.

Pep Guardiola says he will stay as Manchester City manager for life if he gets the chance. The Blues boss made that remarkable claim after being linked with the Brazil coach job when his current City deal expires at the end of next season, saying he would sign a ten-year deal if offered one.

Emiliano De Pablos Fathom Events and Spain’s Bosco Films are partnering to bring faith-based documentary “Vivo” (“Alive”) to about 700 North American locations on April 25.Produced by Hakuna Films and directed by Jorge Pareja, “Alive” narrates four real-life stories filmed in Spain of people who tell how Christian’s Eucharist transformed their lives.“Alive,” which previously bowed by Bosco in Spain and 14 Latin American territories, marks the Spanish indie distributor’s leap into the international market, where it’s been closing a bundle of exhibition agreements with local and international operators.The peak in “Alive’s” international theatrical career comes with the U.S. release after the Fathom Events deal.

EXCLUSIVE: Dave Logan, creator of Acorn TV’s Harry Wild and writer on Roald Dahl film To Olivia, is developing a crime drama TV series set in Malta with his Harry Wild co-writer Jo Spain.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorStudio 100, a leading studio for kids and family entertainment, and ZDF Studios, the commercial arm of the German public broadcaster, have joined forces to offer kids and family programs on Amazon Prime Channels under the channel brand Pash.The collaboration on Amazon Prime Channels will kick off in the U.K., Italy and Spain, with further territories in the planning. The programming lineup from both ZDFS’ and Studio 100’s catalogs will include well-known series and kids’ brands such as “Maya the Bee,” “Mia and Me,” “Heidi,” “Peter Pan,” “H20” and “Find Me in Paris.”The Pash brand was created by ZDF Studios, which has already launched Amazon Prime Channels in various countries.

The Wanted's recent tour will always be remembered by fans for the bravery of Tom Parker, who still appeared on stage despite his cancer battle.The band embarked on a UK tour at the beginning of March, performing in over ten different cities across the country, including London, Manchester and Birmingham. Tom was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in 2020, and had been undergoing gruelling treatment ever since, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

A close family friend of Tom Parker said that he was “doing really well” during his time on The Wanted tour before he deteriorated quickly afterwards. It was announced on Wednesday 30 March that the 33 year old tragically passed away from a brain tumour, after being diagnosed with incurable cancer.Tom appeared on tour with his band The Wanted in the weeks leading up to his untimely death and was described by a close family friend to have been “doing really well” as he took part in shows.

The Wanted fans have taken to social media to share videos of Tom Parker at the band's recent final gigs. Tom, 33, tragically passed away today aged 33, after being diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2020. Just days before his death, Tom had been performing with his bandmates Max George, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran and Jay McGuiness on stage.

We’re afraid we have terrible news.

The Wanted's Tom Parker has died at the age of 33 after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Emilio Mayorga “Son,” “Cosas de chicos,” “Votamos” and “36” are among eight shorts at this year’s Madrid en Corto, an increasingly key Spanish platform for new talent now in huge demand in a platform age.Recent past editions have included Carlota Pereda’s original “Cerdita,” whose feature version dazzled at January’s Sundance, and shorts from Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, director of Berlin Panorama player “Lullaby,” which swept the Málaga Film Festival on Saturday night, and Javier Marco whose “Josephine” proved a prominent feature debut at September’s San Sebastián. In all, over its 18 editions, titles in Madrid en Corto’s distribution catalog have earned 32 nominations for Spanish Academy Goya Awards. This year, the Goya fiction short winner (Verónica Echegui’s “Totem Loba”) doc short laureate (“Mama”) and “The Monkey,” which snagged best animated short, all feature in Madrid en Corto’s catalog.  Women look likely to make much of the running at this year’s edition, organised by ECAM Distribución, the distribution arm of the enterprising Madrid Film School (ECAM), whose Screen-Incubator has fast become one of the key industry development labs in Spain.

Ed Meza @edmezavarSpanish distributors, who have enjoyed a strong track record selling remake rights to local pics, have received a major boost this year with the Malaga Festival Industry Zone’s (MAFIZ) inaugural Remake Day event on Thursday.Leading film sales companies, among them Cinema Republic, Latido Films, Filmax and Feel Content, presented showcases of films considered particularly adaptable to foreign markets. Not surprisingly, comedies and genre pics made up most of the selections.David Castellanos’ Cinema Republic offered one strong example with Borja Cobeaga’s  hit 2009 romantic comedy “Pagafantas,” which has over the years sold to Germany, Italy and Mexico.Cinema Republic also touted Icíar Bollaín’s “Rosa’s Wedding” (“La Boda de Rosa”), about a woman in her mid-40s who decides to finally take charge of her life and fulfill her dream of starting a business.

WarnerMedia EMEA & Asia President Priya Dogra has talked up the U.S. media giant’s plan to “ramp up investment in local creative communities across Europe,” with 40 shows in the pipeline for 2023.