Influential Israeli filmmaker Hagai Levi, known for his work on “The Affair” and “Scenes From a Marriage,” alongside the distinguished Spanish television creators Jorge and Alberto Sánchez-Cabezudo, recognized for their series “La Zona,” have clinched the awards for best international and national series at the Serielizados festival in Barcelona for their respective works, “Etty” and “Killing a Bear.”
The awards for the competitive sections of the Serielizados festival were announced during a ceremony held on Saturday night.
Both series, consisting of six episodes, exemplify the unique vision of their creators, who have successfully innovated within traditional genres.
Levi’s series “Etty,” a collaborative effort involving French, Dutch, and German talent, is inspired by the diaries of the Dutch-Jewish author Etty Hillesum. The narrative takes a contemporary approach in depicting the life of the 27-year-old Etty as she navigates a deeply spiritual and emotional journey in a Nazi-occupied Amsterdam.
On the other hand, “Killing a Bear” (“Matar a un oso”) presents a creative twist on the crime genre by portraying a bear as the victim. The narrative unfolds from the perspectives of various characters within a closely knit community that engages in conversations surrounding the crime in a Catalan setting known as the Val d’Arán, home to a 262-member Anti-Bears chat group.
Finnish producer Roosa Toivonen, who served on the national competition jury alongside Claire-Marine Pietriga from Canneseries and Rowan Woods from Berlinale, expressed admiration for the series, stating, “We felt privileged to immerse ourselves in a world so authentically Catalan, presented with confidence and depth that was truly remarkable.”
Both series have received acclaim as outstanding examples of European television excellence, further supported by Arte France, a cultural channel which significantly backed Levi’s historical drama. Originally crafted as a six-episode feature film, “Etty” premiered outside of competition at the Venice Film Festival, earned recognition at Series Mania, and debuted in French cinemas on May 6 before launching on Arte.tv on May 16, with international distribution managed by Studio TF1.
Conversely, “Killing a Bear,” which saw its Catalan premiere at Serielizados soon after its world debut at Spain’s Valladolid Film Festival, exemplifies Arte France’s successful collaboration with Movistar Plus, the leading Spanish pay-TV/SVOD provider. This original Movistar Plus production from the Sánchez-Cabezudo brothers’ Studio TF1-owned Kubik Films is set to premiere in Spain on December 1.
In addition to the recognition awarded to “Etty,” Arte France also won the best screenplay accolade at Serielizados’ official International Selection Awards for the French comedy “Camarades,” co-created and co-written by Benjamin Charbit and Dominique Baumart.
Another comedic series that impressed the international jury was the BBC’s acclaimed “Ann Droid,” which earned its creator, Bafta-nominated Diane Morgan, a best performance award for her portrayal of Linda, a second-hand robot.
Within the national competition, all four nominated series received accolades. Alongside “Killing a Bear,” the much-anticipated drama “Segunda Temporada”, created by the talented team behind Filmin’s “Autodefensa,” won best screenplay. This show narrates the story of a washed-up ghostwriter and a struggling trap artist just released from prison, emerging from the Serielizados Kick talent lab and produced by Barcelona’s Boogaloo Films and Canada. Sales are handled by Paris-based Oble.
Celebrated Spanish actress Carmen Machi secured a best actress award for her role as tax inspector Sara Santano in the second season of the Movistar Plus-100 Balas series, “Celeste,” which made its world premiere in Barcelona. Last year, the creators of the show, Diego San José and director Elena Trapé, won two Serielizados awards for “Yakarta,” exemplifying their signature blend of humor that is both observant and subtly melancholic.
Additionally, the engaging HBO Max-3Cat collaborative dramedy “In Vitro,” which humorously explores fertility treatments, received a Special Mention at the awards. The jury noted the show’s strong global appeal and potential for international remakes. Created by Marc Crehuet and co-written by him alongside Alejandra Guimerà, Carmen Marfá, and Natalia Boadas, the series premiered simultaneously on October 19 in Spain on HBO Max and 3Cat, achieving an impressive 18.2% share on the Catalan public broadcaster.
The jury praised the creative boldness exhibited by Spanish commissioners, stating, “Many countries would envy the innovative spirit shown by Spain’s commissioners, who have enabled equally daring producers to bring shows of this caliber to life.” They highlighted the diverse portrayal of central female characters across the four series.
The jurors also expressed their appreciation for Serielizados, describing it as a remarkable event where attentively curated content reflects a passion for the art of series-making. They relished the opportunity to enjoy the nominated shows, each unique in its brilliance and originality.
With several days left until its conclusion on October 28, Serielizados co-founder and festival programmer Betu Martínez Molero expressed satisfaction with the 13th edition of the festival. It featured masterclasses with industry leaders such as Levi, Steven Moffat, and Sue Vertue, along with a full day dedicated to showcasing quality TV through the Miniput festival and the second edition of the Mind the Gap pitch competition.
Mind the Gap
The coveted €5,500 ($6,100) Mind the Gap Award was presented to the creators of the Spanish series “El Observatorio,” helmed by Laura Roqué, Luis Sorolla, and Eloy Zamora. Set in a small village in Sierra Morena, this story follows a group of astrophysicists investigating mysterious flickering lights, with one character, Sara, believing that the light might be a message from her deceased father.
Arte France’s Alexios Kastrissianakis, who co-judged the competition, stated, “After extensive deliberation, we have chosen to award new talent that deserves recognition.” The project, initially pitched at the ECAM Forum 2026, received the Serielizados award and is currently in the early development phase, seeking a producer.
The jury also awarded honorable mentions to two female-centric series addressing themes of abuse: the Finnish psychological drama “Dangerous Woman,” produced by Gutsy Pictures for MTV Finland and TV4 Sweden, and the Spanish drama “Callback,” created by sisters Joana and Mireia Vilapuig through Funicular Films in association with “This is Not Sweden” producer Left Tackle Films.
“Callback” also received the €2,000 ($2,200) award from Konga Music Agency.
Martínez Molero indicated, “This year, we have established ourselves as the premier international TV series festival in Spain and one of the leading festivals in Southern Europe, attracting 18,000 attendees across more than 60 activities, which included over 30 national and international premieres.”
He added, “We have witnessed a growing interest from both the media and audiences in our National and International Competitions, filling our venues. It is gratifying to observe how the presentation of non-distributed international shows elevates their visibility to Spanish platforms looking to acquire new series while simultaneously fostering connections between local creators and key international players in the television industry.”
Following its engagement in Barcelona, Serielizados will also be available online on the streaming platform Filmin from November 10 to 22.
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Serielizados Prizes: Hagai Levi’s ‘Etty,’ ‘Killing a Bear’ Win Big
