Spanish Biz Bullish Coming Out of COVID

variety.com:

Emiliano De Pablos Post-COVID, Spanish sales companies look poised for a comeback to the global scene. Although, as Berlin’s EFM has gone virtual once again, their long-awaited physical reunion with the international industry will have to wait until Cannes… hopefully.An argument for optimism: Spanish-language films continue gaining ground on the global market, especially as platforms boom.

Standout examples include Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s “The Platform” and Lluís Quílez’s “Below Zero,” which both breach the top 10 most watched non-English language Netflix films of all time, per Variety’s estimations.

Other Spanish films such as “The Paramedic,” “Sky High” and “Xtreme” have also performed well for the streamer. Measuring with another analytic – Spain’s presence at landmark film events – the year kicked-off with good news from Berlin.For the first time in the last quarter-century, two Spanish titles: “Alcarrás,” from “Summer 1993” director Carla Simon, and “One Year, One Night,” by two-time San Sebastian Golden Seashell winner Isaki Lacuesta (“Between Two Waters,” “The Double Steps” ), will vie for the Golden Bear.

The Spanish presence at this year’s Berlinale also includes the world premiere of Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s drama “Cinco lobitos” (“Lullaby”) in Panorama, sold by Latido Films.In the mainstream, Fernando León de Aranoa’s Javier Bardem-starrer and Oscar shortlist contender “The Good Boss,” produced by The Mediapro Studio, will open the 2022 Miami Film Festival in March.