Amazon hosted its annual Prime Video Presents event in Madrid this afternoon, where the streaming giant made a raft of announcements, including new theatrical features, true crime docuseries, returning drama programs and the next season of Spain’s uber-popular singing competition “Operación Triunfo.”
Ricardo Carbonero, director of Prime Video in Spain and Portugal, and Maria José Rodríguez, head of Amazon Studios’ Spanish Originals, were in attendance. Joining them were local stars Mario Casas (“Tres metros sobre el cielo”), Elena Anaya (“The Skin I Live In”), Malena Alterio (“Aquí no hay quien viva”), Najwa Nimri (“Money Heist”), Anna Castillo (“Nowhere”) and Maxi Iglesias (“Los artistas: primeros trazos”). Also in attendence were several of the streamer’s current filmakers, including Dani de la Torre (“La sombra de la ley”), Paula Ortiz (“La novia”), Hugo Stuven (“El desafio”) and Ginesta Guindal (“Élite”).
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According to the streamer, the first half of 2024 was a banner year for its Spanish division, with “Reina Roja” featured in the platform’s Top 10 most-watched most-watched titles internationally at launch and singing competition show “Operación Triunfo” becoming the most acquired Spanish Original in the history of Prime Video in Spain.
Below, a breakdown of the major announcements made at today’s event.
Feature Film
During the day’s festivities, the Prime Video bosses emphasized their commitment to Spanish cinema, which has proved a boon for the platform. For example, Domingo González’s “Culpa Mia” is the most-watched international film in Prime Video’s history globally.
Upcoming titles teased included teen comedy “Viaje de fin de curso” starring Berta Castañé and Yolanda Ramos, youth drama “Enemigos” and the action-thriller “Zeta,” starring the Spanish Academy Goya-winning actor Mario Casas.
Notably, Prime Video also emphasized that it will distribute its original films in cinemas when such a strategy makes sense. On September 27, Najwa Nimri and Alba Planas-starrer “La virgen roja” (aka “Hildegart“) will debut in theaters across Spain as the first Prime Video original to get a wide theatrical release in the country. The teen drama “Sigue mi voz” will then follow suit and hit theaters on Feb. 14, 2025.
Series
Despite its second season not even being released yet, a third season pickup for “Reina Roja” was announced by Prime Video on Tuesday. Two other new projects were also unveiled, “Cochinas,” a comedy starring Goya-winner Elena Anaya, and the action series “Punto Nemo,” starring Óscar Jaenada, Alba Flores and Maxi Iglesias.
Prime Video also showed first-look teasers for upcoming series “En Fin,” a post-apocalyptic comedy coming this September, and the second season of “Citas Barcelona,” also set for this fall, although a release date hasn’t been announced yet.
Unscripted
Prime Video’s first-ever live entertainment show and its most acquisitive Spanish Original, “Operación Triunfo,” will return September 2025. In addition to the singing competition show, which is part “American Idol” part “Big Brother,” Prime Video has also produced “OT23: La gira,” a 60-minute documentary that followed contestants on a musical tour, including a concert at Madrid’s WiZink Center.
Non-Fiction
Like most of the world, Spain has come down with a case of true crime fever, and Prime Video has been one of the most consistent providers of such content. On Wednesday, the streamer unveiled three new true-crime docuseries. “Cómo cazar a un monstruo,” debuting on Sept. 6, tells the story of YouTuber and filmmaker Carles Tamayo as he tries to seek justice in the face of the impunity for a child molester living outside the law. “Medina: El estafador de famosos,” coming in October, examines the case of alleged celebrity scammer Antonio Medina. “Infiltrada en el bunker” recounts the story of the longest infiltration of a European pharmaceutical lab. It will be released sometime next year.
