RTP: stories that cross paths
Vera Taquenho, Business Development
Again, part of the Portuguese Pavilion (#P-1K2), RTP highlights to global buyers in Cannes a diverse catalog of programming, including fiction series, documentaries and the brand-new genre for this year, TV movies, while it promotes strong coproductions deals in Europe and Latin America.
Heading the slate is Cuba Libre (6×50’),a story based on the life of Anita Silva Pais, the only daughter of the last director of the political police of the Portuguese dictator Salazar. Of remarkable beauty and sensuality, but also of an enormous rebellious spirit. After getting married to a Swiss diplomat and living in Havana, she falls in love with Che Guevara and gives herself to the Cuban revolution. Global distribution is in charge of Keshet International.
The Crime of Father Amaro (6×45’) isbased on the romance of one of the most prestigious authors of Portuguese literature, Eça de Queiroz, the series follows the story of the forbidden passion between Amaro, a young priest, and Amélia «the most beautiful girl in town». Tense, emotional and anchored in personality conflicts, the series takes a critical look at society and the church in Portugal, in the 19th century.
Motel Valkirias (8×50’) is set in a cross-border motel between Galicia (Spain) and Portugal, the story follows three women with major financial and personal problems who get in serious danger after joining forces to get their hands on some valuable merchandise from a guest in the hotel. A co-production withTVGalicia, distributed by Onza Distribution. And Natural Law (7×45’) is a crime drama set in a small provincial town: when a young local student is found dead, a female judge has to decide: to believe in love or in the power of justice. Movistar Plus+ International is in charge of the distribution.
On the documentary side, two proposals: Portugal, a Natural History (7×45’), a series that reveals the incredible wildlife that still thrives in the country. From the mountains of the North to the plains of the southern Alentejo, and in the Atlantic Ocean, the islands of the Azores and Madeira, home to Europe’s last surviving laurel forests. And Planet A (9×45’), recently nominated for Prix Europa Awards and focused on the main challenges of sustainability. It presents some of the most innovative responses, to issues such as pollution, global warming and energy and aims to show that it is still possible to build a sustainable world.
The Crime of Father Amaro
Natural Law
Vera Taquenho, Business Development, commented: ‘RTP has made a huge investment in fiction series, whether in its own production, counting, of course, on independent Portuguese producers, or in co-production with other international partners. This route has generated many opportunities. Among other things, it allows us to have more robust production budgets, a sharing of experiences, knowledge and talents that translates into a final product of great quality that is recognized in Portugal and internationally’.
Besides fiction series, there is a big bet on the production of TV Movies. This year we will premiere 10 Tv movies, all of them directed by women. ‘The production of high-quality documentaries is also part of RTP’s DNA and we have a very interesting offer to present’, she added.
Why international buyers must visit RTP? Taquenhoanswered: ‘Some titles are more mainstream, others more niche, contemporary stories but also period stories. Passionate, intriguing stories, more noir, … but in a world where real life has become so heavy for many, we have also invested on a more dramedy trend. We strongly believe our new offer will be able reach many markets, just like other RTP titles did, Vidago Palace, Madre Paula or 2077– 10 Seconds for the Future’.
She continued: ‘Our partnersplay a fundamental role in both co-production and distribution of our content. We pay special attention to identifying the ideal partner for each project because it is also in this choice that we define the success of the final product and later of its placement in the global market’.
Historically, RTPpartnered European countries: Drought with RTVE andAtlantia Media(Spain)and Coral (Portugal), Motel Valkiriaswith TVGalicia and CTV (Spain) and SPi(Portugal), Cold Havenwith RUV and Glassriver (Island) and SPi(Portugal). More recently, it announced a coproduction with Globoplay (Brazil) for Codex 632 that has just finished recording.
‘The streaming platforms are inevitable and we have been a pioneer in Portugal in the co-production of series with these major platforms such as Netflix (Gloria),Amazon PrimeVideo(3 Caminos and OperaciónMarea Negra) and HBO (Auga SecaS2).On the distribution side, we closed important deals with Keshet (Cuba Libre) and Movistar Plus+ International (Natural Law) and we are closing negotiations with other players for new projects’, indicated Taquenho.
And she concluded: ‘MIPCOM allows us to show the best of what we do at RTP and we hope that everyone who comes across our content will enjoy it, feel it was worth their time and recommend it. We are open to new opportunities that may arise in the market. We have been holding conversations with several players in Europe and believe thatGloboplayagreement is the beginning of a new era with Latin America’.
Sales Executive
Vera Taquenho
About RTP
RTP is Portugal’s Radio and Television public broadcaster. It offers a rich and diverse universe of 8 television channels, 7 radio stations and online brands.As public operator of the media, RTP is active around the values commonly shared by European Public Services: Universality, Independence, Excellence, Diversity, Responsibility, and Innovation. We also believe that the purpose of public media operators goes beyond informing, educating, and entertaining, and these should contribute
to enriching the lives of citizens and the communities in which we operate.
As a public service company, we are proud
to contribute to the development and to the internationalization of our national industry.During the last years RTP has strongly invested in the production of high-quality contents that perform successfully both in the internal and in the international market. RTP’s focus has been the production of fiction series in all kid of genres – drama, historical drama, crime, dramady as well as high-quality documentaries.International co-productions have also enabled RTP to increase the quality of our series and thus conquer new territories around the world. Today RTP programs can be viewed all around the world from Asia to North America, from Africa to Europe.
