During the session moderated by Lily Ford of The Hollywood Reporter, during CF&E 2024, Javiera Balmaceda, director of local originals at Amazon Studios US, shared some insights on the platform’s strategy and growth in Latin America. The executive highlighted the importance of localization, the emotional connection with audiences, and also highlighted how the platform has evolved by focusing on productions that seek to appeal to a broader audience.
‘We are always looking for stories that not only entertain, but also connect emotionally with people. We focus on finding stories that resonate in each country. We have made a considerable effort to adapt our content to local tastes, while still looking for universal stories that can connect with global audiences’, he said.
One of the examples emphasized by the executive is ¿Quién lo mató?, the streamer’s co-production with El Estudio and Tigre Pictures, a series that deals with the unsolved case of the famous Mexican anchorman Paco San Luis. ‘This production has captured attention both in Mexico and other countries, showing the balance between commerciality and prestige that Amazon Studios seeks to achieve’.
Balmaceda highlighted that Amazon Studios has also expanded its offerings in different genres: ‘We have found success with programs such as Last One Laughing (LOL), an adaptation of the Japanese comedy format in Mexico. This has been so popular that it has been replicated in several countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France and Italy’.
She also mentioned the importance of political stories in the region, citing the success of Argentina, 1985, which resonated with audiences due to its contemporary relevance and its reflection of current political issues. One of the challenges mentioned by the executive is the acceptance of different cultural accents and sensibilities within the region. However, the positive response to projects such as the Chilean trilogy Sayen demonstrates that it is possible to overcome these barriers.
The executive spoke about new productions in the works, including Una Nueva Vida and O maniaco do parque, a Brazilian crime series based on true events. Finally, she announced that Prime Video will produce La casa de los espíritus, its upcoming eight-episode original series based on the successful book of the same name by Isabel Allende. Along with Eva Longoria, Isabel Allende will be part of the production as executive producers, along with showrunners Francisca Alegria, Fernanda Urrejola and Andres Wood. It will be filmed in Chile, in Spanish, and will be produced by FilmNation, with the support of Fabula.
