The Spanish media group is present at Content Americas with its new dramedy, which tells a story of redemption and overcoming adversity, with themes shared by audiences worldwide.
Produced by Luis Cabrera and Ana Paula Carreira, from Miami
Within its catalog of great Spanish dramas, RTVE has reserved a special place for Barrio Esperanza, the new drama series that the Spanish group is highlighting at this year’s Content Americas.
“We’ve brought Barrio Esperanza, our new dramedy series,” began Rosalía Alcubilla, Director of Global Clients at RTVE, in an interview with ttvnews. “It’s an eight-episode dramedy, each episode 75 minutes long, but we also have an international version that’s 50 minutes long.”
Produced in collaboration with Globomedia (The Mediapro Studio), and created by Iván Escobar and Antonio Sánchez Olivas, Barrio Esperanza is a socially conscious comedy with sharp humor for all audiences. With a vibrant and friendly tone, the series highlights the importance of public education and second chances.
“It’s a very optimistic, easy-to-follow, and family-friendly series,” the executive noted. “It touches on several very important themes, such as public education, which is the engine of social transformation. It’s very international; every country in the world has its public education system. It’s something we believe can travel very well.”
“It also addresses individual transformation, personal growth, the second chances life offers, redemption, forgiving yourself and being forgiven,” she continued. “And it also touches on community, diversity, harassment, and bullying. All these themes are very international, and we need to talk about them.”
The series follows Esperanza, who wasn’t an exemplary young woman and made mistakes in everything: with her boyfriend, her friends, and her methods of making easy money. One mistake after another ultimately landed her in prison. During her sentence, she used the time to study for a teaching degree and pass the competitive exam to teach in a public school. Now, as a primary school teacher, she will discover that what she learned in prison will be more useful than the exam syllabus.
“Esperanza, our protagonist, truly made a mistake in her life, and she paid for it in prison. She decided to start over, to become a new person. What she experienced in the past gave her the tools to face this new stage in the best possible way,” she explained.
Mariona Terés plays the role of Esperanza, leading a cast that also includes Alejo Sauras, Mariano Peña, Juan Vinuesa, Ana Jara, María Isabel Díaz Lago, Guillermo Campra, Carlos Librado “Nene,” Ángel Héctor, and Ruth Núñez. The children who will portray the protagonist’s students will also play a very important role.
Iván Escobar, Antonio Sánchez Olivas, Laura Fernández Espeso, and Javier Mendez are the executive producers of this new series, which was filmed entirely in various locations throughout the Community of Madrid.
Sandra Gallego and Iñaki Peñafiel directed the eight episodes, based on a script by Iván Escobar and Antonio Sánchez Olivas, written in collaboration with Raquel Haro, Abraham Sastre, Marta Sánchez, Javier Reguilón, Raúl Díaz, and Aurora Parrilla.
