http://videoageinternational.com/blog5/2011/08/25/when-a-telenovela-summit-becomes-a-cumbre/
The ninth annual World Summit (or Cumbre) of the Telenovela and Fiction Series for the Spanish-language television industry is one of the many international TV conferences taking place this fall. Organized by TVMAS international magazine, the event, which rotates venues, will call Miami home for its second time in the 2011 version. VideoAge talked to Amanda Ospina, journalist and TV producer, current editor of TVMAS and ONLY Telenovelas Fiction & Formats and creator and of the conference to find out what to expect at this year’s Summit.
VideoAge International: Can you tell us a little about The World Summit of Telenovelas?
Amanda Ospina: The ninth World Summit of the Telenovela and Fiction Series Industry will be taking place November 2, 3 and 4 in Miami’s financial center at the JW Marriott Hotel in the Brickell area of the city.
VAI: What is new at the Summit this year? Any special events?
AO: We have a few surprises. On one hand, we have a thematic agenda focused on the rise of series and telenovelas in open and closed platforms, “new” TV audiences, social networks and how all these topics relate to a booming business. On the other hand, and most importantly, creators, writers, screenwriters, directors and producers linked to the telenovela industry will receive recognition for their work with the [Cuban-born prolific telenovela screenwriter] Delia Fiallo Awards. Awards will be presented to renowned Chilean writer, Pablo Illanés, creator of the successful Donde Está Elisa?; Alex Hadad, Cuban writer of the successful Eva Luna, who also advised U.S. channel Univision on series Rebeca and Angel Rebelde; actor Guy Ecker, protagonist of Cafe con aroma de mujer and Eva Luna, among other important talent, entrepreneurs and executives that comprise the most important industry of Latin American television.
VAI: How many attendees are you expecting?
AO: We expect participants from more than 25 countries, among those confirmed are companies from Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, Bolivia, Ecuador, Finland, Brazil, Belgium, the United States’ Hispanic market, the North American general market, as well as countries from the Middle East, among them Jordan, Eastern Europe and Asia.
VAI: Where do most of the attendees come from? Is one country better represented than the rest?
AO: Most of the participants come from our natural Latin American market. Spain and Chile will be the core countries with the goal of developing partnerships, co-productions and acquisitions.
VAI: What panels are going on this year and who is participating?
AO: The thematic agenda includes the following:
-Production and distribution systems as key elements in the new low cost content industry
-The challenges of the Latino and multiculturalism in the United States
-The boom in series: trends, themes and business models
-Addressing child/adolescent audiences
-Licensing, merchandising, soundtracks
-Webnovelas, Webseries, phonovelas, videogames
-Understanding the 3D market: its tendencies and impact on the business
-Much more
Plus, the event offers opportunities for buying and selling stories, scripts and formats, developing co-production projects, bilateral agreements or strategic alliances, securing talent or known faces for remakes and stories and much more.
VAI: Where has the Summit been held in the past, and why will it be in the U.S. this year?
AO: After eight Summits, held in Miami; Barcelona and Madrid, Spain; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Bogota, Colombia and Lima, Peru, this year the host country is the U.S. because it has a high potential for both the Latino and in the North American general markets.