The fifth edition of the collaboration between Bid Lab and the Editing Projects showcases a high point this year, drawing nearly 200 film and television projects into focus. In total, 182 works were acquired for an event organized by the Alicante Film Festival, supported by the Local Development Agency and backed by the Alicante City Council, Impulsa Alicante, the SGAE Foundation, and other regional partners.
From the slate presented, 18 projects advanced to form part of the festival’s parallel programming during its 20th edition. These Lab days bring together 17 Spanish creators and one Italian, who must present their concepts to top industry professionals and potential collaborators.
The judging panel for the projects features industry veterans including Ivan Escobar, a screenwriter and executive producer at The Mediapro Studio; Castanar Gómez-Rodulfo, sales analyst and Commercial Manager at Universal Pictures Spain; Rodrigo Espinel, Producer at Morena Films; Cesar Seagull, director of content and programming at À Punt Media; and laboratory coordinator Luis Maria Ferrandez.
The laboratory announced the participation of Mª Carmen, Member of Parliament for Employment and Local Development from Spain; Vicente Seva, director of the Alicante Film Festival; and Luis María Ferrández, the laboratory coordinator. Seva explained that the program aims to foster meetings among industry participants to support growth and consolidation—screenwriters, producers, distributors, and audiovisual platforms—while the festival will host a week of workshops, master classes, round tables, and other events.
Among the highlights is a round-table titled Fiction Content Production and Trading. Javier Lerena, RTVE’s movie purchasing manager; Michael Garcia, international sales director of Atresmedia TV; Mercedes, CEO of Beta Fiction Spain; and moderated by Gerardo Sanchez, RTVE’s Movie Days manager, will discuss the topic. The session is scheduled for Monday, June 5, at 12 noon in Puerta Ferrisa.
The Councilor for Employment and Local Development stressed that this Lab operates as a job fair where leading film and TV series producers yearly review proposals from Alicante creators. The surge in bids signals more productions moving toward the screen. Ongoing support will grow with the adaptation of the Secadero venue, a center for Alicante’s creative industries, which will provide fresh momentum to the local sector, with the project now approved and at the tender stage.
The coordinator of the laboratory, Luis Maria Fernandez, noted a notable rise in proposals for the fifth edition. He recalled that the first edition received 66 submissions, while this year surpassed 180. The projects originate from across Spain and beyond, and the lineup reflects a diverse mix of serials, short films, features, and documentaries demonstrating high quality and variety.
selected projects
The projects chosen for this edition include Sock by Sergio Checa; Almost Heroes by Jelen Morales; Duel by Jorge Sanchez; Echo by Meritxell Aguilar Valls; Open Institute by Juanjo Durán Campillejo; Penthouse by Tomás Rojo; Tame It by Pedro Soares Gusmao; No Death From Belen Puime Bao; Shepherd by Silvia Pradas; Mesinfoth, Meninfoth by Ivan Raro Varo; Monte Carlo 67 by Ruben Guindo Nova; Christmas at a Gas Station by Sergio Yorka; Novices by Irene Benlloch Cabiedas; Inside by Álvaro G. Company and Mario Hernández López; Seventies by Marga Dorao; Siglufjordur by Mikel Aguirresarobe; and A Dream by Aicha Camara. The Italian entry Burning Appearances by Sara Balasonne is also part of the lineup.
In addition, several projects from prior editions have moved forward toward screen production, underscoring the festival’s role as a bridge between creators and the market. The lineup illustrates a robust mix of genres and formats, reinforcing the region’s emerging reputation as a hub for creative development.
more rewards
A notable addition in this edition is the expansion of the awards program. The Impulsa awards recognize innovative projects, the Punt Award honors the best national fiction project, and the SGAE Award honors originality and creativity. A Music Library Award provides a flat-rate grant for productions with access to and distribution of production music catalogs. The Welab Professional Equipment Award offers a direct discount on camera gear rentals, lenses, and other accessories. Movibeta Award grants a year-long free distribution pass for film festivals on Movibeta.
Ultimately, the Alicante Film Festival director reaffirmed that the initiative continues to grow. He noted that each year more projects join the lab because it serves as a unique meeting point for the industry outside the major capitals, a place to showcase talent, learn, and share. Several projects from earlier editions have already reached the screen, which remains a point of pride for the festival community.