Stories to Stay Awake returns as one of Prime Video’s flagship premieres for the new season, marking a bold comeback with the second season of the remake. The project, developed and directed by Chicho Ibáñez Serrador, was unveiled during the closing moments of the FesTVal de Vitoria-Gasteiz, a premier festival that sets the tone for the platform’s upcoming slate.
The team behind the show framed the launch as a clear step forward. Alejando Ibáñez, the Prointel chief executive and son of the legendary audiovisual creator, commented during the presentation that the goal is to grow the brand into a respected label with its own identity, separate from its founder’s enduring legacy. The remarks were shared with YOTELE and framed as part of a broader strategy to expand the show’s footprint across North American audiences while preserving its distinctive voice.
Salvador Calvo and Nacho Vigalondo, who directed several episodes of the season, were also present at the press conference. They highlighted the creative freedom given to the directors, underscoring that the project invites compelling storytelling rather than rigid formulaic constraints. Calvo stressed that the process was collaborative and open, allowing each filmmaker to imprint their own artistic vision. Vigalondo described his experience as liberating, noting that the production felt more like a festival of ideas rather than a conventional shoot.
In this season, the creative team embraced an expansive approach to storytelling. The directors were asked to treat the material as an open canvas, adapting it to their unique sensibilities while maintaining a consistent overarching arc. The result is a tapestry of moods and genres that challenge expectations and demonstrate the resilience of anthology-style narration. The production team aimed to deliver episodes that feel both intimate and cinematic, balancing character-driven moments with high-stakes suspense and eerie atmospheres that linger after each scene.
Among the cast, Mina El-Hammani emerges as a central figure in the season’s promotion. The project also features a long-anticipated return for a renowned actor who helped shape the series’ early reputation, with a new director at the helm of the episode titled Nightmare. Alice Waddington will be guiding that particular installment, bringing a distinct visual language to the table. Alvaro Morte joins a cast that also includes Mina El-Hammani, among others who help transport viewers to a foggy 1880s Galicia, where a string of mysterious deaths unsettles a small, remote village.
El-Hammani reflected on the experience, describing it as a dream project where the terror on screen felt earned and immersive. She remarked that the creative journey required an honest, fearless embrace of fear as part of the storytelling, and that the performances grew more nuanced as the material deepened. Her comments echoed the team’s emphasis on authentic emotions and memorable atmospheres that resonate with audiences long after the credits roll.