2deo, the audiovisual lab at Tabakalera, opens its doors from today to the authors and mentors of the projects selected for the 2deo serieak 2023 call: EGIA, by Xabi Ojinaga; Lonely People, Neon Cities by Mónica Lilac and Sergio Stendhal; and Eutsi goiari!, by Ainhoa Artetxe.

2deo serieak is an initiative promoted by 2deo, Tabakalera’s audiovisual lab, promoted by Gipuzkoa Provincial Council and with the collaboration of the San Sebastian Festival and EITB. The programme offers a new development space both for new talents and for people of proven professional background who are working on a series, no matter what the format and genre, with international ambition and particular interest in producing in the Basque language. 

All three projects selected for the 2023 call will receive a grant of €5,000 with which to develop the project, in addition to individual advice, adapted to the sphere of each project, from recognised professionals in the Industry. From May to September, sessions will run in person and online where each team of creators will work on the projects accompanied by their mentors:

The filmmaker Koldo Almandoz, creator of the series Hondar ahoak, will accompany the project EGIA; the filmmaker Anna R. Costa, author of the series Arde Madrid and Fácil, the project Eutsi goiari!; and advising the project Lonely nights, Neon cities, the director of the series Intimidad, Laura Sarmiento.

In addition, the three mentors will share the creative processes involved in their productions and the authors of the selected projects will receive specific training in screenplay, new narratives, audiovisual production models and content platforms. The mentoring will start from today, when the 3-day meeting kicks off with learning about screenplay and production with the writer and producer of the series Intimidad (Netflix, 2022) Laura Sarmiento and Marian Fernandez.

The last instalment of the advisory services will run during the San Sebastian Festival. The selected creators will have the opportunity to participate in the Festival’s Industry programme, presenting their projects to potential producers, distributors and investors and above all streaming platforms and TV channels.

Also worthy of note is the fact that the two previous editions of the 2deo serieak programme were warmly received, with the selected projects continuing to enjoy success following their stint at Tabakalera’s 2deo lab. For instance, the project Raval by Victor Alonso-Berbel and Jan Matheu closed an agreement to develop the series with the independent production and distribution company Avalon at the last edition of the San Sebastian Festival, while another of the projects selected for the first 2deo serieak call is currently putting the final touches to the team who will film the series in the United States.

EGIA

Markel is a teen at the end of his tether. He has been caring for his mother since his older brother was put in prison. Set in the early 2010s, the tourist boom will see the father they have known nothing about for years turn up in the city. Language: Basque

Xabi Ojinaga Juárez - Arriguri (Bermeo, 1992) is strongly involved in the audiovisual world as a member of the Arriguri collective. The self-taught group formed in the 2010s has focused its activities on music videos and small-format productions. However, they have always harboured the desire to tell cinematic stories, and today the group is ready to make the move into fiction at 2deo serieak.

EUTSI GOIARI!

After the crisis of the pandemic, Lea leaves her partner, fails to achieve recognition as an actress and her aunt Miren, her reference in life, is suddenly killed in a car crash to boot. Language: Basque

Ainhoa Artetxe (Bilbao, 1993) studied drama at the “Estudio Corazza” in Madrid. She has studied directing, screenplay and is a qualified clown. Outstanding among her most recent works is the film by Icíar Bollaín, Maixabel and the series Itxaso by Eitb and Mediapro, to broadcast shortly on ETB. She has participated in Patria, La línea invisible, Hondar ahoak (Bocas de arena) and Pikuak. In theatre, she is the creator and actress of Winona&Grace, the latest play by Khea Ziater, still running in more than 25 theatres, and has participated in Tratando de hacer una obra que cambie el mundo, La maniobra Heimlich and ¿Qué fue de Ana García? As a creator and director, Ainhoa directed and wrote the Neuke Produkzioak series Normala, a succession of short films approached from the angle of gender identity and, during lockdown, created the online miniseries Miren Gotzone.

LONELY PEOPLE, NEON CITIES

When the daylight disappears, artificial illumination fills the cities. Neverending lampposts inundate the streets, and a life hides behind every window. All light has its origin, and its shadow. In these sprawling neon mazes, eight stories emerge in the night. Language: Spanish/English

Mónica Lilac (Madrid, 1996) graduated in Cinema from the Camilo José Cela University, going on to specialise in Art Direction, for which she received a Mention. Her first works as a director in the fashion film genre racked up almost half a million viewings. Later she moved into fiction with her first short film, Una Historia Azul (2021), landing the backing of the Community of Madrid and the ICAA. With this project she has participated in dozens of prestigious festivals, bagged two nominations at the last edition of the Fugaz Awards, and won the Best Short Film Award at the Ribadeo Festival.

Sergio Stendhal (Madrid, 1996) completed his Business Studies at the Complutense University in Madrid before turning to cinema studies at Estudio V. His career straddles the worlds of production, direction and film writing. His short films Inked and Quitameriendas have been selected for and awarded at several competitions.