Natalia Verbeke, Julián López, Ángela Cervantes and Vebjørn Enger star in the film, which is based on the stage play of the same name
‘Welcome to Lapland’, produced by THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO and directed by David Serrano, will open in Spanish cinemas on April 1. Distributed by A Contracorriente Films, the film had its premiere in the Official Selection at the most recent edition of the Festival de Málaga, where it received strong critical acclaim.
Adapted from the critically acclaimed stage play of the same name – which enjoyed hugely successful runs in Spain and also in countries such as the United States, Croatia, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, Venezuela, and the Czech Republic – ‘Welcome to Lapland’ breaks with classic family comedy tropes, taking a wry look at the ethical and moral dilemmas of daily life.
With brilliant dialogue and astute observations of issues such as family dynamics, white lies, traditions, and social conventions, ‘Welcome to Lapland’ uses humor as a vehicle for reflection. It's a film about family but not apt for the whole family – it’s definitely not one to watch with the little ones.
Directed by David Serrano (‘I'm Going to Have a Good Time’, ‘Football Days’, whose work earned a Goya nomination for Best New Director and who co-wrote the award-winning ‘The Other Side of the Bed’, which won the 2002 Málaga Film Festival’s Golden Biznaga for Best Feature Film) – ‘Welcome to Lapland’ is penned by Cristina Clemente and Marc Angelet, based on an original concept developed with Jordi Casanovas.
Natalia Verbeke (‘The Other Side of The Bed’, ‘The Method’), Julián López (‘Los destellos’, ‘Pain and Glory’), Ángela Cervantes (‘La furia’, ‘El mal invisible’) y Vebjørn Enger (‘The Ash Lad: In Search of the Golden Castle’) lead the cast in this story set on Christmas Eve in the Finnish city of Rovaniemi, the capital of Lapland and the reputed hometown and residence of Santa Claus.
After several years without spending the holidays together, Nuria (Ángela Cervantes), now living in Lapland with her husband Olavi (Vebjørn Enger) and their daughter, invites her sister Mónica (Natalia Verbeke), her brother-in-law (Julián López), and their son to enjoy a picture-perfect Christmas in her home in Rovaniemi. Everything seems set for an idyllic celebration—until Nuria’s daughter casually informs her young cousin that the man in red with a white beard who supposedly leaves gifts for well-behaved children doesn’t actually exist, and that Santa Claus is simply a character invented by parents to manipulate their kids. What was meant to be the most magical Christmas quickly unravels into a full-blown family meltdown between sisters, in-laws, and cousins. Over the course of one chaotic night, long-buried secrets surface amid a heated debate over whether it’s better to tell the truth at all costs—or preserve belief, even if it’s built on a lie.
‘Welcome to Lapland' is produced with the participation of Movistar Plus+, RTVE and 3Cat. The Mediapro Studio Distribution will handle international sales.
Wachter has created hit TV formats including ‘Million Dollar Secret’ (Netflix), ‘Beast Games’ (Prime Vídeo) and ‘Got to Get Out’ (Hulu)
THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO, one of the world’s leading independent content and production companies, has announced the launch of a new production partnership, Stopwatch Media, in conjunction with Charles Wachter, Emmy Award-winning showrunner and producer.
Stopwatch Media will be headquartered in Toronto, establishing THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO production footprint in Canada and further expanding its global infrastructure. With a growing portfolio of creative labels, THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO has built a network of production hubs across key markets, and the launch of Stopwatch Media reinforces that scale. Under Wachter’s leadership, the new studio will tap into THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO’s international reach, resources, and partnerships to develop premium, scalable formats for both the U.S. and international audiences.
Canada-based Wachter, who was instrumental in bringing hit series Netflix’s Million Dollar Secret, Amazon’s Beast Games, and Hulu’s Got to Get Out to Canada, as well as Netflix’s upcoming mega-series Win the Mall, is widely regarded as one of the top creatives in unscripted entertainment. With Wachter’s proven track record behind such large-scale hits, Stopwatch Media is positioned to become a powerhouse for ambitious, event-level entertainment.
The launch of Stopwatch Media comes at a pivotal moment in the industry, as networks and platforms seek high-impact, franchise-worthy formats that cut through a crowded marketplace. Backed by THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO’s infrastructure and production expertise, and Wachter’s creative leadership, Stopwatch Media aims to fill that demand with big ideas, fast execution, and premium production value.
About Charles Wachter
Charles Wachter is an Emmy Award-winning showrunner and creator known for delivering large-scale, globally successful formats. His credits include Amazon Prime Video’s Beast Games, ABC’s Holey Moley, ABC’s Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution (for which he won an Emmy), Fear Factor, and Netflix’s newest hit, Million Dollar Secret. Recognized for his ability to blend cinematic production value with mass-market storytelling, Wachter has established himself as one of the leading creative forces in unscripted entertainment, consistently creating premium formats that resonate with audiences worldwide.
The 700 m² exhibition, spread across two floors, is now open at Miami’s iconic Freedom Tower
Mediapro Exhibitions, the GRUP MEDIAPRO division specialized in the creation and development of exhibition and museum experiences, has produced ‘Unidad – The World’s Game’, a FIFA Museum exhibition developed in collaboration with Miami Dade College, now open to visitors in Miami.
Located in one of the city’s most iconic landmarks, the Freedom Tower, ‘Unidad – The World’s Game’ explores the profound global influence of football as a universal cultural force.
Spanning 700 square meters across two floors, the exhibition invites visitors to immerse themselves in the rich legacy of the sport through interactive installations and immersive environments that showcase the defining moments behind football’s global growth.
Visitors can also experience a selection of historic football artefacts, as well as step inside the Rainbow of Shirts, featuring jerseys from all 211 FIFA member associations. The exhibition also includes the Legacy of Champions gallery, which pays tribute to the nations that have reached glory in the FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Women's World Cup™, combining historic objects with large-scale audiovisual projections to celebrate the most iconic moments in the history of the game.
Produced in collaboration with Globomedia (THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO), the series is created by Iván Escobar and Antonio Sánchez Olivas, and directed by Sandra Gallego and Iñaki Peñafiel
RTVE has unveiled the trailer and official poster for ‘Hope’s Corner’, its upcoming fiction series produced in collaboration with Globomedia (THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO), set to premiere soon on La 1.
Created by Iván Escobar (Los hombres de Paco, Locked Up) and Antonio Sánchez Olivas (7 vidas, Aída), ‘Hope’s Corner’ is a social comedy with sharp humor and an uplifting tone, set in a public school, a familiar and formative space in most everyone’s life. The series explores the importance of public education, coexistence and second chances, through a warm, human and character-driven lens.
The official poster, created by THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO’s creative team, captures the spirit of the series and hints at its ensemble nature. Mariona Terés stars as Esperanza, a woman trying to rebuild her life after a troubled past marked by poor decisions. Alongside her, the main cast includes Alejo Sauras, Mariano Peña, Juan Vinuesa, Ana Jara, Laura de la Uz, Guillermo Campra, Carlos Librado, Ángel Héctor and Ruth Núñez.
Children play a central role in Hope’s Corner. Far from serving as mere background, the students become key protagonists, bringing freshness, humor and emotional depth to the story. Among them are Nayeli, played by Chloe con H; León, portrayed by Tian Tosas; and Martina, played by Nia Tosas. These three characters offer different perspectives on childhood, friendship and learning, and play a crucial role in the development of both the protagonist and the wider community.
Esperanza’s personal life is also shaped by two key figures: her mother Juana, played by Carmen Balagué, and her former boyfriend Lucho, portrayed by Javier Pereira. Esperanza’s youth was far from exemplary, a string of poor choices in relationships, friendships and attempts at easy money ultimately led her to prison. During her sentence, she turned her life around, studying education and passing the civil service exam to become a public-school teacher. Now working in a primary classroom, she discovers that the lessons learned in prison may prove more valuable than anything in the official curriculum.
Executive producers for the series are Iván Escobar, Antonio Sánchez Olivas, Javier Méndez and María José Rodríguez. Filming took place entirely across locations in the Community of Madrid. Sandra Gallego and Iñaki Peñafiel direct the eight-episode series, based on scripts by Escobar and Sánchez Olivas, written alongside Raquel Haro, Abraham Sastre, Marta Sánchez, Javier Reguilón, Raúl Díaz and Aurora Parrilla.
With the school as its narrative hub, ‘Hope’s Corner’ portrays a microcosm where teachers and students learn, clash and grow together through some of life’s most defining moments. Because, like any family, classmates aren’t chosen — but they leave a lasting mark.
The six-a-side competition blends sport and entertainment for a young, digital-first audience
GRUP MEDIAPRO is delivering the broadcast production for Baller League USA 2026, deploying a 25-person team responsible for executive production, signal distribution and on-screen graphics. The production is supported by an outside broadcast unit and more than 14 cameras to capture the action. This fast-paced six-a-side soccer competition will stream live on YouTube over the next ten Thursdays and will also be broadcast nationally on CBS.
Designed for a young, digital-native audience, Baller League features between 12 and 14 teams competing in two 15-minute halves. During the final three minutes of each half, the rules change dynamically, allowing teams to activate special plays or temporarily remove the offside rule, adding an extra layer of unpredictability and entertainment. Each matchday features five consecutive games, with ten teams competing on the same night. Team managers include well-known figures from sport and entertainment, such as Ronaldinho, Usain Bolt and IShowSpeed, among others.
Launched in Germany in 2024, Baller League has since expanded to the United Kingdom and the United States, where the competition is being held at Miami’s Baller League Arena in Tropical Park.
Tickets available at: https://ballerleague.us
The state-of-the-art facility will enable new content and formats to be introduced progressively across the schedule
Unitecnic, a GRUP MEDIAPRO company, has designed, integrated and launched Catalunya Ràdio’s new visual radio studio, a state-of-the-art space that opens the door to new content and formats. The project, developed for Studio 5 at the broadcaster’s headquarters on Avenida Diagonal in Barcelona, was awarded through a public tender issued by the Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (CCMA).
The studio features a set specifically designed for visual broadcast, complemented by both perimeter and overhead lighting, and centered around a large Unilumin LED screen fully integrated into the scenography. Rez Estudio, also part of GRUP MEDIAPRO, collaborated with Unitecnic on the set design and custom-built furniture, creating a modern and versatile production environment. The facility is also equipped with IP-based technology, enabling decentralized management of all audio and video systems and allowing production and direction to be handled from multiple control rooms and locations.
This technologically advanced studio will allow Catalunya Ràdio to explore new content and visual radio formats. Broadcasts from the new space have already begun with ‘Tot Costa’, which is also available on the 3Cat platform and Esport3, leveraging the studio’s capabilities to enhance storytelling and contextualize information through visual elements. At the same time, Catalunya Ràdio is testing additional programmes to further adapt its content to visual radio and maximize the studio’s potential.
Technical features
Studio 5 is the result of a comprehensive refurbishment carried out throughout 2025. The project began with the construction of a set designed specifically for visual broadcasting, complemented by innovative perimeter and central lighting, and a striking LED wall seamlessly integrated into the overall design.
Key technical highlights include a 960 cm x 100 cm Unilumin LED wall with 1.2 mm pixel pitch, Novastar H5 display controller, Four Panasonic AW-UE160 PTZ cameras, Multicam system for automatic and manual production, Watchout visual content management system, Crestron CP4 centralized studio control system, and Lawo Diamond audio system on PowerCore infrastructure.
All audio and video systems operate over IP, with audio distributed via Ravenna and video fully implemented in NDI. This IP architecture allows cameras and visual systems to be operated from any video control room across the facility.
The Watchout system, implemented entirely in NDI, enables the LED screen to display decorative visuals, internal broadcast windows controlled from central control, or supporting images sent from any video mixer across the campus.
The Crestron integrated control system provides streamlined management of studio configurations and presets, including display screens, decorative lighting and operational lighting systems.
Workspace improvements
In addition to technological upgrades, the refurbishment also introduced significant improvements to the working environment, including enhanced ergonomics, improved production and technical positions, dedicated visual direction position within the studio, interconnection between visual radio studios, support for complex visual radio formats, and remote visual production capabilities.
PHOTOS: © Catalunya Ràdio
