Santiago Zapata, newly appointed VP of Scripted at A F\u00e1brica M\u00e9xico & US Hispanic, reveals the company\u2019s expansion into film production and shares details about its upcoming
\nprojects, including collaborations under Leonardo Padr\u00f3n\u2019s new label. Earlier this year, Endemol Shine Boomdog and A F\u00e1brica made headlines with the joint launch of A F\u00e1brica M\u00e9xico & US Hispanic, a new production company specializing in Spanish-language scripted content. Now, the company has announced to Cveintiuno its plans to move into feature film production for both theatrical release and streaming platforms.<\/p>\n
The initiative follows the appointment of Santiago Zapata as VP of Scripted in August, overseeing the development and production efforts of Banijay Americas\u2019 new label. With prior experience at Contento Films and Ntertain Studios\/Neon16, Zapata\u2019s career has been deeply rooted in independent cinema, with credits as a writer and producer on titles such as The Boy (2015), City of Dead Men (2016), and Monos (2019) \u2014 the most awarded film in Colombia\u2019s history.<\/p>\n
Zapata now aims to bring that expertise into A F\u00e1brica M\u00e9xico & US Hispanic\u2019s new film slate, with several projects already in development and one expected to enter production later this year. \u201cWe\u2019re beginning to develop and produce films, both fiction and documentaries. We already have several projects well underway, and before the end of the year, we\u2019ll be sharing some very
\nexciting news about one of them,\u201d Zapata told Cveintiuno. Staying true to the company\u2019s creative DNA, A F\u00e1brica M\u00e9xico & US Hispanic aims to produce films \u201cacross all genres, under all business models, and designed to reach broad audiences\u201d \u2014 particularly in Mexico and the U.S. Hispanic market. \u201cWe\u2019re completely genre-agnostic, but we\u2019re focusing more on comedy, romantic comedy, drama, and adventure. We\u2019re looking for stories that resonate deeply with our audiences and deliver international-level production quality,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cMore than satisfying our personal creative desires, we\u2019re focused on what can truly impact our viewers,\u201d he added. Drawing on over a decade of experience in Latin American independent cinema, Zapata plans to apply his know-how to A F\u00e1brica\u2019s operations \u2014 particularly in seeking co-production partners, tapping regional incentives, and \u201cmaximizing resources to make the best film possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
While acknowledging that film production currently offers certain advantages over series within the industry, Zapata emphasized that the move into movies is driven by a desire to expand
\nstorytelling formats rather than market strategy: \u201cFilms have shorter development windows, less buyer risk, and shorter life cycles. But this isn\u2019t about avoiding challenges \u2014 it\u2019s about broadening the range of ways we can tell stories,\u201d he summarized. Beyond this new venture into film, A F\u00e1brica M\u00e9xico & US Hispanic continues to develop its slate of scripted television projects.<\/p>\n
The company was established to lead the scripted division, allowing Endemol Shine Boomdog to focus on its core unscripted expertise. As such, all fiction projects previously under Boomdog\u2019s banner were transferred to A F\u00e1brica M\u00e9xico & US Hispanic \u2014 including the second season of Como Agua para Chocolate and the adaptation of the vampire novel Vlad. The company\u2019s scope also includes producing documentary content such as docuseries and docufollows, and leading collaborations with Leonardo Padr\u00f3n Productions, the new label launched by Banijay Americas in partnership with the acclaimed Venezuelan writer and creator Leonardo Padr\u00f3n. Padr\u00f3n is known for creating some of the most-watched Spanish-language series of recent years,
\nincluding the thriller P\u00e1lpito and the drama Accidente, as well as telenovelas like La Mujer del Diablo, Si Nos Dejan, Amar a Muerte, and the adaptation of the Mexican classic Rub\u00ed. His film
\ncredits include Manuela S\u00e1enz, la libertadora del Libertador, La Primera Vez, and Miranda.<\/p>\n
Zapata explained that the partnership with Padr\u00f3n currently spans three areas: remakes of his classic telenovelas, development of new original ideas, and incubation of concepts from
\nemerging regional writers. \u201cIt\u2019s a privilege to brainstorm and create alongside a legend like Leo. We have projects that we\u2019re truly excited about,\u201d Zapata said. While he did not specify which of Padr\u00f3n\u2019s classics are being revisited, Zapata noted that the Venezuelan creator retains rights to some of his works, and the team has secured others. This line of melodramas aims to serve both free-to-air broadcasters and streaming platforms \u2014 which, according to Zapata, \u201chave lost their fear\u201d of long-form storytelling.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen that streamers are no longer afraid of longer melodramas. They\u2019ve realized these stories are narratively powerful and can hold audiences\u2019 attention for extended periods. The more
\ncontent we can offer them, the better,\u201d he noted. A F\u00e1brica itself has strong credentials in the genre, having produced Peda\u00e7o de Mim, Netflix\u2019s first original telenovela in Brazil, which became one of the platform\u2019s biggest hits from the region last year.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe\u2019re building on that experience and learning from the incredible A F\u00e1brica team led by Luiz Noronha. They\u2019ve welcomed us with open arms and are sharing their knowledge to help us apply
\nit to our markets,\u201d Zapata concluded.<\/p>\n