Bergeret, Lombardi and Dolgiej Named to Iberseries Selection Team
- Bernardo Bergeret, Joanna Lombardi, and Karina Dolgiej named as inaugural selection team members.
- The team will oversee project selections for the prestigious Iberseries Co-Production Forum.
- The appointment signals a strategic shift in how Spanish and Latin American content is evaluated.
- Industry sources confirmed the team will focus on high-potential television and film projects.
- The forum aims to foster deeper integration between European and Latin American production houses.
The global entertainment industry turned its gaze toward the Iberseries Co-Production Forum this Wednesday, September 9, 2026, as organizers unveiled their first-ever dedicated selection committee.
Ventana Sur founder Bernardo Bergeret, acclaimed showrunner Joanna Lombardi, and seasoned film executive Karina Dolgiej have been appointed to steer the forum's project curation.
Their mandate is to identify and nurture high-impact television and film projects that possess significant international appeal.
This move marks a departure from previous administrative-heavy selection processes, shifting toward a curated, talent-led approach that aims to mirror the high-caliber standards seen at major global markets like Cannes or the NFDC Film Bazaar in Goa.
Industry analysts noted that the trio brings a combined four decades of experience to the table.
The selection team will begin reviewing submissions immediately, with the objective of highlighting projects that bridge the gap between Spanish-language markets and broader international audiences.
Sources close to the development confirmed that the committee has been granted full autonomy to prioritize innovation and narrative strength over traditional box-office projections.
For the Indian market, which has increasingly looked toward global co-production models to expand its footprint in streaming and theatrical distribution, this development serves as a blueprint for how cross-border collaboration can be institutionalized.
The Strategic Pedigree Behind the Trio
The choice of Bernardo Bergeret to lead the panel comes as little surprise to those familiar with the evolution of the Latin American film scene.
As the founder of Ventana Sur, Bergeret has spent years building a bridge between Latin American talent and European investment hubs.
His ability to identify raw, marketable potential has been instrumental in the success of dozens of independent films that later moved to global streaming platforms.
Joining him is Joanna Lombardi, whose work as a showrunner has redefined contemporary storytelling in the region.
Lombardi, known for her sharp directorial eye, brings a creator-centric perspective that ensures the selection process remains grounded in artistic integrity.
Rounding out the team is Karina Dolgiej, an executive whose experience in the complex world of television financing provides the necessary balance to the group.
Dolgiej has spent years navigating the regulatory and financial hurdles inherent in international co-productions.
Her expertise is expected to ensure that selected projects are not just creative successes but are also viable for cross-border tax incentives and distribution deals.
Experts suggested that this specific blend of skills—festival curation, creative direction, and financial pragmatism—is designed to minimize the risk for potential investors while maximizing the creative ceiling of the forum's portfolio.
Market data indicates that investors are increasingly looking for projects that can travel well across borders, and this committee is clearly tasked with finding those 'export-ready' properties.
In terms of valuation, industry reports suggest that projects curated by such high-profile teams often see a 15% to 20% increase in initial interest from major distributors compared to projects selected through standard open-call processes.
Why Iberseries Is Betting on Curated Expertise
The decision to move away from internal administrative selection processes reflects a wider trend in the entertainment sector.
Organizers are realizing that in an era of content saturation, the 'curator' is as important as the 'content' itself.
By leveraging the reputations of Bergeret, Lombardi, and Dolgiej, the Iberseries Co-Production Forum is effectively signaling to the market that its selection carries a seal of quality.
This is a strategy often employed in India's own film festival circuit, where the NFDC Film Bazaar acts as a gatekeeper for emerging Indian talent.
The stakes are high; the global market for Spanish-language content is currently valued at billions of dollars, and the competition to secure the next major breakout series is fiercer than ever.
Officials said that the committee will focus on three key pillars: narrative originality, scalability in international markets, and production feasibility.
The committee is not just looking for scripts; they are looking for production teams that can demonstrate they have the infrastructure to deliver on their promises.
This is a stark shift from the 'pitch-first' culture of the last decade, where ideas were often sold on premise alone.
Now, the focus has shifted to execution.
Sources confirmed that the committee will be hosting a series of closed-door sessions with producers starting next month, aimed at refining the pitches before they are presented to international buyers.
This level of hands-on mentorship is rare for a forum of this scale and underlines the commitment of the Iberseries leadership to long-term success rather than quick wins.
The forum's impact on the local economy in host cities is also expected to rise, with projections suggesting a 10% increase in direct spending by production houses during the event week.
The Global Reach of Spanish-Language Content
The appointment of this team comes at a time when Spanish-language content is enjoying a golden age on global streaming platforms.
From the massive success of genre-bending thrillers to the rise of prestige drama, the appetite for stories from Spain and Latin America has never been greater.
The Iberseries forum aims to capitalize on this momentum by providing a structured environment where these stories can find the right international partners.
For an observer in India, the parallels are obvious.
Just as Indian cinema has moved from regional storytelling to a pan-India and global model, the Spanish-speaking world is undergoing a similar transformation.
The committee members are well-versed in this transition.
Bergeret, in particular, has often spoken about the need for 'narrative fluidity,' a concept where stories are designed from the ground up to appeal to diverse cultural audiences without losing their local identity.
This requires a delicate touch, and the presence of someone like Lombardi ensures that the cultural nuances of the stories are preserved.
Dolgiej's involvement, on the other hand, ensures that these stories don't just stay as artistic experiments but become sustainable business entities.
Market experts noted that the success of these projects often hinges on their ability to secure co-production deals that span multiple continents.
For example, a project developed in Spain might find its post-production partner in Argentina and its distribution deal in the United States.
This level of complexity is precisely what the new selection team is being paid to manage.
The committee's ability to facilitate these connections will likely determine the long-term relevance of the Iberseries forum in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Projecting the Future of the Iberseries Forum
As the forum looks toward its next phase, the pressure on the selection committee to deliver results will only intensify.
The industry expects that by the time the next edition of Iberseries rolls around, the projects backed by Bergeret, Lombardi, and Dolgiej will be the talk of the market.
This is a high-stakes environment where reputations are built and broken on the success of the slate presented.
However, those who know the trio express confidence in their ability to navigate the challenges.
The committee is expected to release a preliminary list of selected projects by late October, with a more comprehensive breakdown of the co-production opportunities to follow in November.
This timeline is tight, but officials said that the team has already begun the initial screening process.
The focus will remain on projects that have a clear path to production, with a preference for those that have already secured at least 25% of their initial funding.
This threshold is intended to weed out speculative projects and ensure that only serious contenders make it to the forum.
The ripple effects of this selection will be felt far beyond the event itself.
Successful projects will likely see a surge in interest from global streamers, potentially leading to deals worth millions of dollars in the regional currency equivalent.
As the committee prepares for the hard work ahead, the rest of the industry watches with keen interest.
The success of this experiment could redefine how co-production forums operate for years to come, potentially leading to a new standard of excellence in the way international content is developed, financed, and finally brought to screens across the world.