Spain's Serielizados Festival will showcase ‘Celeste’ Season 2 as the headliner of its national competition, alongside other anticipated series like ‘Killing a Bear’.
In a significant announcement, Spain’s prestigious Serielizados Festival revealed its main competition lineup, which will take place from October 19 to 28 in Barcelona. Highlighting the festival is the world premiere of Season 2 of Movistar Plus+’s acclaimed series “Celeste.” The announcement was reported by Variety on September 8, 2026.
Serielizados is recognized as Spain’s second-largest audience-driven film and TV festival, trailing only behind the San Sebastián Festival. Its focus on audience engagement and high-profile series positions it as a key event in the television calendar.
Headlining the national competition is the eagerly awaited second season of “Celeste,” produced by Movistar Plus+ and 100 Balas. The show previously garnered critical acclaim, winning Best Screenplay at Serielizados 2024. This new season sees the return of Carmen Machi, who portrays tax inspector Sara Santano, as she navigates a new tax evasion case. Both Machi and the creators, Diego San José and Elena Trapé, will be in attendance at the festival.
“Celeste” has been a significant player in Spanish television, previously recognized at Series Mania Panorama for Best Series and Best Actress. Its inclusion as the opening title at Serielizados 2026 underscores its importance within contemporary Spanish storytelling.
Another noteworthy title competing in this year’s festival is “Killing a Bear” (“Matar a un oso”), a six-part drama co-produced with Arte France. The series is inspired by real events surrounding the investigation into the killing of a wild bear in the Pyrenees. Featuring an ensemble cast, including Eduard Fernández and María Rodríguez Soto, this series promises to be a highlight among audiences looking for thrilling narratives rooted in real-life events. Both “Celeste” and “Killing a Bear” will compete for top honors against previously announced national entries, including “In Vitro” from HBO Max-3Cat and “Segunda Temporada” from Filmin.
The festival also showcases an international competition featuring works from multiple countries. Among the standout entries is “Etti,” a French-German-Dutch co-production from Hagai Levi, renowned for his previous work in series like “In Treatment.” The festival emphasizes local Spanish productions and seeks to represent a range of European narratives, making it an important platform for global television.
The emphasis on series that reflect societal anxieties and the festival's commitment to cultural curation underscore the evolving landscape of television content. According to Betu Martínez, co-head of the festival, this year's motto, "life through series," highlights the thematic engagement of selected shows in addressing contemporary issues. The festival is also positioned to challenge viewer expectations amid a saturated content landscape, acting as a filter for quality programming.
The unveiling of Serielizados' competition lineup reaffirms the festival’s role as a significant platform for new and diverse narratives and indicates the continuing strength of Spanish television on both a national and international scale. With critical favorites like “Celeste” returning and new stories like “Killing a Bear” emerging, audiences attending the festival can expect a rich exploration of contemporary themes through innovative storytelling. The festival aims to continue its momentum, having seen substantial increases in audience engagement, with a reported 80% surge in visits last year.
For more updates on television series and festivals, check out other relevant articles such as The Apothecary Diaries Confirms New Spinoff Release For U.S. Fans After Season 3 and New Prop Order Suggests The Orville Season 4 May Be Nearing Production.
Entertainment news
EpisodeBreakdown may use automated tools to assist research, drafting, and formatting. Published pages are governed by our editorial and corrections policies, and source links are shown when they are available in the article record.
Discovery source: Variety. The source identifies where the topic was discovered; EpisodeBreakdown is responsible for the commentary published on this page.
Reader response
Reactions and poll results are based on real reader responses. No account is required.
