Sergio Lizarraga, Head of Unscripted, joins the roundtable discussion 'Where is the documentary business heading? New formats, new audiences'
Secuoya Studios strengthens its presence at the Málaga Festival with the participation of Sergio Lizarraga, Head of Unscripted, in the roundtable discussion ‘Where is the documentary business heading? New formats, new audiences’. The event took place at the auditorium of the Museo del Patrimonio Municipal de Málaga (MUPAM) as part of the new MERCADOC.0 section within MAFIZ, the industry area of the prestigious Andalusian festival, organized in collaboration with Culturia.
Moderated by Carmen Larios, Founder & General Director of LAR MEDIA Consulting, Lizarraga shared the stage with two other industry professionals: Ana Peláez, Executive Producer of Documentaries at RTVE, and Pablo Muñoz, Founding Partner & Consultant at CØLLAGE. Together, they explored the future of the ever-growing documentary genre.
How has the documentary format evolved over time? How are creators adapting to new market demands? The Málaga Festival provided a platform for panelists and attendees to analyze current trends, the genre’s rapid growth in recent years, its impact on audiences, and the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of documentaries in the industry.
"What’s truly extraordinary about the rise of documentaries is that, for the first time, they have a mass audience. Now they have that ‘you have to see this…’ factor that fiction and reality shows possess," said Sergio Lizarraga, Head of Unscripted at Secuoya Studios, during the event.
Lizarraga highlighted the evolution of financing models in audiovisual production, emphasizing strategies such as retaining IP rights. He pointed to successful projects developed through hybrid models, like 'Sorolla', created for RTVE, and innovative production approaches such as 'Humanity', a branded content project in collaboration with La Caixa. This initiative showcases the power of partnerships between brands and the audiovisual industry to drive high-value content. "The premiere of Humanity on CaixaForum+ is yet another example of Secuoya Studios’ commitment to exploring new production models with all market players: talent, co-producers, brands, and emerging streaming platforms," he stated.
A well-established genre at Secuoya Studios
The documentary format continues to evolve within the television industry, increasingly capturing the attention of both network audiences and streaming platform users. With its diverse storytelling and real-life narratives, documentaries have become a key investment for streaming platforms.
Secuoya Studios has an extensive slate of documentaries produced by its Unscripted division. Among its latest productions are 'Humanity' (CaixaForum+), recently premiered on CaixaForum+; 'Generación Docente'; 'Reset' (Filmin); 'Sorolla' (RTVE Play); and Team Heretics. One of its standout successes is 13 Días, which, after its summer 2022 release, became one of the most-watched titles on Netflix.
The Spanish studio has produced a total of 15 documentaries and documentary series, bringing audiences compelling and emotionally driven real-life stories. The Unscripted team has delved into the causes and impact of one of Spain’s most devastating aviation accidents in 'Vuelo JK5022: La tragedia de Spanair'; traveled with world-renowned pastry chef Paco Torreblanca and his son Jacob in search of the best pastries in 'La Dolce Vita'; accompanied viral French musical sensation Isaac & Nora and their family on a Latin American tour in 'Isaac & Nora'; and captured the daring, high-flying life of Alex Villar in 'Proximity'.
