The 3rd edition of South International Series Festival wrapped Wednesday Sept. 18 with “What It Feels Like for a Girl” and “Una historia muy heavy” emerging as the big winners, taking best fiction and best non-fiction series respectively.
Created by Paris Lees and produced by Hera Pictures with ITV Studios for BBC Three/iPlayer, “What It Feels Like for a Girl” confirmed its impact with a triple win: best fiction, best ensemble cast, and the inaugural Ciudad de Cádiz Award, granted by a jury spotlighting the show’s emotional connection with the city’s strong social and rights traditions.
“A courageous portrait”
Fiction Jury president Carmen Serrano, head of Europa Creative Desk Andalusia, praised the series for its “courageous portrait of a difficult and dark reality, told with an energy and authenticity that shakes the viewer with a story full of pain, tenderness and youthful joy.”
In non-fiction, “Una historia muy heavy” — a RTVE Play original produced with Magnetika Films — secured best non-fiction series, recognized for its narrative rhythm, historical contextualization and investigative depth. Its win reflects South’s role as a launchpad for Spanish factual, with RTVE Play ramping up originals that could later grow their international footprintvia RTVE Sales, bolstering Spain’s documentary footprint abroad.
The category also rewarded “La Húngara. Toma que toma” — produced by LyO Media for Mediaset Infinity with executive production by Megamedia — with the jury’s special award, while Norway’s “The Agent. The Life and Lies of My Father” (NRK), already crowned best docuseries at April’s Canneseries, received a special mention in Cádiz for its bold narrative structure.
“La Húngara. Toma que toma” Presentation
Credit: Reyna
Audience awards went in fiction to “Ella, maldita alma,” a Plano a Plano production for Mediaset España distributed by Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group, and to “La Húngara. Toma que toma” in non-fiction, reflecting strong popular attachment to music-driven storytelling.
Beyond the top plaudits, the festival handed out 11 prizes in total: “Sense Filtres” (3CAT) claimed best screenplay for fiction, praised for its fresh, luminous take on a universal story; South Boost’s main prize — awarded within the festival’s pitching section for Andalusian projects in development — went to “Correos y Telégrafos” by Jacobo Palomo, David G. Marcelo and Rocío Martín, lauded for its tender look at rural Spain and intergenerational storytelling. “El Cantante,” directed by Jorge Naranjo and a Portrait of Spanish rock legend Miguel Ríos, took a South Boost special mention.
Civic pride meets global ambition
The 2025 edition gathered nearly 13,000 attendees, including 700 professionals and 310 journalists, with screenings almost sold out and industry sessions at 90% capacity.
More than 2,200 audience votes underscored strong community engagement in Andalusia, which director Carles Montiel described as central to South’s DNA: “The most important thing has been the perception of the festival by the citizens as something of their own… It is also expanding beyond Cádiz, with greater international repercussions.”
South has become a standout showcase for Spanish and international drama, offering creators and producers a space to test their work in front of both industry insiders and general audiences, just at the start of a new TV season. This dual character — part professional market, part popular celebration — is increasingly setting Cádiz apart from conventional festivals, reinforcing its potential.
Backed by Womack Group, the festival also counted on the official support of the City of Cádiz, the Provincial Council of Cádiz and the Regional Government of Andalusia, with Mediterráneo Mediaset España Group as media sponsor.
