Beta Group sets up production and distribution arm in Spain

German company Beta Group intensifies its production activities in Spain by founding Beta Fiction Spain, which will produce television series and feature films, offer production services, and act as a theatrical distribution arm in Spain. Beta Fiction Spain is the second Spanish subsidiary of Beta Group alongside Beta Entertainment Spain, headed by Javier Pérez de Silva, which primarily creates new and adapts international unscripted entertainment formats.

For the new entity, Beta partners with two of the most experienced media managers of the Iberian Peninsula: Mercedes Gamero, the former general manager of Atresmedia Cine, and Pablo Nogueroles, who was SVP at Warner Bros. Pictures International España. Both will head Beta Fiction Spain together with Christian Gockel, who is responsible for all Beta Group’s Spanish activities.

Mercedes Gamero was part of Atresmedia for 18 years, working in leading positions as feature film producer with credits including BAFTA Winner and Academy Award nominee “Klaus” and Spanish Goya Award Best Picture winners “Futbolín” and “Marshland.” She was responsible for strategy and execution of all acquisitions for the Atresmedia channels and closely connected with national and international studios and distributors. Earlier, Mercedes Gamero headed Acquisitions and Film Co-Productions at Telemadrid as well as at AXN Channel Spain and Sogecable.

Pablo Nogueroles had been General Manager of Warner Bros. Pictures International España since 2006 and SVP since 2017, playing a key role in the day-to-day operations of the international theatrical division, overseeing sales, marketing, dubbing, techOps and local production. Before joining Warner Bros, Nogueroles worked at Yelmo Cineplex, a joint venture between Sony/Loews Cineplex and Yelmo Cines, where he served as director of marketing and business development, as well as at Buena Vista International and Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“I am so thrilled and excited to join this new company with such wonderful partners as Pablo Nogueroles and Beta. Having the chance to establish an independent production and distribution powerhouse is a unique opportunity in this current environment. Thus I want to thank Jan Mojto, Moritz von Kruedener, and Christian Gockel for their ongoing support and trust over the years. Now being part of the Beta Group family is a true honor,”  Mercedes Gamero said.

“The Spanish market is undergoing tremendous changes, just like the rest of the world. We feel we have an opportunity to be a first- class independent European distributor and producer of theatrical films as well as a co-producer for local movies and TV shows,”  Pablo Nogueroles added.

“Starting over a decade ago, Beta was the first to bring Spanish TV programs to the world. Atresmedia has been Beta’s partner in Spain almost from the get-go. And so was Mercedes, one of the most distinguished and experienced Spanish media executives with an amazing track record. We’re extremely thankful for the path we’ve gone together, but even happier about our new tandem, Mercedes and Pablo, also a partner of many years. They are the perfect match for Beta Spain – Beta’s next step to create nationally and internationally successful content together with the best Hispanic creative talent,”  Christian Gockel concluded.