MIPCOM Cannes and RTVE announced the high-profile historical drama “Ena. La Reina Victoria Eugenia” chronicling the era-defining life of Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg, Queen of Spain by marriage to Alfonso XIII and Granddaughter to Great Britain’s Queen Victoria, will premiere on the first night of the 40th International Co-Production and Entertainment Content Market’s opening in Cannes, which will take place between October 21 to 24. Part of this year’s Spain’s Country of Honour programme, “Ena” was jury selected from multiple submissions from the country’s sector.
Spanning the first half of the 20th century and shot in palaces and locations across Spain where the monarch spent much of her life, the all-female-directed period piece (6 x 60’) is produced by RTVE in collaboration with Ena La Serie AIE, La Cometa TV and Zona App, and adapted from the novel of the same name by Pilar Eyre and written and executive produced by Javier Olivares (“El Ministerio del Tiempo,” “Isabel”). It is set to air on RTVE’s channel LA1 in Spain with global distribution rights handled by the largest public audiovisual group in Spain, RTVE.
The world premiere will be staged on October 21 at 18.00 in the Grand Auditorium in the Palais des Festivals hosted by José Pastor (RTVE Fiction Director) and attended by leading actors Kimberley Tell and Joan Amargós alongside Executive Producer Luis Hernández. The screening, to be followed by a Q&A, is open to all delegates.
Known as ‘Ena’ by close friends and family, the mother of seven is portrayed in the series as an icon of fashion, feminism and a progressive in a traditional environment. Born in Balmoral Castle, Scotland - to Henry of Battenberg and Princess Beatrice, the youngest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the series is the story of a Queen and of a woman, of a young English girl who never dreamed of being Queen of Spain before Alfonso XIII, nineteen years old and King of Spain since 1902, set his sights on her - a choice that upset his mother, Maria Cristina. Leaving behind her family, customs and culture, Ena had to renounce her religion to live in Spain, where the first thing she suffered was an attack during their wedding procession which claimed dozens of victims.
Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg is played by Kimberly Tell with Joan Amargós as Alfonso XIII alongside Elvira Mínguez (María Cristina, the mother of Alfonso XIII), Lucía Guerrero (Beatriz de Sajonia), Raúl Mérida (Alfonso de Orleans), Juan Gea (Count of Romanones), María Morales (Duchess of Victoria), Pedro Mari Sánchez (Marquis of Villalobar), Luisa Gavasa (Eugenia de Montijo) and Joaquín Notario (Marquis of Viana). Mariano Peña plays Miguel Primo de Rivera; Jaume Madaula, the anarchist Mateo Morral, (the orchestrator of the wedding attack on King and Queen); Tomás del Estal plays Torres Mendoza and Ángel Ruiz will once again play García Lorca (a character he already played in “El Ministerio del Tiempo”).
In addition to Showrunner Javier Olivares, the series is written by Isa Sánchez, Daniel Corpas and Pablo Lara Toledo and directed by Anaïs Pareto (four episodes) and Estel Díaz (two episodes). Executive Producers are Nieves Fernández Blanco, Gerardo Iracheta, Luis Hernández, Rosa Díaz, Javier Olivares and Juan Navarrete.
Locations featuring the series include the Royal Palace in Madrid, the Palace of La Granja (Segovia), the Palace of Santoña (Madrid), the Palace of Fernán Núñez (Madrid) and the Palace of La Magdalena (Santander). Filming concluded at the end of 2023.
Javier Olivares, series screenwriter and executive producer, said: “This series is going to surprise because Victoria Eugenia of Battenberg, ‘Ena’, is a very attractive character. Ena was a woman ahead of her time, known for her daring style and for participating in activities such as golf. Despite having arrived in Spain at the age of 17 without knowing the language and having lost her nationality, she held on to what she had and dedicated herself to the regeneration of the Red Cross, among other activities." In addition, the scriptwriter pointed out that it was she who really worked for the succession and the permanence of the Crown in Spain.
“This historical adaptation is ambitious, authentic and universally appealing” said Lucy Smith, Director, MIPCOM Cannes and MIP London. “It is set to continue to trend of Spanish stories, exceptionally told, ranking amongst the most viewed globally - a journey we are privileged to start in Cannes by staging its worldwide premiere in front of the international television community.”
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