Serielizados Fest: Hagai Levi’s ‘Etty’ and ‘Killing a Bear’ Win Top Series Prizes, ‘El Observatorio’ Takes Pitch Award

Israeli creator Hagai Levi, known for 'The Affair' and 'Scenes From a Marriage,' won Best International Series at the Serielizados Fest in Barcelona for 'Etty,' a drama about Etty Hillesum, a young Jewish woman who chronicled life in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. The prize for Best National Series went to 'Killing a Bear' from Spanish duo Jorge and Alberto Sánchez-Cabezudo, creators of 'La Zona.' The awards were announced Saturday night at the festival, which champions bold, auteur-driven television. 'Etty' resonated with jurors for its intimate, poetic portrait of resilience, while 'Killing a Bear' impressed with its raw, unsettling exploration of family trauma in rural Spain. Both series highlight Serielizados' commitment to challenging, character-driven storytelling that pushes beyond mainstream formats. Elsewhere, the Mind the Gap pitch prize was awarded to 'El Observatorio,' a Spanish project that explores the aftermath of a mass shooting through the eyes of a journalist. The win gives the creators a development boost and industry exposure. Serielizados continues to serve as a key launchpad for international and Spanish talent, connecting daring narratives with global audiences. The festival’s focus on emotional truth and formal risk suggests these winners are likely to find wider distribution and critical acclaim in the coming year.