‘The House of the Spirits,’ ‘Raza Brava,’ ‘Hidden Island’ at Berlinale

From Pablo Larraín’s “Jackie,” “Spencer” and “Maria” to Sebastián Lelio’s Oscar-winning “A Fantastic Woman,” Chile has built its international reputation on auteur-driven cinema.

At the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival, however, the country is drawing just as much attention for its television shows. With three series in the lineup — “The House of the Spirits” (Berlinale Special), soccer-themed “Raza Brava” and thriller “Hidden Island” (both at Berlinale Series Market Selects) — Chile, after Spain, boasts one of the largest drama series presences of any country at this year’s festival.

“Chilean filmmakers are taking slightly bigger risks than a lot of other parts of Latin America, and doing very high-quality productions on low budgets that are allowing them to get made and then hopefully get distribution around the world,” says former Netflix international honcho Erik Barmack, now at L.A.-based Wild Sheep Content, which co-produced “Raza Brava.”

“I believe it’s an industry that’s constantly evolving and expanding, with an incredible amount of talent. That said, there’s still significant work to be done – especially in terms of financing. While we do receive some public funding support, it’s not enough to fully finance a series. And compared to the United States, there’s very little private investment willing to take risks on the industry, which remains one of our biggest challenges,” says Fernanda Urrejola, writer-showrunner-actress in “The House of the Spirits.”

“The House of the Spirits”

The much-anticipated limited series features an Ibero-American cast and crew and was shot entirely in Chile. It is Prime Video’s most ambitious series in the region to date, and indeed the most expensive ever made in Chile.

An adaptation of Chilean author Isabel Allende’s 1982 debut novel that sold over 70 million copies worldwide, the series features a formidable troika of Chilean talent, Francisca Alegría (“The Cow Who Sang a Song Into the Future”), Andrés Wood (Sundance winner “Violeta Went to Heaven”) and Fernanda Urrejola (“Narcos: Mexico”) who shared showrunner-writer duties. While Wood and Alegria directed four episodes each, Urrejola played a key role in the show.

The family saga told across half a century turns on three generations of women: Clara, Blanca, and Alba. Narrated by Alba in the 1970s, the story shifts between past and present as she turns to her grandmother Clara’s diaries to understand her family’s history and her country’s divided soul. Through Clara’s memories, we follow the rise of the Truebas amid deepening social divides, where love, power and politics clash from rural estates to elite salons.

Alegría, who is also at the EFM with producer Giancarlo Nasi of Quijote Films to present her second feature film, “Nativity” (“Nacimiento”), recalls the challenges in casting across various generations and working with a cast of at least 200 on any given day. “We had to think it through very carefully: At what ages did we need to cast them? When did we need to change actors or actresses? How many actresses would play each character?,” she recalls.

The series is produced by FilmNation Entertainment (“Anora” and “Conclave”). Pablo and Juan de Dios Larráin’s Fabula provided production services.

 “Raza Brava”

Among the 17 scripted series being exclusively previewed at the Berlinale Series Market Selects, “Raza Brava” is set in Chile’s soccer underworld, where it trails Barti, a boy from the slums who rises through the ranks of Garra Blanca, rabid supporters of the Colo Colo soccer team. As power struggles and crime spark betrayal, he must choose between loyalty and survival.

Created and co-directed by Intl. Emmy Winner Hernán Caffiero (“The Suspended Mourning”), who says he drew inspiration from Brazil’s “City of God,” Fernando Meirelles’ gripping portrayal of a young boy who grows up in the brutal world of gang violence, drugs and poverty in Rio de Janeiro’s favelas.

While presenting the show at Madrid’s Iberseries last October, Barmack pointed out that Colo-Colo is one of the top five or six clubs in Latin America and what Caffiero crafted was a narrative where soccer opens the door, but the drama inside is universally resonant—especially in Latin America, where the sport is closely tied to identity, pride and struggle.

It is produced by DeCulto alongside co-producers Wild Sheep Content and Atómica Group.

Spain’s The Mediapro Studio Distribution handles world sales. It competes for the newly introduced Studio Babelsberg Production Excellence Award.

“Hidden Island” (“Isla oculta”)

Also among the scripted series participating in the Berlinale Series Market Selects, with a screening slated for Feb. 16. “Hidden Island” takes place in southern Patagonia, where a detective digs into the disappearance of a Mexican archaeology student who was searching for Chile’s mythical Friendship Island, where extraterrestrial activity and people vanishing have been reported. The detective is played by Daniela Ramirez, who was International Emmy-nominated for her performance in HBO Max’s limited series “Isabel: The Intimate Story of Isabel Allende.”  

Part thriller, part mystery, the show was created by Pablo Díaz del Río of Rio Estudios, which handles Latin American sales while TVCO handles the rest of the world. It boasts a crack team of writers led by Julio Rojas (“Case 63” podcast, “Midnight Family”), Felipe Carmona (“Prison in the Andes”) and Juan Dartizio (“An Unknown Enemy”).

Rodrigo Susarte, whose credits include “Gen Mishima” and “Invunche,” directed all six episodes.

“Hidden Island” also competes for the newly introduced Studio Babelsberg Production Excellence Award, which recognizes standout producing qualities encompassing creative vision, execution, innovative approaches and international appeal.