On the eve of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Spanish cinema is riding high with two films in the event’s official competition – “Sirat” and “Romería” – and another selected for Critics’ Week – “Sleepless City.” However, a shadow looms over the celebratory spirit as one of the country’s most important producers and champions of groundbreaking and industry-defining series and latterly cinema, Movistar Plus+ director of fiction and entertainment Domingo Corral, is exiting the company, leaving the future of one of the nation’s largest indie cinema backers in question.
For over a decade, Corral was the driving force behind Movistar Plus+’s push into original storytelling, championing ambitious series that redefined Spain’s place in the international audiovisual landscape. Under his leadership, the platform evolved into one of Europe’s most respected producers of scripted content, rivaling the likes of Netflix and HBO Europe in prestige.
His exit, announced quietly last week amid a wave of high-level leadership changes at Telefónica and Movistar Plus+, has left the creative community stunned. Though no official explanation was given, industry insiders cite internal restructuring and shifts in corporate strategy. The timing seems especially cruel, with Spain’s artistic voice gaining renewed visibility on the world stage, one of its most vital enablers is stepping aside.
The reaction has been swift and emotional. A chorus of nearly 150 prominent figures from the Spanish entertainment sector, including modern icons such as Pedro and Agustín Almodóvar, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, and Alejando Amenábar have publicly expressed their gratitude and concern in an open letter. They credited Corral with not only building a platform that elevated Spanish stories but with fostering a collaborative environment rooted in creative respect and transparency.
Representatives from Spain’s next generation of standout artists are also present, including the likes of Los Javis – Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo – Leticia Dolera, Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Cannes regular Oliver Laxe, who helmed this year’s competition player “Sirat,” co-produced by Movistar Plus+.
Their appeal goes beyond nostalgia, it’s a plea to preserve a cultural ecosystem that many see as fragile. Corral’s stewardship enabled hits like “Querer” and “La Mesías,” which captured audiences and became emblematic of Spain’s bold new narrative voice. Often helmed by young or emerging directors, these projects have brought a renewed sense of identity to Spanish fiction, grounded in authenticity, experimentation and artistic risk.
The open letter, while expressing deep appreciation, serves as a subtle warning to incoming executives Jorge Pezzi and Hugo Tomás, who are taking over fiction and entertainment, respectively. The creative community is watching closely, urging them not to abandon the principles that made Movistar Plus+ a beacon for independent and groundbreaking work.
The full statement and a current list of co-signees can be found below:
In light of Domingo Corral’s departure as Director of Fiction and Entertainment at Movistar Plus+, after ten years working to bring Spanish films and series to the top of the national and international audiovisual scene, we would like to express our deepest gratitude to him and his entire team.
During a decade that has been revolutionary in the sector, thanks also to Telefónica’s commitment to the creation of original content, Domingo Corral and his entire team have championed an idea, a project based on respect for creators, close collaboration with independent producers, and listening to all the partners they have worked with, without ever neglecting their focus on entertainment.
The achievements of his critically and publicly acclaimed series and fiction are evident. He has created series and produced films that are now part of Spain’s audiovisual legacy and have won, year after year, the most prestigious audiovisual awards both in Spain and abroad.
In addition to greatly benefiting the industrial fabric of the sector over these ten years and helping to provide opportunities for new voices, Domingo Corral’s team has also been an example for many of us when it comes to how to approach projects. Their dedication, honesty, and transparency have made this possible.
#ThankYouDomingoCorral
Adolfo Valor
Agustín Almodóvar
Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
Albert Pla
Alberto Marini
Alberto del Campo
Alberto Ortega
Alberto Rodríguez
Alberto Sánchez-Cabezudo
Albin Lewi
Alejandro Amenábar
Alex Brendemühl
Alex García
Alexis Morante
Álvaro Morte
Ana Polvorosa
Ana Rujas
ANAA (Asociación Nacional de Agentes Artísticos)
Andreu Buenafuente
Anna R. Costa
Antonio Abeledo
Antonio De la Torre
Araceli Gonda
Arantza Vélez
Arturo Lezcano
Bárbara Lennie
Beatriz Navas
Belén Martí Lluch
Berto Romero
Brays Efe
Candela Peña
Carla Pérez de Albéniz
Carles Porta
Carmen Machi
Cecilia Roth
Cesc Gay
Charlie Arnaiz
Claire-Marine
Claudia Costafreda
Cris Trenas
Cristina Sutherland
Cristina Zumarraga
Cristóbal Garrido
Dani De la Torre
Dani Remon
Daniel Guzmán
Darío Grandetti
Darío Loureiro
Diego San José
Diego Vega
DYP Comunicación
Eduard Fernández
Elías León Siminiani
Ellas Comunicación
Emma Suárez
Ernesto Alterio
Esther Garcia
Eva Leira
Fernanda del Nido
Fernando González Molina
Fernando Guallar
Fernando Méndez-Leite
Francesc Orella
Francesco Carril
Francis Lorenzo
Greta Fernández
Gris Jordana
Hugo Silva
Iciar Bollaín
Imanol Arias
Irene Escolar
Iria del Río
Isa Campo
Isabel Peña
Isaki Lacuesta
Javier Ambrossi
Javier Bardem
Javier Calvo
Javier Cámara
Javier Gutiérrez
Javier Ruiz Caldera
Joan Estrada
Jorge Coira
Jorge Sánchez-Cabezudo
José Antonio Félez
José Luis Cienfuegos
José Manuel Lorenzo
Juan Antonio Vigar
Juan Diego Botto
Juan Echanove
Juan Maidagán
Juana Martínez
Julia Navarro
Justin Webster
Katia Kirby
Leiva
Leonardo Sbaraglia
Leticia Dolera
Lola Dueñas
Luis Tosar
Luis Zahera
Macarena Garcia
Majós Martínez
Manolo Solo
Mar Coll
Marcel Barrena
María León
Mario Forniés
Mariona Viader
Marta Etura
Miren Ibarguren
Mónica López
Nacho Carretero
Nacho Vigalondo
Nathalie Poza
Oliver Laxe
Oriol Maymo
Oskar Santos
Pablo Molinero
Pablo Remon
Paco León
Patricia López Arnaiz
Patrick Criado
Pau Freixas
Pedro Casablanc
Pedro Almodóvar
Penélope Cruz
Pepe Coira
Pepón Montero
Rafael Cobos
Rafael Portela
Raúl Arevalo
Raül Refree
Rodrigo Sorogoyen
Roger Casamajor
Sergi López
Sergio Jiménez
Sergio Peris-Mencheta
Sonia Martínez
Teresa Camus
Valentina Viso
Verónica Sánchez
Victoria Luengo
Xavi Font
Xen Subirats
Yolanda Serrano
