Prominent figures in the Spanish film industry, including renowned filmmakers Pedro Almodóvar and Rodrigo Sorogoyen, along with actors Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, have publicly expressed their support for Domingo Corral following his unexpected exit as head of content at Movistar Plus+. This departure, which occurred just days before the Cannes Film Festival, has left many in the industry perplexed.
A total of 144 Spanish industry professionals have signed a letter commending Corral for his significant contributions to Movistar Plus+, which is the streaming service of Telefónica, a leading telecommunications company in Spain. Corral has been instrumental in the company’s journey toward original content production, overseeing the development of both series and feature films in collaboration with Spain’s top production firms.
In the wake of Corral’s departure, leadership at Movistar Plus+ has shifted, with Jorge Pezzi stepping in to head fiction and Hugo Tomás taking charge of non-fiction and entertainment programming. These changes follow a broader restructuring at Telefónica, where Marc Murtra was appointed as the new president and Daniel Domenjó took over as CEO of Movistar Plus+.
The platform has exciting projects on the horizon, including “Sirat,” directed by Oliver Laxe, which has been selected for competition at Cannes. This film is a collaboration among several production houses, including Almodóvar’s El Deseo. Other notable projects in development include the thriller “Los Tigres” by Alberto Rodríguez and “La Bola Negra” by the acclaimed duo Los Javis, as well as “El Ser Querido,” featuring Javier Bardem and directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen.
The statement from the 144 signatories highlighted Corral’s dedication over his decade-long tenure, emphasizing his respect for creative teams and his collaborative spirit with independent producers. It is a testament to his vision of entertainment that resonated within the industry. Among those showing their appreciation are notable filmmakers such as Alejandro Amenábar, and actors like Carmen Machi and Javier Cámara, demonstrating broad support across the spectrum of the Spanish film community.
Overall, the letter of support for Corral and the continued commitment from Movistar Plus+ towards original productions signal a promising future for Spanish cinema, particularly in an environment that values creative collaboration and innovation.