Spanish production and distribution powerhouse Onza is heading to Cannes with “Gluten Free,” a feel-good comedy that has become pubcaster RTVE’s most-watched comedy premiere in the last 10 years.
Created by Araceli Álvarez de Sotomayor (“Alpha Males,” “Muertos S.L.”), together with Javier Aguayo and Germán Aparicio, the series is produced by Onza in association with RTVE and Prime Video.
“Gluten Free” bowed Oct. 8 to a standout 17% audience share, 1.21 million viewers and 2.9 million contacts on RTVE’s flagship network La 1, blending humor, emotion and redemption in a character-driven story, suggesting a strong international format potential.
The show follows Ricardo, a once-celebrated chef who loses his restaurant, reputation and confidence due to alcohol abuse. Forced to move back in with his widowed mother Marga — an independent woman none too pleased to see him return — he begins a reluctant new chapter.
When Ricardo accepts a job teaching young people at risk of social exclusion in the same culinary school where his career began, he discovers an unexpected recipe for renewal.
Álvarez de Sotomayor described the show as “a very ensemble comedy, with a wide age range and many intertwined conflicts.”
“Everything is handled with humor, but the characters’ struggles are powerful. You grow very fond of all of them.”
“‘Gluten Free’ is a heartwarming series that, under a feel-good comedy format, explores major themes of everyday life,” said Gonzalo Sagardía, CEO at Onza.
“Its launch has marked RTVE’s best comedy debut in the last 10 years, a testament to its perfect tone and character design.”
Erika Gómez, Head of Sales at Onza Distribution, added: “Its feel-good tone, universal characters and emotional depth make it an ideal candidate for local format adaptation.”
The successful launch of “Gluten Free” also reflects RTVE’s broader strategy to replicate its strong daytime fiction success in primetime, following hits such as “Valle salvaje” and “The Vow.”
“The series is bold and fresh, helping us reach new targets and a wide audience,” noted José Pastor, RTVE’s director of Film and Fiction, during its presentation in September at Vitoria’s FesTVal.
A Expanded Range of Audiovisual Services
Onza, the company behind global successes such as “The Department of Time,” “Parot” and “Little Coincidences,” will present “Gluten Free” as one of its highlights at Mipcom 2025.
At the same time, Onza will spotlight its expanded range of audiovisual services, spanning content development, production, international sales, and legal, financial and tax structuring.
The Madrid, Los Angeles and Miami-based company aims to leverage Spain’s world-class production infrastructure and talent pool, varied locations and competitive tax incentives to attract global partners.
‘Neuer,’ Slovakian Procedural Crime Series
A further standout in Onza’s Mipcom slate is “Neuer,” a procedural crime series from Slovakia’s KFS Production. Directed by Michal Kollár and based on Václav Neuer’s bestselling novels, the eight-episode show premiered Sept. 14 on TV JOJ to a 24% share, ranking as the night’s most-watched program.
Onza will also showcase docuseries “Vulnerables,” a three-part exploration of youth mental health created by Gonzalo Sagardía and directed by Gustavo Ron and Sagardía himself.
Produced at Onza by Nicolás Bergareche, the series was recently acquired by Spain’s leading broadcaster Atresmedia.
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