Trump, and His Long Shadow, Draw References at Conecta in Spain Despite Focus on Business at Hand

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This week’s Conecta Fiction & Entertainment industry conference in Cuenca, Spain concluded on Thursday, with TV and streaming content and production trends taking center stage throughout the event.

As a gamer, I was thrilled to hear the top executives from powerhouses like Warner Bros. Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Gaumot Television, Atresmedia Group from Spain, Banijay Production Group, NBCUniversal Telemundo, and Movistar Plus+ (just to name a few) share their exclusive original content and future plans. We dived into discussions about the current state of the industry and its promising future prospects.

In simpler terms, Donald Trump’s influence extended to the beautiful city of Cuenca, on more than one occasion, despite neither speakers nor panelists directly referring to him by name.

During the initial session at Conecta 2025 on Tuesday, titled “Focus Canada: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” the discussion was kick-started. Marina Mathieu, executive director of Coalition M.E.D.I.A (an organization promoting Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility), clarified that the panel wasn’t formed to antagonize a particular leader, but because they strongly endorsed the essential value of DEI initiatives. This remark was in response to the tightening of diversity and inclusion policies under previous U.S. administration.

In the course of the day, Isabelle Degeorges, president and producer at Gaumont Television, subtly compared Trump when she praised France’s regulations mandating U.S. and worldwide streaming services to spend a minimum of 20% of their net French earnings on European productions. “If we don’t control the intellectual property,” she stated, “we forfeit our uniqueness.” She further added, “If we don’t own the intellectual property, it seems to me that everything belongs to the U.S., and ultimately, they are the ones defining their identity.

Degeorges underscored the fact that France’s industry should not become complacent. “This rule is crucial for us, and we will consistently advocate for it… particularly with the new administration in the U.S., as they seem unconcerned.” She summarized by saying: “We understand that our French regulations are unacceptable to them.

During a discussion about incentives for production, the topic of Donald Trump’s potential MAGA policies and their impact on international markets arose. During the question-and-answer segment, someone asked if Trump might impose tariffs on foreign films to stimulate production in California and other American regions. Ana Marqués, executive director of the Portugal Film Commission, responded by stating that they are uncertain about what specific policies Trump may enact. To counter this uncertainty, Portugal is concentrating on its approach, which includes promoting diversity, cultural exchange, and co-production. She concluded, “This is our method.

Victor Lamadrid, the general secretary of the Spain Film Commission, expressed sentiments that echoed those shared. “We’re in communication with American film production companies,” he explained to the Conecta gathering, “and we’re curious about what transpires. At times, their protective measures can be detrimental for U.S. production firms, as I perceive it. We’re also working towards expanding into new markets and territories, which is a constant focus of our team.

According to Lamadrid’s assessment on potential Trump film restrictions, “We believe it won’t be as dire as it initially appeared when he first announced it. At present, we don’t have any concrete details.

During one of the closing sessions at Conecta 2025 on Thursday, Sergio Mendoza, VP of Scripted Development at NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, addressed the ongoing political division in the U.S., without elaborating. “We are living in a distinct political and social era,” he stated. “This situation presents us with chances to create particular types of narratives.

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2025-06-20 01:24