Richard Izarra with award-winning executives (Pillars, Executive of the Year, and Digital Convergence) at the 8th Premios PRODU de la Industria ceremony
Once again, on a night full of emotions and surprises, MIP Cancun hosted the 2024 Premios PRODU de la Industria, honoring key figures in the entertainment business. Among them were Laura Fernández Espeso, CEO of The Mediapro Studios, as Executive of the Year, and Nagidmy Márquez Acosta, Chief Content Officer for the Americas at ¡HOLA!, for Digital Convergence. The ceremony was hosted by Valeria Marín and Julián Gil.
Seven distinguished industry professionals were also recognized as Pillars of the Industry for their remarkable achievements and contributions. Nearly 400 guests, including executives and representatives from production companies, distributors, linear channels, platforms, and dubbing and post-production companies, attended. They also celebrated PRODU’s 35th anniversary with a party sponsored by Inter Medya.
Richard Izarra, PRODU’s founder, expressed gratitude: “I’m overjoyed to celebrate these 35 years and look forward to many more. Connecting all of you is an honor, but my greatest pride is sharing this moment with my son, who began working here as a teenager. Transitioning from a family business to a corporation fills me with satisfaction.”
Roko Izarra, who has spearheaded PRODU’s modernization, highlighted: “Seeing Richard’s excitement when receiving good news inspires us all. Sharing this journey with my father, working and growing together, has been incredible. Thank you, Dad, for being an inspiration and for all the opportunities.”
The first awards of the evening recognized Laura Fernández Espeso as Executive of the Year and Nagidmy Márquez Acosta for Digital Convergence.
Fernández Espeso said: “Thank you, PRODU, for this recognition and your years of support. This comes at a special time for me and the company as we celebrate 30 years of growth. We’re now focusing on the U.S. market with new studios in Los Angeles and New York, but this success is thanks to the Latin American market. After 16 years in the group, I’ll soon take on a new role as general director of Grup Mediapro.”
Márquez Acosta added: “PRODU has created a community in this complex industry. Supporting and uniting each other is vital, especially as Hispanics in the U.S. At ¡HOLA!, we’re celebrating 80 years, embracing digital transformation, and continuing to innovate for the Hispanic and Latin American markets.”
The evening also honored seven industry Pillars:
– Doris Vogelmann (VP of Programming & Operations, Vme Media): Recognized the responsibility of inspiring and educating audiences, especially children.
– Georgina Terán (Founder & President, EFD Studios): Advocated for preserving Spanish-language content and fostering collaboration between regions like Mexico, Colombia, and Spain.
– Leonardo Aranguibel (Disney Latin America): Stressed the importance of teamwork in producing impactful content.
– Michelle Alexander (CEO, Del Barrio Producciones): Highlighted the power of storytelling to inspire and provoke thought in audiences.
– Miguel Smirnoff (Founder, Prensario): Called for adapting to digital natives while maintaining strong programming.
– Roxana Rotundo (CEO, VIP 2000 TV): Emphasized collaboration and co-productions as the future of the industry.
– Teresa Fernández-Valdés (Founder, Te espero en Marte): Shared her passion for resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges.
A touching moment came when WAWA presented a tribute video to PRODU and its founder, Richard Izarra. WAWA representatives Liliam Hernández and Cecilia Gómez de la Torre presented him with a recognition, thanking him for his unwavering support.
The night also featured awards for the Grand Fiction Prize, won by Griselda (Netflix), and the Grand Entertainment Prize, awarded to La Casa de los Famosos México (TelevisaUnivision, ViX). Sustainability, Inclusion, Diversity, and Podcast categories were also celebrated, with representatives from Fremantle and Spotify presenting winners.
The event closed with a celebration sponsored by Inter Medya. Other sponsors included Mediapro US, Telemundo, The Walt Disney Company Latin America, Caracol Televisión, Fremantle, and more. Partners like Spotify, WAWA, Greenpeace, and MIP Cancun contributed to making this edition of the PRODU Awards a success.
El reality La casa de los famosos México ganó el Gran Premio de Entretenimiento en Premios PRODU
Serie Griselda ganó el Gran Premio de Ficción de Premios PRODU
En los Premios PRODU de la Industria se premió a la sostenibilidad
Más de 300 ejecutivos participarán de los Premios PRODU de la Industria
