A year after announcing their first co-production, the groups presented a screening of the anticipated telenovela in Cannes, the first made between Latam and India, which has already finished filming.
*By Luis Cabrera and Ana Paula Carreira, from Cannes, France
During the last edition of Mipcom in 2023, VIP 2000 TV and Zee Entertainment announced the project of their first co-production: Valentina, the first telenovela developed jointly between both continents.
And now, a year later, the partners were present again in Cannes to present a screening of the series, which finished filming.
“A year ago, at last Mipcom, we agreed to make our first co-production with India,” Rosalind Rotundo, VP of VIP 2000 TV, recalled in dialogue with ttvnews after the presentation.
“And it was a hard twelve-month job that we have already finished filming in Guadalajara,” she added.
Valentina, un amor especial is about a young woman with autism who is also a genius in the world of technology. Valentina has grown up protected from society by her adoptive mother in the small town of Chiquilistlán, where she excelled academically. Moving to the big city of Guadalajara after her mother died in an accident will be difficult, as she encounters the worst and the best of humanity; the blossoming of an unknown emotion called love, new friends, but also the envy and jealousy of those who decide not to accept her.
“What captivated us the most was the story,” explained the executive. “Being able to represent a young autistic woman, who has a meaning for society. Eliminating the social stigma that exists due to different mental conditions and I think it is a product that many viewers will feel identified with the love story.”
“The original idea comes from a Zee Entertainment telenovela. In that case, it was an autistic girl. With our team of writers, we created the love story of that girl-woman. She discovers what it’s like to fall in love. Autism is a global issue that we all must contribute to so that we all feel included in society,” she added.
Valentina, un amor especial was filmed entirely on location, across more than ten unique settings in Guadalajara, including an impressive ranch that plays a fundamental role in the series.
The series features the participation of the renowned Mexican actress Cynthia Klitbo, who plays the mother of the main character, Valentina. Valentina is played by Rebeca Herrera, known for her role in Netflix’s Donde hubo fuego.
The male lead role is played by Mauricio Novoa, an up-and-coming Mexican actor known for his performances in the latest telenovelas filmed in Miami.
The telenovela brings together talent from both Mexico City and Guadalajara. The cast includes Macarena Oz, Katie Barberi, Ana Karen Coy and Daniel Medrero from Mexico City. From Guadalajara, Eduardo Villalpando, Michelle Santane, Azucena Evans, Marco Orozco and Edgar Ruvalcaba, among others.
