The inaugural edition will take place on November 24–25 in Mallorca, bringing together producers, creators, platforms and investors. The event will include a pitching initiative featuring ten vertical drama projects.
Spain is set to welcome a new industry event dedicated to vertical drama with the launch of Vertifest Magaluf, whose inaugural edition will take place on November 24–25, 2026, in Calvià, Mallorca.
The festival aims to establish itself as a European meeting point for short-form scripted content designed for mobile viewing, a rapidly expanding sector attracting increasing attention from producers, distributors, platforms and investors.
Planned as an annual event, Vertifest Magaluf will combine professional development, networking and project pitching opportunities. It is produced by BIAM, Be a Child Group Productions, TBC Agency, El Destino Producciones and Onza, with institutional support from the Balearic Islands.
One of the event’s main initiatives will be Vertipitch Calvià, a nationwide call for submissions through which ten vertical drama projects will be selected to pitch to audiovisual industry professionals.
The program will also feature Vertitalks, a series of presentations focused on the opportunities and characteristics of vertical storytelling, alongside business roundtables exploring developments across the emerging industry.
A Growing International Market
The launch comes amid the international expansion of vertical dramas, also known as short dramas or microdramas, which feature short episodes and narratives specifically designed for smartphone viewing.
According to Omdia figures cited by the organizers, the global vertical drama market reached US$11 billion in 2025 and is projected to double in size by 2030.
Through the initiative, the organizers aim to support the professionalization of the sector and strengthen Spain’s position as a hub for vertical content production and development.
Mallorca was selected as the host location partly because of its growing audiovisual activity and experience hosting international industry events, including Conecta Fiction.
Vertifest is sponsored by the Calvià City Council through the Sustainable Tourism Tax (ITS), with additional support from the Balearic Islands Government through the Institut d’Estudis Baleàrics, the Consell de Mallorca’s Culture Department and the Fundació Turisme Responsable de Mallorca.
Submission guidelines and registration details for Vertipitch Calvià are available on the official BIAM website.
