Industry veteran, and one of the most influential executives in the Hispanic content business, Marcos Santana has been confirmed as chair of the jury in the inaugural Rose d’Or Latinos awards, which will open for entries in July and be presented during Content Americas in January 2024.

Below he explains why he accepted the role for the first Hispanic edition of the heritage awards brand, and why now is a great moment to celebrate Spanish-language programming worldwide.

The Rose d’Or is Europe’s most cherished content awards programme, established in 1961, that celebrates the very best in global content. The Rose d’Or Latinos will embrace the Lat Am and Spanish-speaking content business to celebrate this vibrant market alongside the existing Rose d’Or brand.

You can find more information on the existing Rose d’Or awards by CLICKING HERE.

On taking on this important role as head of the Rose d’Or Latinos jury, Santana said: “What a perfect moment to bring this heritage brand and its values to the Lat Am and Spanish-speaking market. I was delighted to be invited to be chair of the jury at a time when creativity and global ambition has never been higher in our sector.

“These awards will recognise and reward the very best programming from across the Hispanic market, which has never been so good.

“The last five years have witnessed a multitude of successes in Latin American and Spanish-speaking programming. Notable examples include popular shows such as Narcos, La Reina del Sur, El Recluso and La Casa de Papel, which have captivated audiences on streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO (now Max), Peacock, Disney and Amazon. Moreover, there has been a remarkable evolution in terms of production values within the Telenovela genre, with TV Globo and Telemundo playing pivotal roles.

“In my view, productions of Hispanic origin have garnered significant recognition within the international industry.

“This achievement can be attributed not only to a substantial improvement in the quality of their content, but also to a break from the conventional Cinderella narrative that dominated the industry for over five decades.

“Instead, these productions have embraced narratives that are more credible and authentic, exploring a diverse range of genres such as action, mystery, comedy and many others.”

The judging panel for Rose d’Or Latinos will be made up of senior content executives across the market, with the line-up announced later in July.

The awards will also open for entry during July and close at the end of September.

CATEGORIES FOR ROSE D’OR LATINOS 2024
The Rose d’Or Latinos will award a programme or series in each of the following categories:

Drama series
Comedy or dramedy series
Telenovela
Documentary
TV movie or streaming film
Talent or competition show
Reality or factual program
Comedy or variety entertainment
Children or youth program
Short series or multi-platform
Audio

In addition, the Rose d’Or Latinos will present a statuette for each of the following significant individual achievements:

Career
Performance of the Year
Emerging Talent

We look forward to celebrating the best of Hispanic content during Content Americas, with the first Rose d’Or Latinos taking place alongside the event on Tuesday January 23. Mark your diaries for this landmark event.

Marcos Santana biography
Marcos Santana is an accomplished entertainment media entrepreneur, producer and creative professional with over 30 years of industry experience.

He is a founding partner and esteemed member of Tepuy Films, a production and distribution company established in 1988.

Within a remarkably short period, Tepuy Films rose to prominence as the leading independent company in Latin America. In 2007, the company achieved a significant milestone when it was acquired by NBCUniversal, making it the first Latin company of its kind to be acquired by a major Hollywood entity.

Following the acquisition, Santana assumed the role of president at NBCUniversal-Telemundo, where he oversaw the entire development division, supervised international coproduction operations, and spearheaded the launch of the group’s Spanish-language pay TV channels.

Santana’s strategic vision and leadership propelled Telemundo to the number two position in the global market, following only Televisa. Moreover, his direct contributions played a pivotal role in Telemundo’s repeated success as the number one Spanish-speaking channel in the US.

In December 2021, Santana transitioned from his presidency role at NBCUniversal-Telemundo to serve as a valued advisor within the group. He also embarked on a new venture by establishing his own company, Masrosmedia, headquartered in Barcelona and Miami, where he currently holds the positions of founder and CEO.

Additionally, Santana actively participates in multiple boards, including those of La Miami Symphonie Orchestra and Firesports.

Santana’s remarkable achievements have garnered him numerous international accolades, underscoring his profound impact on the entertainment industry. He has been honored with two Emmy Awards, the prestigious Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, and the Key to the City of Miami in recognition of his efforts to promote Latino culture in Florida.

Over the past two decades, Santana has consistently been acknowledged by the Imagen Foundation as one of the most influential Latinos within the entertainment sector of the Hispanic community in the US. Furthermore, Forbes’ 100 Latinos editorial has recognised him as one of the 100 most relevant Latinos, among a plethora of other well-deserved honours and accolades.