Banijay Americas Taps Santiago Zapata
Banijay Americas’ A Fábrica Mexico & U.S. Hispanic has announced the appointment of Santiago Zapata as the new Scripted VP. The collaboration between Endemol Shine Boomdog and Brazil’s A Fábrica aims to focus on producing scripted content for the Mexican, Latin American, and U.S. Hispanic markets.
Zapata, a seasoned producer, writer, and executive, will be responsible for overseeing all scripted development and production for the label based in Mexico City. Prior to joining A Fábrica, Zapata led the film & TV division at Ntertain Studios/Neon16, where he developed a diverse slate of films, original series, documentaries, and brand alliances for the U.S. and Latin American markets.
His impressive portfolio includes collaborations with industry icons such as Will Smith, Thalia, and Big Sean. Zapata’s recent projects include serving as showrunner on the Disney+ series “Los Montaner,” writing and executive producing Netflix’s “La Firma” and Paramount+’s “Thalia’s Mixtape,” as well as directing and producing a feature documentary on music producer Tommy Mottola.
Luiz Noronha, president of A Fábrica Mexico & U.S. Hispanic, praised Zapata’s creative vision and collaborative spirit, highlighting his ability to align with partner needs and bring compelling stories to life. Zapata, who hails from Colombia, brings a wealth of experience as a writer and producer, with credits including “The Boy,” “City of Dead Men,” and “Monos.”
Expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to join A Fábrica, Zapata emphasized his excitement for the new chapter in his career. He looks forward to trusting his instincts and creating stories that resonate with audiences, taking his work to the next level alongside a talented and experienced team.
Zapata’s appointment follows the recent announcement of a partnership between EndemolShine Boomdog and Banijay Entertainment with writer and producer Leonardo Padrón to launch Leonardo Padrón Productions. This new venture will focus on premium content and collaborate with A Fábrica Mexico & U.S. Hispanic to deliver a slate of projects characterized by distinctive storytelling.
With several Spanish-language scripted drama series in development, audiences can anticipate a lineup of engaging and culturally relevant content from A Fábrica and its partners. The first titles are expected to debut later this year, promising a fresh and exciting viewing experience for viewers in the U.S., Mexico, and Latin America.
