Production of 'Iruña 1997' starts this July in Pamplona. The series, set during the 1997 San Fermín festival, features Álvaro Cervantes and Clara Galle as police officers investigating a suspicious death.
Filming for the highly anticipated series 'Iruña 1997' is set to commence on July 7 in Pamplona, bringing together Álvaro Cervantes and Clara Galle in leading roles. The project, based on Natxo López's novel, will be shot throughout the summer across Navarra and Bizkaia, transforming the city into the stage for a tense crime investigation during the iconic San Fermín festivities.
Set in 1997, the series follows Amaia, a municipal police officer played by Clara Galle, and Julio, a National Police inspector portrayed by Álvaro Cervantes. Their characters, representing two contrasting sides of Pamplona, are forced to collaborate when an unidentified body is discovered at the foot of the city walls. While authorities initially dismiss the incident as a festival accident, Amaia suspects foul play and enlists Julio's help, defying her superiors to pursue a case that quickly proves more complex than anticipated.
The cast is further strengthened by Pablo Gómez-Pando, Karra Elejalde, María Pujalte, Patxi Freytez, Josu Iriarte, Josean Bengoetxea, Itsaso Arana, Fernando Albizu, Ainhoa Santamaría, Miriam Rubio, and Paula Usero, among others. The screenplay is co-written by Natxo López, Marina Parés, and David Pérez Sañudo, with Pérez Sañudo also directing. Both Parés and Pérez Sañudo previously received Goya Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay for 'Ane'.
'Iruña 1997' is set against a backdrop of social tension, as the city’s festive atmosphere is overshadowed by the threat of terrorism and the impact of the Miguel Ángel Blanco kidnapping, a moment that marked a turning point in Spanish society. The production team includes executive producers Tomás Silberman and Pepe Ripoll, with creative executive production by Natxo López and David Pérez Sañudo. Key crew members feature Juanma Pagazaurtundua as production director, Kenneth Oribe as director of photography, and Julio Torrecilla overseeing production design. Movistar Plus International will handle international sales for the series.
Interest in Spanish television dramas continues to grow, with recent coverage highlighting the influence of major figures in the industry. For example, the evolution of Spanish radio and media was recently explored in a feature on the mutual respect between Iñaki Gabilondo and Carlos Alsina, underlining the ongoing transformation of Spain’s cultural landscape.
San Fermín, held annually in Pamplona, is one of Spain’s most internationally recognized festivals, drawing thousands of visitors each July. The 1997 edition, which serves as the setting for 'Iruña 1997', was marked by heightened political and social tensions, making it a compelling period for a crime thriller. The series aims to capture both the exuberance of the festival and the underlying fractures within the city at a pivotal moment in recent Spanish history.
