Neptuno Films sales veteran Roberto Mitrani has branched out from the Barcelona-based prodco to set up his own distribution company and rep properties both in Spain and abroad. And given that his home territory’s fragmenting broadcast market is opening up more opportunity for niche content than ever before, it may be the perfect time for Mitrani’s indie move.

To take advantage of this heat and also make the most of his global distribution experience, Mitrani envisions Ypsilon Films as having two distinct focuses. The start-up will scour the Spanish creative scene for high-potential TV concepts and bring them to the attention of international buyers and partners. But it will also represent foreign properties in Spain and other worldwide territories that make sense. The goal is to build a portfolio of three or four properties in year one, and Mitrani is open to working beyond the kids genre.

But for the time being, Mitrani will put his extensive kids market expertise and contacts to work on Ypsilon’s lead-off property, a puppet series for four- to seven-year-olds called Real Pets. The show stars seven happy-go-lucky baby animals living in an imaginary cave and exploring their world together. The first 120 x seven-minute season is already in the can, and Mitrani is just putting the finishing touches on a deal with a Spanish terrestrial broadcaster.

Ypsilon’s offices are still being set up, but in the meantime, Mitrani can be reached at rmitrani@ypsilonfilms.com.