SPi produces Netflix’s first film in Portugal

SPi, the international production brand of SP Televisão, is once again collaborating with Netflix, this time on the production of OPERAÇÃO TAP, the platform’s first film produced in Portugal, with filming already underway.

Having previously produced Glória, Netflix’s first Portuguese original series, SPi is once again associated with a major milestone in the platform’s presence in Portugal, strengthening a partnership that is committed to the quality and international potential of Portuguese fiction.

“It is with great satisfaction that we continue our collaboration with Netflix on a project that reflects our ambition to establish Portuguese-language fiction as a distinctive voice on the international scene. At SPi, we believe that telling good stories means creating relevant narratives capable of establishing an emotional connection with the audience. We seek to combine originality and artistic ambition with high-quality productions that reflect our identity as storytellers,” says Pedro Lopes, Chief Creative and Strategy Officer at SPi. “Operation TAP reflects this vision. Set against the backdrop of a country emerging from a revolution, we’ve crafted an intense, epic, and deeply moving story about a young man who makes the extreme decision to hijack a plane. What could have ended in a bloodbath turns into a powerful reflection on the Portuguese character, in which empathy ultimately prevails over violence,” he adds.

Loosely based on real events, OPERAÇÃO TAP transports the audience back to 1980, when an armed teenager hijacks a plane bound for Madrid and demands $10 million, holding passengers and crew hostage during a night marked by tension and uncertainty. What begins as a threat of violence gradually transforms into an unexpected story of empathy and humanity.

The film, written by Pedro Lopes, Marina Preguiça Ribeiro, and Miguel Rico, is directed by João Nuno Pinto and features a cast led by Rui Pedro Silva, Afonso Pimentel, and Victoria Guerra.

With this new production for Netflix, SPi reinforces its position as the platform’s leading partner in Portugal, continuing a trajectory marked by a commitment to pioneering projects and the creation of Portuguese fiction content with international reach.