Armando Bo, Co-Writer of ‘Birdman’, Joins Others to Launch New Latin American Vertical Video Platform Shorta
EXCLUSIVE: Armando Bo, co-writer of the Oscar-winning film Birdman, has joined forces with tech investor Ariel Arrieta and Latin American streaming pioneer Tomás Escobar to launch what they proclaim as Latin America’s first vertical series platform, Shorta.
The introduction of Shorta marks a significant advancement in the microdrama landscape of Latin America, aligning with the growing global trend of vertical video. The platform is now available on iOS and Android, with ambitious plans to produce over 500 original series by December 2027. Supported by multiple Latin American creatives and investors, Shorta aims to bring an array of content to viewers.
At launch, Shorta offers over 40 series across various genres, including horror, sci-fi, comedy, thriller, and romance. This diverse offering seeks to expand the traditional boundaries of vertical storytelling, which often gravitates towards melodrama.
Notable creators involved with Shorta include Alejandro Ciancio, known for El Marginal; Argentine actor and content creator Jero Freixas; actress Tatiana Glikman of Amor Animal fame; and Ariana Saiegh, recognized for her work on Familia de Diván and Entre Paredes. Ciancio has produced three series for the platform: Verdad o Shot, Debt, and another untitled project. Saiegh has also contributed with her series Independencia.
The founders believe that Hispanic audiences deserve a dedicated space for original, high-quality vertical fiction, which they claim has yet to be fully realized. Shorta operates on a profit-sharing model, allowing creators to thrive alongside the platform, drawing inspiration from the business models established by services like YouTube and Spotify.
Bo, celebrated for his collaboration with Alejandro G. Inárritu, has an extensive background in filmmaking, having also served as the showrunner for Prime Video’s El Presidente. Escobar co-founded the early streaming service Cuevana and created the online education platform Acamica. Arrieta, a venture capitalist and founder of Digital Ventures, brings significant operational expertise to the team.
In their partnership, Bo contributes the creative vision, Escobar offers technological and streaming expertise, while Arrieta focuses on operational and investment strategies.
“Shorta is where cinematic language meets the pulse of the internet — a more open, more permeable model where more voices create more stories, and new ways of telling them,” Bo stated. He envisions a platform where actors, directors, and creators can become showrunners, fostering talent and opportunities for storytellers who have been left out of mainstream avenues.
Additional backing for Shorta comes from various investors, including Mariano Mayer from Newtopia VC, Rebeca Hwang of Kalei Ventures, and Martín Varsavsky of Myelin VC, among others. This diverse investment landscape underscores the potential impact Shorta could have in reshaping content creation and distribution in Latin America.
