Álex Pina
The Spanish showrunner who turned a heist drama into a global phenomenon.
Álex Pina is a Spanish screenwriter, television producer, and former journalist, best known for creating the heist drama series La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) (2017–2021) and the prison drama Vis a Vis (Locked Up) (2015–2020). Born in Pamplona in 1967, he began his career in journalism before moving into television. The Hollywood Reporter listed Pina in their "Top International Showrunners of 2019." His other shows include Los hombres de Paco (2005–2010; 2021), El embarcadero (2019–2020), White Lines (2020), Sky Rojo (2021–2023), and Billionaires' Bunker (2025).
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Alejandro Pina Calafi
- Born
- 23 June 1967
- Birthplace
- Pamplona, Spain
- Occupation
- Producer
- screenwriter
- director
- Education
- University of Navarra
- Years active
- 1996–present
Lore & Background
Pina's career began in journalism, working for El Diario Vasco, Diario de Mallorca, and the Europa Press Agency. Between 1993 and 1996, he worked as a scriptwriter and editor for Videomedia before joining Globomedia in 1996. In 1997, he started as a screenwriter on Más que amigos and Periodistas. He went on to create, executive produce, and write for Spanish series including Los Serrano (2003–2008), Los hombres de Paco (2005–2010; 2021), El barco (2011–2013), and Vis a Vis (2015–2020). At Globomedia, he co-founded Cangrejo Films and produced films such as Fuga de cerebros (2009), Tres Metros Sobre el Cielo (2010), and Tengo ganas de ti (2012). He also directed and co-wrote the film Kamikaze (2014). At the end of 2016, after Vis a Vis's second season, Pina left Globomedia and founded his own production company, Vancouver Media. Its first production was La Casa de Papel, which premiered on Antena 3 on 2 May 2017 with more than four million viewers. The series was distributed worldwide by Netflix and became the biggest success of his career, leading to an exclusive contract with the streaming platform. In 2020, he created and co-produced White Lines. He also co-created and produced with Esther Martínez Lobato the series Sky Rojo (2021–2023) and Berlin (2023–present), a prequel spin-off of Money Heist.
Reader's Guide
Pina's work on La Casa de Papel began as a limited series for Antena 3. The show premiered on 2 May 2017 with more than four million viewers. After its initial Spanish run, Netflix acquired the rights and distributed it globally, turning it into an international hit. This success prompted Pina to expand the story, leading to additional seasons and the spin-off Berlin (2023–present). Pina's earlier series Vis a Vis (2015–2020) also built a strong following. His production company, Vancouver Media, founded in late 2016, has been the home for all his subsequent Netflix projects. Pina's background as a journalist and his years at Globomedia, where he created shows like Los Serrano and El barco, shaped his approach to character-driven, high-concept television.
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