Madrid-based Onza Distribution has picked up international sales rights to Portuguese epic drama “Star Sailors” (“A Travessia”), adding a cinematic adventure to its 2026 lineup at a moment when buyers are still chasing premium European series with potential to become TV events.
Produced by Portugal’s David & Golias, the series dramatizes a formative moment in early aviation: the audacious bid by Portuguese Navy officers Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho to cross the widest stretch of the South Atlantic in the early 20th century, when flight remained experimental, navigation was fragile and the ocean still defined the limits of modern travel.
The series is comprised of six, 45-minute episode series. “Star Sailors” is positioned as a blend of adventure, drama and historical spectacle, following a group of trailblazing aviators propelled by discovery and risk-taking — a narrative engine designed to travel across borders, with period production value doing much of the global-language lifting.
Directed and produced by David & Golias’ co-founder Fernando Vendrell (“Dribbling Fate,”Três Mulheres”), the series’ scripts are credited to Filipe Santos (“Duelo”), João Canelo, Tota Alves (“Dolores”) and Diogo S. Figueira (“Sagrada Família,” “Três Mulheres”).
“Star Sailors” toplines Gonçalo Waddington (“Auga Seca,” “Grand Tour”), Miguel Damião (“Turn of the Tide,” “O Atentado”), Vicente Wallenstein (“Your Face Will Be the Last”), Júlia Palha (“Senhora do Mar,” “Ordem Moral”) and Soraia Chaves (“The Drought,” “Operación Marea Negra”).
For Onza, “Star Sailors” reinforces a broader strategy of bolstering its scripted offer with internationally comprehensible, returnable genres (period drama, thriller, crime) that can cut through at markets.
The company, which distributes content to more than 120 countries, is expected to roll out the title across the main 2026 content marketplaces as it courts platforms and networks hunting for premium historical drama with scale.
“‘Star Sailors’ emerged as an epic journey made possible by its profound purpose: Inspired by the determination and bravery of aviation’s early pioneers, we strongly believed their legacy would illuminate our path to the future,” said David & Golias’ Vendrell.
“Our collaboration with Onza Distribution promises to elevate this vision, offering an ‘extraordinary flight’ that invites people worldwide to embark on this adventure with us,” he added.
Blending adventure, drama and historical relevance, “Star Sailors” stands as a premium European fiction project with strong international resonance. “This project reflects our dedication to delivering innovative, high-quality series that captivate audiences worldwide,” added Erika Gómez, head of sales at Onza Distribution.
