Elisa García Grande, Executive Director of the ICEX-Invest in Spain programme of the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade, outlines its specific programmes that promote foreign film production in the country.

Cineuropa: What kind of logistical support and professional services does ICEX-Invest in Spain offer to foreign production companies that choose to film in Spain? Are there specific programmes to facilitate production and how accessible are these services?
Elisa García Grande: The audiovisual industry plays a key role in the Spanish economy and ICEX-Invest in Spain has been offering support to foreign production companies that choose to film or set up their companies in Spain for years. We provide free, personalised advisory services and we help them gather information on available incentives and grants; guidance on permits and administrative procedures; networking; liaising with local production and service companies and local and regional authorities, among many others.

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Also, under our Shooting in Spain brand, we attend major professional forums and events around the world. We are present in more than twenty international markets to promote the sector and make direct contact with potential investors from all over the world, to whom we explain how we have been able to become a very competitive filming and investment destination.

In fact, the “Spain, Audiovisual Hub of Europe” Plan, launched by the government in 2021 - with more than 1.6 billion euros of public investment until 2025 - continues to make progress and meet its objectives. Under this plan, we have a key tool, the Spain Audiovisual Bureau. It is a support service for companies interested in undertaking projects in the audiovisual industry in Spain, as well as for Spanish companies interested in going international.

This service allows any professional to make enquiries through a centralised contact point, free of charge, with a guaranteed response within 48 hours. It also offers the option to customise the support of each project according to its specific needs. For initiatives led by foreign companies, a team of expert consultants helps companies to understand the functioning and advantages offered by the Spanish sector and the steps to follow to develop their project in Spain.

What tax and financial incentives are available for audiovisual productions that choose to film in Spain? What are the requirements for productions in order to benefit from these incentives?
Spain has become a world-renowned European hub for audiovisual production and we offer many advantages that make us extremely competitive compared to other destinations.

Specifically, Spain offers tax incentives for international filming in the form of a tax rebate and a tax credit: 30% of the first 1 million euros of expenses in Spain and 25% after that. There are regions with a higher rebate, such as the Canary Islands (54% of the first 1 million, 45% after that) and other regions with tax credits, such as Navarre (35%) and the Basque Country (35% with the possibility of increasing it to 60%). The incentive framework in Spain is, in short, very attractive for companies that choose to film here. But there are also many other positive factors that make us a perfect destination for international film productions.

What kind of infrastructure and advantages does Spain offer for the film and television industry? Could you give examples of recent productions that have benefitted from these advantages?
We are continuing to attract new and very interesting international film productions. Among them are major film and television projects that have benefitted from the infrastructure, tax incentives and local talent that Spain has to offer. For example, some of the billion dollar television programmes recorded in Spain such as The Crown S6; House of the Dragon S2; Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power S2; Andor S2; The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon S3, recent global blockbusters such as Venom: The Last Dance; Den of Thieves 2: Pantera; and Netflix's latest French hit Under Paris, among others.

Spain undoubtedly offers many advantages for companies wanting to set up here compared to other destinations. As mentioned above, tax incentives are a major factor. Also, the fast-track work visa for professionals in the sector, which are part of a broad package of improvements approved by the different administrations to support the sector.

But I would also like to highlight our infrastructure network; the highly skilled and talented labour force, a mature industrial fabric, the use of cutting-edge technologies, European standards of legal and intellectual protection, and our standard of living and quality of life. We also enjoy exceptional weather, diverse landscapes and, of course, an ideal ecosystem of collaboration and institutional support at the highest level.

We also have a network of specific services for the audiovisual sector including large and small venues such as Madrid Content City, the largest production centre in the EU; Gran Canaria Studios; Ciudad de la Luz in Valencia, and Barcelona Parc Audiovisual. And new studios will soon be built in Galicia. All this explains why large European audiovisual conglomerates and American streamers already trust Spain as a location for filming and investment.

In short, all these factors help make the audiovisual industry strategic today due to its great potential and its ability to have a knock-on effect on the rest of the Spanish economy. Our aim is to be a leader in audiovisual production in the digital age and a magnet for international investment and talent.