Italian
Spain leads the way in global film and TV production
Spain is not just having a moment; it’s riding a wave that’s been gathering momentum for several years, fueled by strategic investments and a booming creative industry.
The dawn of the Spain Audiovisual Hub
In 2021, the Spanish government launched the Spain Audiovisual Hub, injecting a massive 1.6 billion euros into the film and TV sectors. This initiative catalyzed a whirlwind of progress in four key areas: attracting international investments, enhancing financial and tax frameworks, fostering talent—with special attention to female professionals—and streamlining regulatory processes.
Global recognition and ambitious campaigns
Further establishing its global prominence, Spain has now been selected as MIPCOM’s 2024 Country of Honor. This accolade coincides with the government’s launch of the Spain, Where Talent Ignites campaign, aiming to uplift Spain’s international reputation and marketability in the highly competitive entertainment landscape.
“The goal is to associate Spanish audiovisual content with attributes like talent, creativity, expertise, professionalism, and excellence,” says Elisa Carbonell, head of ICEX Spain Trade & Investment, a branch of the Spanish Ministry of Economy.
European Film Market spotlight
Spain’s burgeoning reputation doesn’t stop at MIPCOM. The country has also been named the Country in Focus for the European Film Market (EFM) at the 75th Berlin Film Festival in 2025. Through creative storytelling and innovative filmmaking, Spain’s media industry has solidified itself as a European powerhouse.
An homage to Spanish talent
Central to the Spain, Where Talent Ignites campaign is a short film titled The Cause of the Accident That Set the Fire. This 9-minute piece, starring a young director Berta Prieto, serves as a gateway to exploring Spain’s vast pool of creative and technical talents. Expect to see cameos and tributes to various arts, from special effects to choreography and illustrations.
“Talent exists everywhere, but not all countries value it equally,” Carbonell emphasizes, reinforcing the campaign’s mission to highlight Spain’s unique approach to nurturing and showcasing its talent.
Dominating streaming platforms
Spain’s influence is unmistakable on international streaming platforms. Four of the top ten most-viewed non-English films on Netflix are Spanish productions. Notable mentions include Society of the Snow, Nowhere, The Platform, and teen romance Through My Window. The action series Money Heist and its prequel Berlin hold similar accolades in the TV series category.
Netflix’s Spanish triumphs
According to recent analytics, Society of the Snow was a significant contributor to Netflix subscriber renewals, while Nowhere led non-English films in driving subscriber growth. Also celebrated are new series like Red Queen on Amazon Prime, and the Spanish-American co-production Land of Women on Apple TV Plus, further proving Spain’s dominant presence.
Spain’s innovation in the audiovisual market
Spain was named the top European producer of fiction titles for global streamers in 2022. Spanish has become the foreign language with the highest number of movies available on U.S. streaming platforms, according to recent trends. Industry reports estimate that Spain-originated content could generate a staggering 1.4 billion euros in global revenue by 2024.
Showcasing at Cannes and beyond
Spain’s robust presence continues with productions like Columbus DNA—an ambitious documentary about Christopher Columbus’ origins—and the thriller series Weiss & Morales. These projects aim to captivate international audiences and underscore Spain’s creative excellence.
Executives from high-caliber co-productions, such as Sequoya Studios’ Zorro, MediaPro’s thrillers El Mal Invisible and Celeste, and the third season of The Head, highlight Spain’s diverse talent pool and production capabilities.
Spain: A top-tier filming destination
Spain’s allure isn’t confined to its films and TV shows. It’s also one of the most coveted filming locations in Europe, thanks to its diverse landscapes. “Spain has the biggest diversity of locations of any country in Europe,” remarks a long-time producer of major series like Game of Thrones. From the alpine north to the Moorish south, Spain offers an unparalleled variety of settings.
Boosting the local economy
Between 2019 and 2022, incentivized international productions spent approximately 1.3 billion euros filming in Spain, contributing an estimated 1.8 billion euros in gross value to the economy. Tax incentives are a huge draw, featuring a 30% rebate on the first one million euros, with varying rates in regions like the Canary Islands and the Basque Country.
Future challenges and opportunities
While the incentives have been beneficial, industry experts agree there is room for improvement, particularly in studio space and further developing workforce skills. The continued investments in infrastructure, such as Madrid Content City and re-opening Ciudad de la Luz studios, are steps in the right direction.
As Spain continues to carve out its place on the global stage, it is clear that this is a country where talent is not just nurtured but celebrated. Despite challenges, Spain’s audiovisual sector is poised for continued growth and success.
Feel inspired by Spain’s meteoric rise in the film and TV industry? Let’s continue the conversation on social media and stay tuned for more updates!
