The Diplomat
Nearly 40 executives from the United States audiovisual sector have been in Spain since today on a mission to learn about the national audiovisual industry and the opportunities for filming or investing in our country.
The State Secretary for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, ICEX-Invest in Spain and the Spain Film Commission are organizing this reverse training mission today, in which nearly 40 executives from partner companies of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) of the United States (the organization that represents the interests of American film studios) and other top-level American audiovisual platforms and companies are participating.
As reported by ICEX, this activity is part of the measures implemented within the Plan to Boost the Audiovisual Sector Spain, Audiovisual Hub of Europe (Spain Audiovisual Hub), launched by the Government of Spain in March 2021.
The program combines technical sessions, institutional meetings, location visits and meetings with companies, entrepreneurs, technicians and talent from the Spanish sector. The mission will take place between May 8 and 14 and will visit several Spanish regions. The executives will participate tomorrow in a working day to learn about the Spanish audiovisual ecosystem, chaired by Queen Letizia.
They will also visit Seville, where they will make contact with film commissions from all over Spain and see locations for future shoots. The program is completed with a visit to the Canary Islands, to tour possible filming locations and familiarize themselves with the audiovisual business sector of the autonomous community, as well as its special tax regime.
The objective of the mission is to reinforce among U.S. agents the knowledge of Spain’s audiovisual industry, highlight its strengths, introduce them to the main operators and publicize the opportunities for filming or investing in our country. Among other issues, information will be provided on the legislative changes promoted by the Government (especially in tax and visa matters) and the investment effort being made by Spain to become the Audiovisual Hub of Europe.
In the development of this mission, the Directorate General of Migration, the Directorate General of Taxes, the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), the Association of Spanish International Audiovisual Production Companies (PROFILM) have collaborated, ALIA – Audiovisual Industry Alliance, the Spanish Federation of Animation Producers Associations (DIBOOS), the Association of Post Production Companies (AEPP), the Federation of Film Distributors (FEDICINE) and Spanish and U.S. companies already established in Spain.
