Spain is having something of an entertainment renaissance at present. Both an attractive destination for location shoots as well as having fantastic success with local productions, its film and TV industry is thriving. Last week, the Spanish government announced plans to boost the sector further. Brandon Blake, our entertainment lawyer from Blake & Wang P.A., looks at what we know so far.
3 Years of Remarkable Growth
The Spanish production boom started in 2021, partially due to the launch of the Spain Audiovisual Hub, which offered $1.73B in backing for the industry. From there, we’ve seen considerable focus on local talent, compelling location tax incentives, key regulatory reforms, and a lowering of administrative barriers to help power the industry to new heights.
Spain, Where Talent Ignites
As MIPCOM’s 2024 Country of Honor and the EFM’s 2025 Country in Focus, the Spanish Government has now launched its ‘Spain, Where Talent Ignites’ campaign to further boost the recognition and marketability of the country’s entertainment industry.
It’s a smart move. 4 of Netflix’s Top 10 most-viewed non-English language films are of Spanish origin, and the same goes for its TV rankings. A report from Parrot-ICEX suggests that Spanish-origin content accounts for $5.1B in revenue generation over the last 4 years. Additionally, Spanish dramas, historical fiction, and crime genres are doing exceptionally well.
This is without even considering its appeal as a location shooting destination, where its diverse landscape, historic buildings, and simplified application processes have made it a good choice. Spain currently offers a 30% rebate on the first $1.08M of eligible spending, with 25% thereafter, and an even larger incentive specific to the Canary Islands.
With the planned further investment in developing local crews and infrastructure, Spain is poised to maintain its position as one of the most dominant non-US film and TV production markets.
Film and Television 