Spain pitches itself as European production hub to US film sector
Madrid, May 9 (EFE).- Spain is on a mission to woo international movie and television producers and on Monday launched an initiative to promote the sector and offer incentives for foreign productions in the European country.
Queen Letizia of Spain chaired a meeting between representatives of Spain’s audiovisual sector and almost 40 United States companies and producers in a bid to pitch the country as a stellar filming location for movies, television series, advertising and other entertainment content.
The meeting was part of a wider state program to boost the sector, which has been given an injection of 1.6 billion euros (roughly $1.68 billion) until 2025 in a bid to ramp up audiovisual productions in Spain by 30%.
The US delegation in Spain Monday comprised some 40 company heads from the Motion Picture Association, according to ICEX Spain Export and Investments and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade.
In addition, members of the American Society of Cinematographers, who will be in Spain until May 14, will visit several key locations across the country including the southern city of Seville, which has previously been used as a set for Game of Thrones and Star Wars, and the Canary Islands.
During the Monday conference hosted by ICEX, industry professionals pitched Spain as an exciting location bursting with business opportunities, boasting exceptional weather and light as well as tax incentives and a safe filming environment.
Spain has a rich and varied selection of filming locations that are both safe and easily accessible, together with very attractive tax incentives, which make the country an exceptional destination when it comes to filming, television and advertising, according to ICEX.
The queen was joined by the minister for industry, trade and tourism, Reyes Maroto, and by the United States Ambassador to Spain, Julissa Reynoso.
Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez is expected to host a lunch later on with the US delegation. EFE
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