The Canary Islands have doubled the number of film projects they have hosted on their territory during 2022. A total of 164 film productions, both national and international, have left an investment of 224 million euros.
This has been reported by the regional government, which adds that the sector accounted for some 15,300 contracts to technical and artistic professionals last year, a figure that almost doubles the 8,600 hires that there were in 2021.
In this regard, the president of the Canary Islands, Ángel Víctor Torres, on Thursday took a look at the results of activity in this subsector in 2022 and remarked that “these are historic figures in an emerging sector”.
“These figures reflect the good level reached by the local sector when it comes to working on large-scale productions,” he said.
Meanwhile, the increase in investment with respect to the number of films is due to the commitment made in the islands by large production companies such as Amazon Prime with ‘Jack Ryan’ or Apple TV with ‘Foundation’, to name but a few.
In this regard, the regional president stressed that “the Canary Islands are consolidating their position as a benchmark destination for film production thanks to their potential in exterior locations, and also thanks to the tax advantages, the promotional strategy, the specialisation of the staff and the first-class facilities we have”.
POTENTIAL OF THIS INDUSTRY IN THE CANARY ISLANDS
For her part, the head of Canary Island Film, Natacha Mora, stressed that “these figures once again confirm the potential of this industry in the islands, in line with the strategy developed by the Canary Islands Government for the diversification of our economy and the creation of employment”.
A team effort,” she added, “in which the island councils also participate through their Film Commissions, PROEXCA, the ZEC and the local private sector, under the umbrella brand Canary Islands Film”.
The Canary Islands Government has indicated that, looking back over the last five years, film and television filming is a booming activity.
Likewise, in 2018 there were 79 productions that brought in 60 million in revenue. In 2019, there were 122, with 48 million; and in 2020 there were 80 with 28 million euros (the year of the pandemic). 2021 closed with 155 productions and more than 98 million euros in revenue, while in 2022 there were 164 and an investment of almost 224 million.
It is worth noting that more than 20% are animated series and films, an activity that continues to grow in the last two years, possibly associated with the growing presence of companies that have settled in the archipelago, also attracted by the tax advantages and quality of life.
OF THE 164 PRODUCTIONS, 130 WERE LIVE-ACTION PRODUCTIONS
Of the 164 productions, 130 were live-action and 34 animation projects. The former included 25 fiction feature films, 18 television series, 37 documentaries, 45 television programmes and 5 short films.
As far as Canary Islands Film is aware, 28 projects benefited from tax incentives, although this figure is likely to be higher in the case of international projects.
This balance does not include actions related to advertising, which amount to 256, although they are included in the balance of economic income. With this figure, the balance would amount to 420 audiovisual productions.
Similarly, the Government has highlighted the fact that several of the most powerful international productions have filmed on several islands, which is also proof of the growth in the capacity for assistance currently offered by the local sector.
OUTSTANDING FILMS AND SERIES
The activity has been carried out by companies mainly from the USA, Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, the UK and Spain. Of the total number, we can highlight, among many others, the international series ‘Foundation’, from Apple TV, which repeats filming its second season on several islands, as it did with the first; Jack Ryan, from Amazon Prime, with the fourth season or El Zorro, from Amazon Prime; or the feature film ‘The mother’, from Netflix.
On a national level, there are the series ’30 monedas (2nd season); ‘Montecristo’ by Alberto Ruis for Amazon or ‘Bienvenidos a Edén’, by Brutal Media; as well as the films ‘El Salto’, by Benito Zambrano; ‘Mi otro Jon’, by Paco Arango or ‘La mujer dormida’ by Laura Alvea.
Finally, in the field of animation, the children’s series ‘Pocoyó’; ‘Arcane’, a series based on the League of Legends videogame universe, which was the most watched animated series on Netflix; Shark Academy, Body Town and Cuquin, among others, stand out.
