Afonso advocates creating a “single window” to process permits and hopes to accelerate the construction of the ‘cinema city’ in Adeje
SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, January 15. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Last year, audiovisual filming generated an economic impact of 103 million, almost 2% more, among a total of 163 productions, according to data released this Monday by the Tenerife Film Commission.
The details have been presented at a press conference by the vice president and advisor of Tourism of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Lope Afonso, the CEO of Tourism of Tenerife, Dimple Melwani, and the director of the Tenerife Film Commission, Ricardo Martínez.
In total, up to 990 days of filming were accumulated and for the first time German productions now surpass Spanish ones – 36 by 35 – while the British ones are in third position with a total of 21.
Afonso has pointed out that the island is confirmed as a “reference” in the audiovisual industry and an “ideal set” for filming, which generates “wealth and employment”, underlining the “dazzling” growth of the economic impact that in 2015 was only 19 million.
It has also had an impact on the incorporation of 14 more companies to the Tenerife Film Commission, which next celebrates its ‘silver anniversary’, and the increase in American productions that have motivated the visit to the island of actors such as Gerald Butler or directors such as Guy Ritchie , which has meant a “better tourist promotion” for the island, without forgetting European animated series such as ‘Ladybug’ or advertisements for the Yves Saint Laurent brand.
As a complement to the outdoor filming, he pointed out that the Cabildo has already begun the processing, in accordance with the declaration of insular interest, of the so-called ‘city of cinema’ of Adeje, a project of private origin but which the Cabildo is going to implement. “help” given that it is a “strategic” investment for the island that will diversify the economy “even more.”
Likewise, it has shown its desire to articulate a kind of “single window” to unify the comprehensive processing of filming and not depend on each institution since in many cases there are “many difficulties” and this sector cannot have the same processing as a common economic activity.
Melwani pointed out that the audiovisual sector “has grown a lot” in Tenerife to the point that the island is positioned as “a leading destination for filming.”
He also pointed out that “more and more employment is being generated” and that is why a line of training courses has been created, especially linked to direction, scripts, locations, architecture or graphic design since the objective is for local production companies to have the personnel they send. the productions.
TAX INCENTIVES “ARE NOT A GIFT”
Fernández has not hidden the value of tax incentives to attract filming but at the same time points out that “they are not a gift” but rather serve to “compensate for remoteness and fragmentation”, while assessing that the forecasts for 2024 are ” good” and that 2023 closed well despite the fact that “some projects fell through” due to the strike of actors and scriptwriters in the United States.
He has downplayed the fact that in most of the filming the action is not set in Tenerife, although there are examples such as the German series ‘Balko’ or the one that will be released soon by Atresmedia ‘One less life in the Canary Islands’ given that on the island ” Any destination works” except the ski theme, he ironized.
“We do not want to give up being Honduras or Greece, if we are only Tenerife we are greatly limited,” he added.
It has also had an impact on the animation subsector, which was appreciated for the first time in 2017 and last year already generated 19 million euros, 23% of the total, thanks in part to tax incentives that are “super powerful” for this type. of productions.
“Many companies from abroad have established themselves here and create quality and lasting employment because the staff moves from one production to another,” he highlighted.
