The Council of Tenerife today approves the insular interest of the great film city of Tenerife. The last plenary session of the current mandate will give a decisive boost to the Cultural and Audiovisual Complex of the company Imagine Green Studios in Adeje. It is a large facility dedicated to production and training linked to filming with a planned investment of more than 300 million euros. It will occupy 400,000 square meters in Fañabé and it is expected that employment to about 15,000 people.
The Kiss Media group, one of the greats in the audiovisual industry and “one hundred percent Spanish”, as it advertises itself, proposes this infrastructure. A huge production hub (node) with sets, but also outdoor recording areas and even gigantic swimming pools, the aquatic stage that will allow fictional actions to be reproduced in the marine environment or even under the sea.
A novelty in the design of the infrastructure is the presence in one of the areas of the enclosure of a so-called university, which includes an auditorium, to train young people in the world of the seventh art. The objective is to broaden the focus and not stay in the classic outdoor shooting in the unique landscapes of the Island, but also promote everything that has to do with interiors or the final production. A complete cycle with Tenerife as the venue; without anything coming out of here. And with island workers who would be trained at that university center.
Peter Martin, acting president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, assesses that “a project that will attract an investment of more than 300 million euros is declared of insular interest.” He announces that it is part of a goal “much boasted about but little done: diversify the economy.”
Martín stresses that “they are film studios that are not designed for tourists. There will be no restaurants, malls, or movie theaters. Only studios where to shoot as a complement to the natural set that is Tenerife ». He sums it up: «A way of generating an alternative economy to tourism with three axes to take advantage of: the tax advantages of Canary Islands; the magnificent air connectivity of our Island with its two airports and a privileged geographical situation that allows companies to have outdoor spaces that can be very attractive for these large companies”. The president of the Cabildo details: “The company has every interest in settling in as soon as possible, but the technical and legal requirements must be met, such as tomorrow’s approval (for today).” He stresses that “it depends on the agility of the administration.”
Pedro Martín underlines another key aspect: «This project will generate thousands of jobs and they will be workers from here because the promoters are not interested in transferring personnel from the other side of the world. Hence, a part of the studies are dedicated to training ». He refers to “professionals such as carpenters, electricians or cameras who will be specifically adapted to the world of cinema. Having a physical space allows for stable jobs and not just those that are limited to the temporary duration of a shoot. Here you can record in closed areas, outdoors and in aquatic spaces ».
The president of the Tenerife Council considers that “it is a magnificent opportunity and we have worked hard not to lose it and to ensure that the project does not go to another important autonomous community that showed insistent interest in hosting it.”
The Kiss Media group announces that it projects the development in Tenerife of one of the largest audiovisual complexes in Europe, comparable in the international market with London, Rome or Berlin. The audiovisual hub, “unique in Europe due to its size and capacity”, will provide the Island with facilities capable of comprehensively hosting the filming of the largest productions.
Imagine Green Studios emphasizes in its declaration of intent that “this platform of technical and human resources is capable of covering the entire shooting and production process with the levels of excellence required by the most demanding audiovisual creations.” The promoter understands that, in addition to all the benefits of the project exposed, it contributes to the strategy of the Canary Islands to diversify its economy, “responding to the unanimous demand of the society of the Islands.” The goal of the promoters is for the ambitious Imagine Green Studios project to be operational as of 2025. Today another key step is being taken to make it a reality.
