Spanish international audiovisual producers value the new Film Law positively but ask for more incentives

The Association of Spanish International Audiovisual Production Companies (PROFILM) has positively assessed that the Cinema and Audiovisual Culture Bill passed its first vote in Congress this Thursday, although it has asked for specific incentives for its “particular niche” of foreign productions.

“All of us have been waiting for a new cinema law for a long time and it is important that a new cinema law be passed. Whether this is appropriate or not, it is not up to us to answer because we occupy a very peculiar and particular niche of what the industry is. But what we have to do is increase the incentive. If the cinema law and the increase in the incentive pass, then we would benefit. And this is positive,” detailed the producer, president of the association and CEO of Fresco Film (Mediapro Group), Peter Welter, this Friday.

Thus, he has asked that the issue of incentives be made “clear.” “Yesterday the minister spoke of increasing the incentive until the European Union allows it, but he was referring, I believe, to national production and it is necessary to highlight that obviously, in what As far as we are concerned, the important part for the entire Spanish industry is the increase of the 36.2% incentive for foreign production”, has added.

This Friday, Welter presented the 2025 International Audiovisual Investment Report, which analyzes the activity generated in Spain by foreign productions through their associated companies. PROFILM represents 85% of the total entities in this sector in Spain

Compared to 2024, there has been a drop in total billing of more than 20%, as well as a drop in the volume of signed contracts of 23.7%. However, “only” the number of projects has decreased by 11.11%, indicating “loss of blockbusters,” Welter detailed.

According to the report, the sector in Spain is “now facing a process of loss of competitiveness” and international investment after years of attracting capital and reaching “historical milestones” in 2022.

Specifically, the international projects developed by the production companies associated with PROFILM generated a direct investment in Spain of 103.9 million euros in 2025, with 24 audiovisual projects, 6,490 signed contracts, 29.4 million euros allocated to salaries and 9.7 million euros in Social Security contributions.

Despite these figures, the association warns of a “significant drop” compared to 2024, when direct investment reached 129.9 million euros, with 27 projects and 8,510 contracts, which is why PROFILM assures that it is “a warning sign.”

“We are sailing in an increasingly choppy sea and we have to see what course we have to take to straighten this course, reach good lands and continue sailing with a perhaps increasingly larger fleet.. I tell you that the data for 2025 are not good. I’m optimistic but I want to be realistic, they are bad. But with the perspective of being able to improve and that’s what we are here for,” Welter explained.

On the other hand, the report incorporates for the first time an overall reading of the 2021-2025 period, which contextualizes recent developments. In these five years, the international productions managed by the companies associated with PROFILM have generated almost 983,235,771.63 euros of direct investment in Spain, through 181 international audiovisual projects.

This activity has mobilized technical teams, specialists, artists, figuration, transport companies, accommodation, catering, set construction, equipment rental, locations, security, health services, consultancy, post-production, visual effects and other auxiliary services. “Only in contributions to Social Security, the report includes more than 86.4 million euros between 2021 and 2025“explains the study.

ANDALUSIA, CANARY ISLANDS, MADRID AND CATALONIA WITH GREATER INVESTMENT

By autonomous community, Andalusia, the Canary Islands, Madrid and Catalonia will concentrate the majority of the investment in 2025. Thus, Andalusia -Málaga, Seville and Almería- led direct spending with 27.7 million euros and seven projects, followed by the Canary Islands -Tenerife and Gran Canaria-, with 26.4 million euros and eight projects.

Meanwhile, the Community of Madrid registered 18.4 million euros, including activity linked to VFX, while Catalonia reached 13.2 million euros. The Valencian Community also received investment, with 8.1 million euros, and the Balearic Islands, with 2.6 million euros. However, 10 autonomous communities did not register any investment.

The report reflects that the international projects developed in Spain in 2025 came mainly from the United Kingdom, the United States and other European countries. In fact, the United Kingdom was the main country of origin, with six projects; The United States contributed four; and the European Union added eight productions from Germany, Denmark, France and Ireland. Activity was also recorded from South Korea.

Later, among the notable titles that have chosen Spain as a filming or production location are projects such as ‘NCIS: Tony & Ziva’, ‘Young Sherlock’, ‘Oderbruch Season 2’, ‘Apocalypse Z 2’, ‘The Hive’, ‘Constantinople’, ‘Dune: Prophecy’, ‘Karma’ or ‘The Overlook’, among others.