Those who visit New York for the first time know: the view of the Manhattan skyline from the East River is not foreign to eyes, tired of seeing it on screens. This is the magic of cinema, capable of transporting the viewer to the … unsuspected views of the world as if they were postcards. For this reason, Madrid wants to focus more on an industry, the audiovisual industry, capable of creating these icons in the collective imagination and thus influencing two of the current axes of the government, the promotion of tourism and economic return in the form of foreign investments. Put yourself on the map, in short.
The filming in the capital, next spring, of the new film by Woody Allen, filmmaker among filmmakers, is the incentive that this “sector of activity” needed and that Isabel Díaz Ayuso wants to catapult, who yesterday visited the facilities of Madrid Content City, a sort of filming town located in Tres Cantos. He announced the keys to his Strategic Plan for the audiovisual industry. The American director’s film will follow the path of some of his latest creations, being filmed outside the United States. The agreement between the production company Wanda and the Regional Executive provides for an investment of 1.5 million euros, in exchange for all the images filmed here and, at least, 15% outside the city and other municipalities in the region. Additionally, the title of the film must explicitly contain the word Madrid, as has happened in the past with “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”, “To Rome with Love” and “Midnight in Paris”. The Spanish enclaves candidate to host the “Annie Hall” director’s new shoot varied, including regions with significant tax benefits, although in the end he expressed his express desire that the chosen one be Madrid.
The heart of the plan announced by the Community is structured around five axes and specifies a dozen work points. The promise consists of increasing the regional aid budget for the sector by 130%, which will reach nearly 6 million euros next year. This is not shedding a tear in the rain. This industry represents 2.6% of the Community’s GDP, with more than 3,500 companies dedicated to it (eight out of ten are film companies). It is for this reason that, through the Avalmadrid credit institution, we will benefit from aid for the first time; Another incentive will be for productions to introduce artificial intelligence; a greater presence in international markets (Woody Allen’s film will be presented at a film festival, to be finalized, and in at least three foreign cities); The Community School of Cinematography and Audiovisual will be promoted (with training in sound, AI, databases, post-production, costume design…), as well as other initiatives.
The region hosted 1,450 shoots in 2024, including films, series and commercials, notably on the sets of Villaviciosa and Pozuelo.
In 2024, the region will host 1,450 film shoots, including films, series and commercials. The production centers of Villaviciosa de Odón and Pozuelo de Alarcón were the main sites outside the city of Madrid itself; Next come the exteriors of Alcalá de Henares, San Martín de la Vega and Aranjuez. It is not for nothing that two of these cities are listed as world heritage sites.
The beauty and architecture of these villas are a source of income beyond their own tourist nature. The capital accounted for the majority of filming, with 60%, but an increase was noted in 92 Madrid municipalities. The jobs generated were 100,700 (including 29,700 direct), with an overall contribution of 7.2 billion euros.
More budget
The Community will increase aid to the sector by 130%, up to almost 6 million euros
Technology
The development of AI and the Regional School of Cinematography will encourage filming in Madrid
Woody Allen
The Brooklyn director will shoot his next film in Madrid, with regional aid of 1.5 million euros
movie set
Last year, the region hosted 1,450 filmings of films, series and commercials, or 60% of the total in the capital.
The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports, headed by Mariano de Paco, uses figures, for example, on the box office impact of Woody Allen films shot in Europe, to get an idea of the reach of the next one: “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” grossed almost $10 million in 2008, only in cinemas in Spain (96.4 million worldwide); “Midnight in Paris” (2011), 10.7 million (151.6); and “From Rome with Love” (2012) reached 4.2 million dollars in our country, out of the 73.2 million obtained internationally. Reach is multiplied exponentially today, in the age of platforms.
About The Author
