The positive data from 2023 in this sector reinforces the Government of the Canary Islands’ dedication to fostering its growth.
Cultural industries in the archipelago already represent 3% of the GDP, with the audiovisual sector showing particular promise, yet to reach its full potential.
Encouraged by these prospects, the Government of the Canary Islands, along with Proexca, the private sector including the Canary Islands Audiovisual Cluster, the Canary Islands Film Commission, the Film Commissions of the seven island councils, and the Canary Islands Special Zone, are collaborating to further boost audiovisual projects in the region. Their goal is to continue advancing the international presence of local companies, providing training to island professionals in the specific skills demanded by the audiovisual industry, and attracting investments and projects to the Canary Islands.
Companies investing in the Canary Islands
In 2023, 10 companies specializing in the audiovisual sector, animation, and cultural industries set up base in the Canary Islands, constituting 15.63% of the total businesses established during that period. This led to the creation of 110 direct jobs, in addition to over 15,300 indirect jobs generated that year—twice the number from 2022—and an investment exceeding €224 million. Moreover, 164 film and series productions were filmed, and projections for 2024 estimate 130 live-action shoots and 35 animation productions.
Strategic Plan for promoting the Canary Islands’ audiovisual sector internationally
In 2024, Proexca and the Cluster are partnering once more to promote Canary Islands companies abroad, aiming to effectively address the industry’s actual needs. The objective is to diversify the Canarian economy, foster high-quality employment, and enhance the islands’ sustainability and competitiveness.
This action plan outlines specific initiatives, including direct missions to key markets and festivals such as the EFM – European Film Market (Berlin, February), MAFIZ – Industry at the Malaga Film Festival (March), the Industry Zone at the San Sebastian Film Festival (September), and the CIF Market Festival (Malaga, September). Additionally, there will be direct missions to strategically important international countries or territories. Support will be extended to animation companies to participate in markets outside of the Canary Islands, including NextLab Finance & Tech (Spain), Mundos Digitales (Spain), The Children Media Conference (Sheffield, UK), MIFA Annecy, and others. Moreover, efforts will continue to drive the Canary Islands Advertising Film Forum, encouraging advertising film companies to engage with our industrial ecosystem by visiting the Canary Islands.
In June 2024, the Canary Islands International Film Festival will host its annual gathering. It serves as a nexus for producers, distributors, and European investors, fostering the quest for funding and stimulating international co-productions of feature films, documentaries, and television series for the global market. Additionally, there’s a strategy to promote video games, aiming to boost the exposure and advancement of Canary Islands’ video game production, thereby invigorating the industry, which already hosts several established companies.
📸British companies exploring filming sets in Gran Canaria. / Proexca