The Government promotes 'Spanish Screenings XXL', an international market for Spanish audiovisual productions

The Ministry of Culture and Sports, through the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, through ICEX, together with the Malaga Film Festival and the San Sebastián Film Festival and their respective city councils have presented 'Spanish Screenings XXL'. An international market for Spanish audiovisual productions'.

The project is part of the 'Spain, Audiovisual Hub of Europe' Plan, presented in March 2021 as one of the pillars of the Digital Spain 2025 agenda, which aims to boost audiovisual production, attract investment and economic activity, as well as strengthen audiovisual industry companies and professionals by improving their competitiveness. It is also included in Component 25, 'Spain Audiovisual Hub', integrated in the policy lever IX of Boosting the culture and sport industry of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, specifically in the programme for the internationalisation of the Spanish audiovisual sector.

The event, which took place at the Cine Doré, Spanish Film Archive's screening venue, was attended by the First Vice-President of the Government and Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño; and the Minister of Culture and Sport, Miquel Iceta.

There was also a round table discussion, led by the Director General of the ICAA, Beatriz Navas, with the participation of the mayors of Málaga and San Sebastián, Francisco de la Torre and Eneko Goia, as well as the CEO of ICEX (a body attached to the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism), María Peña, the director of the Málaga Festival, Juan Antonio Vigar, and the director of the San Sebastián Festival, José Luis Rebordinos.

The Spanish Screenings XXL are based on four pillars:

Spanish Screenings' Content

From 21 to 24 March, the Spanish Screenings Content market will be held as part of the Málaga Festival, as it is currently known. It will expand its scope to subsections such as Talent, Adaptations, Remakes, Co-production Forum and a Hub for new audiovisual content for emerging platforms (from podcasts, to Twich, TikTok and alternative and disruptive formats).

Spanish Screenings' Financing & Tech

From 17 to 25 September, the San Sebastián Festival will include days to attract powerful international investors and talent representatives. New technologies applied to audiovisual and R&D&I will also be promoted and highlighted.

This is an extended continuation of the Zinemaldia & Technology initiative, which began in 2018 as a commitment by the festival to position itself as a benchmark for strengthening ties between technology and audiovisuals, as well as raising awareness of new technological advances and the opportunities they generate for creation and business.

'Spanish Screenings' On Tour

With the aim of reinforcing the Spanish Screenings brand internationally, itinerant actions will be carried out aimed at the sale and promotion of Spanish audiovisuals in strategic territories, such as Eastern Europe and Asia. It will also promote the respective festivals, the cities where they are held and our cultural industry in general.

Spanish Screenings 360

In addition, the establishment of a year-round active market will be promoted through a virtual promotion and business platform.

Through Spanish Screenings Content, the Málaga Festival aims to achieve its objectives through various lines of work, such as achieving greater diversity in content (film, series, new online and off-line formats), as well as with new sections (remakes, literary adaptations, meetings between talents and management agencies).

It also seeks to increase the number of guests across a wider range of professional profiles: international sales agents, regional funds, film offices/commissions, producers, international distributors, talent, press.

Another line of work is the creation of a Co-Production forum, a launching pad for new projects.

Also included is Spain Colorful Diversity, an initiative for the autonomous communities, through their film offices and film commissions, to present their locations and support plans for filming.

The meeting of VoD platforms from Europe, Asia, North and South America will also be promoted.

For its part, through Spanish Screenings Technology, the San Sebastián Festival seeks to showcase the work of Spanish companies developing new technologies associated with audiovisuals and will have a forum and exhibition space at its September edition.

New investments

In order to access new funds and investment agencies, Spanish Screenings Financing will also be held at the San Sebastián Festival.

The Spanish Screenings project will have 4.2 million earmarked for events in 2022 and 2023, which will be articulated through nominative grants to the Málaga Festival and the San Sebastián Festival.

In addition, more than 3 million euros will be allocated to the development of the Spanish Screenings 360 platform.

At the same time, the Ministry of Culture and Sport, through the ICAA, will develop new lines of support for the sector aimed at encouraging the purchase and international distribution of Spanish productions.

There is a specific allocation of six million euros for this.

This budget comes from the 200 million euros of component 25 of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan to reinforce Spain's role as Europe's audiovisual hub. Of this, 20 million euros comes from the budget of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, through the ICAA, and 25 million from the budget of the Ministry of Economy and Digital Transformation.

Non official translation