The government assesses the sector, counting at least 180 productions carried out on the islands, 17% more than in 2024
The audiovisual sector continues to be one of the economic engines of the Canary Islands, as evidenced by the revenue generated by film and television shoots, with a growing trend each year. According to an assessment by the Culture area of the Canary Islands Government, through Canary Islands Film, 180 productions were filmed on the islands in 2025 – thirty more than the previous year – generating direct revenue of 432 million euros, double that of 2024.
These figures correspond to the total volume of audiovisual shoots carried out across all of the islands by international, national and local production companies, excluding advertising shoots. Including the latter, revenue would rise to 440 million euros, according to data collected from the various island film commissions.
The assessment was presented by Cristóbal de la Rosa, Director General of Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries of the Canary Islands Government, accompanied by Natacha Mora, Coordinator of Canary Islands Film, both of whom expressed their satisfaction with this year’s figures, which demonstrate that the islands are now a clear benchmark for production companies both nationally and internationally.
For Cristóbal de la Rosa, it’s clear that “2025 was a incredibly decent year for Canarian talent, which supports the development of our sector, making it possible for films wanting to shoot in the Canary Islands to do so. Since we are able to provide them with services and have people enriching the creative ideas of those films. That, is what has allowed us to achieve these excellent results on our islands”.
Natacha Mora added that “we can talk about a record in investment this year, with around 432 million euros spent in the Canary Islands, and 180 audiovisual productions, of which 76% are Spanish and the rest international.” She also noted that directors such as Pedro Almodóvar and Rodrigo Sorogoyen filmed on the islands in 2025, with films now nominated for Goya Awards, such as ‘La cena’ with eight nominations, and international productions featuring actors like Johnny Depp, Penélope Cruz, John Travolta, and Samuel Jackson.
Employment and Types of Productions
The audiovisual industry also drives employment in the Canary Islands, with a total of 20,000 direct hires recorded in 2025, including advertising shoots.
Of the 180 productions recorded, the majority are Spanish, with a total of 134 projects (74%); and 46 are international (26%). These include 67 fiction feature films, 36 documentaries, 29 fiction series, and 23 animation projects, as well as 16 television programs and 9 short films.
Among the 134 national productions, highlights include ‘Amarga navidad’ by Pedro Almodóvar; ‘El ser querido’ by Rodrigo Sorogoyen; ‘La cena’ by Manuel Gómez Pereira, with 8 nominations for the Goya Awards; ‘Yakarta’, a series with Javier Cámara that won three awards at the Feroz Awards; ‘Above and bellow’ with Antonio Banderas; ‘Bajo un volcán’ with William Levy (a frequent visitor to the Canary Islands); ‘El laberinto de las mariposas’ with Turkish actor Can Yaman; and the animated film ‘Heidi, el rescate del lince’.
Of the 46 international projects, primarily from the USA and Europe (Sweden, Denmark, or Germany, among others), notable productions include ‘The Beast’ with Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta; ‘Noturne’ with Jude Law; and ‘Day Drinker’ with Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz.
Growing numbers of national production companies are choosing the Canary Islands as a filming location for their projects, likely attracted by the tax changes implemented in 2024 by the autonomous government to eliminate the annual limit of 50 million euros on incentives for the audiovisual sector, as well as the experience and talent of the island’s production companies. The introduction of the so-called ‘financing contract’ also provides an incentive for mainland companies.
There has also been an increase in the number of local productions accessing tax incentives, which was barely reflected a few years ago, demonstrating the significant progress made by the island’s sector.
Many of the national productions are also co-productions between Spain and countries in Latin America (Dominican Republic, Mexico) and Europe (Germany, Belgium, Italy), as well as the United Kingdom.
Several of these productions filmed in 2025 will also be featured in different sections of the Málaga Film Festival, one of the most important in the country alongside San Sebastián, which will be held in March. Feature films ‘La familia Benetton’, ‘A una isla de ti’, ‘Auri’, ‘Los Justos’ (a co-production with a local company), and ‘Solos’, directed by Canarian Guillermo Ríos, will be screened out of competition. The series ‘Acoustic home’ will also be in the official out-of-competition section.
Another engaging development for the Canary Islands is the increase in production companies also carrying out post-production processes in the territory, something that was rare until now. The assessment counts at least 16 films or series whose post-production work was done on the islands, including the series ‘The Witcher 3’ and the film ‘Padre no hay más que uno 5’.
Hiring Canarian Crews
All audiovisual production companies coming to film in the Canary Islands are required to hire island crews. International companies must contract a Canarian service company, while national companies must hire local technical and artistic staff.
The economic revenue from shoots also comes from the hiring of these companies and personnel, as well as from hotels, restaurants, transportation, and catering, among other things.
Other attractions for production companies coming to the Canary Islands include the tax incentives, possibly among the most attractive currently offered in Europe, the variety of landscapes, and the climate of the islands.
Potential of the Local Industry
The experience accumulated over the past few years by those involved in the local audiovisual industry, the enormous effort of island companies, and the talent of its professionals are considered a fundamental asset for achieving this favorable evolution of shoots.
Here’s also the result of work carried out jointly over the past few years, through a strategy that dedicates a significant portion of its efforts to strengthening the local audiovisual sector and attracting shoots from other countries to the Canary Islands.
Government support for local creation is particularly based on a grant plan comprising lines of support for Canarian films and series: production, minority co-production, development, and short films, as well as for the organization of audiovisual events and the creation of scripts by Canarian authors.
In 2025, these grants totaled more than three million euros, implemented in parallel with other initiatives and projects supported through the Canary Islands Institute of Cultural Development (ICDC) and its Canary Islands Film unit.
This is complemented by actions carried out through a strategy for the internationalization of the audiovisual sector. Canary Islands Film, which also represents the island councils, Proexca, and the private sector, attends the most important European markets and festivals to support island professionals in obtaining funding or partners for the production of new films and series, as well as attracting shoots that generate the results outlined above.
