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Filming in Spain

Having increased its filming incentive, Spain continues to be a popular filming destination. Productions filming on the mainland can now access up to 30-25% rebate, while shoots taking place in the Canary Islands can access 50-45% and 35% in the Navarre region. The 30% rebate applies to the first EUR1 million claimed dropping to 25% thereafter. Critically, the cap per production now sits at EUR10 million.

The new incentive positions the country in line with its more affordable neighbours but Spain’s credentials include some of the biggest global productions of recent years. Filming infrastructure and high level support can be accessed throughout the mainland and its various islands.  Following on from the success of the Game of Thrones and Star Wars shoots, high-end dramas including HBO’s Westworld, in Valencia’s science & technology park, Amazon’s Hanna, in the Almeria Desert and Netflix’s White Lines, set on the island of Ibiza, have all been recent visitors.

The varied locations, higher incentives and sunny weather in the Canary Islands has encouraged production to visit the archipelago. The island of El Hierro, one of the smallest in the Canary Islands archipelago, was the winner of the 2019 EUFCN Location Award for hosting Movistar thriller TV series Hierro. The island boasts craggy coastline and dramatic cliff faces.

Working in Alhamilla is like having your own huge back lot. The area is bigger than the 20th Century Fox back lot in California.

Arthur Max, Production Designer on Exodus: Gods and Kings

Climate

Because of Spain's position on the Iberian peninsula, its climate is affected by both the Atlantic Ocean on its western and northern sides and the Mediterranean Sea to its south and east.

Mediterranean Spain has hot, dry summers and mild winters. There is virtually no rain between June and August except for the occasional thunderstorm.

In particular, the Canary islands have long sunny days with mild temperatures ranging between 19ºC and 24ºC all year round due to the presence of the Trade Winds and the thermal inversion that they generate. There are very few cloud formations and rain is scarce.

Central Spain and the Southern Atlantic coast also have low rainfall, although there can be heavy snow in the Sierra Mountains in winter. Summers can be very hot.

North and north-west Spain are more influenced by the Atlantic. They are the wettest, cloudiest and coolest parts of Spain.

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