Canary Islands Film is the audiovisual division of the Canary Islands Government, dedicated to attracting international productions to the islands and strengthening the local film industry. It serves as a central hub, coordinating with various public and private sector agencies to offer comprehensive support and guidance to the film industry.

Recent years have seen a surge of exciting new productions in the Canary Islands, highlighting the region’s versatility as a film destination. Guy Ritchie’s upcoming feature film In the grey (Black Bear Pictures) was filmed in Tenerife. Early production took place in the Real Casino de Tenerife in Plaza the de la Candelaria, before moving to San Andrés, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where chase scenes were captured in the village, at the fishing dock, and on the beach at Las Teresitas.

Meanwhile, the production of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera (eOne Films), set for release in 2025, transformed parts of Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s main streets by constructing a police station, a jewelry store, and a local bar designed to resemble a French establishment. Additionally, the thriller series Weiss & Morales (Portocabo) shot in locations in Gran Canaria and La Gomera.

Martian landscapes, caves and volcanic tubes have been among of the most requested locations in the past years. Popular drama series have found the Canary Islands to be ideal for recreating fantastic and otherworldly settings.

In 2021 and 2022, the Apple TV series Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov’s fantasy saga, transformed Lanzarote, La Gomera, and Tenerife into an imaginary planet from another galaxy. In 2023, American Star, film starring Ian McShane, was filmed in Fuerteventura.

Season 2 of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Amazon), series based on the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, was filmed in the Teide National Park, in the town of San Juan de la Rambla, and in many other areas of the island of Tenerife. Executive producer Lindsey Weber noted: “we knew we needed a location that was hot and sandy. Rhûn, the land where the story takes place, is a treacherous and vast environment, and Tenerife offered all that.”

The Canary Islands provide diverse backdrops that frequently mimic a wide range of global settings. For the 2024 series Zorro (Amazon Prime, Secuoya Studios), the main setting was “Sioux City,” a Wild West theme park in Gran Canaria. The production also filmed in desert locations and the Literary Cabinet, a stunning 19th-century building in the city of Las Palmas.

In Jack Ryan 4 (Amazon Prime Series), shot in 2022, Gran Canaria doubled for Asian countries such as Thailand and Myanmar, while Tenerife stood in for Mexico and Thailand, thanks to the production service support of Seven Islands Film.

In the miniseries Montecristo, starring William Levy, Tenerife doubled as both Cuba and Miami. Moreover, the Spanish archipelago even recreated the Norwegian Sea for the fifth season of Netflix’s hit series Money Heist.

In addition to offering an array of stunning locations and an attractive tax rebate of up to 54%-45%, the Canary Islands have recently expanded their filming infrastructure. New studios in Gran Canaria feature two independent soundproof sets covering a total area of 6,000 square meters, complete with workspaces, backlots, and exterior parking, all situated in the heart of the city.

Furthermore, in April 2024, Spain’s Council of Ministers approved changes to the tax incentive regime for audiovisual projects in the Canary Islands. The previous €50 million annual cap on tax incentives has been removed, allowing producers to benefit from enhanced rebates. Under the new regulations, the cap is now set at €36 million [$38.9 million] tax rebate/credit per film and €18 million [$19.4 million] per episode of a series.

2024 marks the 15th anniversary of the Canary Islands government’s declaration of the audiovisual industry as a strategic sector. In just seven years (from 2017 to 2022), the number of live-action productions shot on the islands has more than doubled, from 61 to 130, while animation productions have quadrupled, increasing from 8 in 2018 to 34 in 2022.

The Canary Islands Film brand is actively involved in promoting the region’s audiovisual industry. It participates in an average of 15 markets and festivals each year and organizes or collaborates on direct and reverse missions, as well as events that showcase the region’s territory and cinematography.

One notable initiative is “Canarias en Corto” a program of the Government of the Canary Islands, dedicated to the promotion and distribution of short films from the Canary Islands. Each year, Canary Islands Film selects up to 7 films and supports their international promotion at festivals, markets and exhibitions.

CreaDoc, the Creative Documentary Development Laboratory, now in its 12th edition, supports the making of three “debut” and three “professional” documentaries annualy.

Finally, IsLABentura Canarias, an international script laboratory, mentors selected participants in developing feature film and television series scripts based on stories and locations within the Canary Islands.