The highly anticipated film “The Final Druid,” featuring the acclaimed actor Russell Crowe, is set to be one of the standout projects showcased at this week’s American Film Market. The collaboration involves prominent partners including Range Media Partners, Spain’s Nostromo, CAA Media Finance, and AGC Worldwide, who are all aiming to initiate filming in the scenic landscapes of Spain. This feature is expected to draw significant attention due to its star-studded cast and the picturesque filming locations that Spain offers.

The renowned Norman Reedus, best known for his role in AMC Networks’ “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” was recently swarmed by fans in late August while filming Season 3 in Madrid. The city is being transformed to represent London, with iconic red double-decker buses featuring signage for Trafalgar Square being spotted navigating the bustling streets of central Madrid. This creative choice highlights Madrid’s versatility as a filming location that can convincingly portray various cities around the world.

Last year, acclaimed director Guy Ritchie spent an impressive 35 days filming the Henry Cavill feature “In the Gray” on the stunning Canary Island of Tenerife. Ritchie has a history of selecting Spain as a filming destination, having also filmed segments of “The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare” in the same country. This trend showcases Spain’s growing appeal as a prime filming location for major motion pictures, thanks to its diverse landscapes and favorable shooting conditions.

The upcoming series “This City is Mine,” featuring the talented Sean Bean from “Game of Thrones,” is produced by Left Bank Pictures for BBC One. It recently wrapped filming in the stunning coastal city of Marbella during March, April, and early May. This production exemplifies the allure of Spain as a filming destination, with its rich cultural backdrop and scenic views that enhance the storytelling experience.

The high-budget production “Venom: The Final Dance,” starring Tom Hardy, invested a remarkable $39 million filming in Spain, which included work at the recently re-opened mega studios Ciudad de la Luz. This investment underscores the financial commitment from major studios to utilize Spain’s filmmaking resources, showcasing the country’s impressive infrastructure and creative talent available for international productions.

In addition to these major projects, Netflix’s hit series “Under Paris,” starring Bérénice Bejo, and Paramount+/France Télévisions’ “Zorro,” featuring Jean Dujardin, have also chosen Spain as their filming destination. Meanwhile, the BBC/Amazon drama “The Night Manager” Season 2, co-produced by Nostromo, along with ZDF Studios/RTVE’s “Weiss & Morales,” are currently capturing scenes in various locations across Spain, adding to the country’s impressive portfolio of international productions.

Despite recent setbacks in the U.S. film industry that have delayed the arrival of numerous productions in Spain, the country continues to attract an extensive list of international projects. This demonstrates Spain’s resilience and enduring appeal as a prime filming location, thanks to its unique landscapes, favorable tax incentives, and rich cultural heritage that filmmakers seek for their projects.

Since the 1950s, Spain has been a favorite destination for large-scale productions, with notable films such as “El Cid” and “The Fall of the Roman Empire” produced there. In more recent years, renowned director Ridley Scott filmed “1492” and various scenes from “Kingdom of Heaven” (2004) and “Exodus: Gods and Kings” (2014) in Spain. Other major productions like Warner Bros.’ “Clash of the Titans” (2009) and “Wrath of the Titans” also utilized the picturesque landscapes of the Canary Islands, while Jonathan Glazer’s “Sexy Beast” (1999) was filmed in the beautiful Costa del Sol region of Andalusia.

Spain emerged as a top contender for international filming locations following the immense success of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which began filming in Spain from Season 5 in 2014. The series showcased some of the country’s most iconic and breathtaking landscapes, significantly elevating Spain’s profile in the global film industry. The introduction of attractive tax incentives in Spain starting in 2015, coupled with Netflix establishing its first European Production Hub in Madrid in July 2018, further solidified the country’s status as a filming hotspot. This was propelled by the groundbreaking success of “Money Heist,” which Netflix confirmed in early 2018 was its most-watched non-English language series to date.

Filmed with a talented Spanish cast and crew, “Money Heist” served as a powerful advertisement for the depth of key technical expertise available in Spain, showcasing the country’s capabilities in an increasingly competitive global film and television landscape. This success story has encouraged many international filmmakers to explore the potential of Spain as a viable location for their projects.

As of January 1, 2023, Spain has raised its tax rebates for international productions and credits for Spanish nationality shows, ranking among the best worldwide. The caps are €10 million ($10.9 million) per TV episode in mainland Spain, with tax relief of 25%-30% on spending or investment, increasing to €18 million ($19.6 million) per episode in the Canary Islands, where breaks reach 45%-54%. In the Basque Country’s Bizkaia, deduction rates can soar to 60%, making it an attractive option for productions seeking financial incentives.

For movies, the returns in mainland Spain are capped at €20 million ($21.8 million) per shoot, while in the Canary Islands, the maximum rebate or credit can reach €36 million ($39.2 million). These favorable financial conditions, alongside Spain’s breathtaking landscapes, continue to attract filmmakers from around the globe, ensuring its place as a key player in the international film industry.

As the future of international shoots unfolds, Spain is undeniably on the radar of filmmakers worldwide. The combination of its stunning scenery, robust infrastructure, and favorable production costs makes it an ideal location for various film and television projects.

Erik Barmack, Vice President of International Originals at Netflix, highlights that global studios are increasingly favoring Spain due to its favorable economic conditions and outstanding production facilities. He notes that Spain is becoming a vibrant market, recognized as one of Europe’s leading production hubs, thanks to its impressive talent pool and high-quality infrastructure. This recognition is further bolstered by the success of Spanish series and films that have gained traction with international audiences.

According to Leon Forde, Managing Director of Olsberg·SPI, Spain stands out as a highly dynamic market, especially regarding its strong production capabilities, talent, and infrastructure. He presented findings from a Spanish Film Commission/Profilm study, which estimated that 165 productions benefitting from Spain’s tax rebates for international projects from 2019 to 2022 generated a significant minimum of €1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) in Gross Value Added (GVA) contributions to the national economy. This data underscores the economic impact of the film industry in Spain, highlighting its importance to the local and national economy.

Spain, along with other prominent European filming locations, forms a crucial part of a new international film financing model shaped by current market realities. The country is increasingly recognized as an essential partner for various productions looking to leverage its unique offerings and incentives.

Shooting “The Final Druid” in Spain not only brings co-production equity to the film but also offers significant incentives and access to excellent crews. This strategic choice qualifies “The Final Druid” as a European production, adding further value for European broadcasters, as explained by Stuart Ford, Chairman-CEO of AGC Studios, during the introduction of the Russell Crowe starrer as its international sales agent at the American Film Market.

With U.S. pre-sales becoming increasingly challenging to secure, the key to unlocking independent financing lies in maintaining the net production cost after incentives at a level that remains attractive for pre-sale buyers internationally, Ford elaborated. This strategy is vital for ensuring the viability of projects in a competitive marketplace.

However, as Barmack, Forde, and Ford emphasize, the influx of international titles is not solely a result of tax breaks. A closer examination of four significant shoots reveals that the motivation to film in a country often extends far beyond financial incentives, with a favorable tax regime simply facilitating the realization of those creative visions.

Exploring the Ambitious Series “This City is Ours” (BBC, Left Bank Pictures, U.K.)

Choosing to film in Spain was an obvious decision for Simon Maloney, producer at Left Bank Pictures, who was enlisted by Sony Pictures TV to bring “This City is Ours” to life. Written by Stephen Butchard (“The Last Kingdom”) and directed by Saul Dibb (“The Sixth Commandment”), this series is billed as an “epic new drama” by the BBC and is poised to be one of its heavyweight offerings for 2025. The eight-part series stars Sean Bean as Liverpool gang leader Ronnie Whelan, who owns a luxurious villa in Marbella, known as Southern Europe’s gateway for cocaine trafficking.

“This City is Ours” rejuvenates one of the most productive collaborations in Europe’s international filming landscape, between Left Bank and Palma Pictures in Mallorca, led by Mike Day. This partnership previously produced the hit series “Mad Dogs” (2011-2013), which ran for four successful seasons, and later serviced “The Crown” (2016-2023) along with the popular Netflix show “Who Is Erin Carter?”—which became Netflix’s third-most viewed series across any language in the latter half of 2023 and filmed extensively in Catalonia, including its capital, Barcelona.

Spain offers breathtaking locations for productions like “This City is Ours,” featuring a villa that resembles a glamorous Bond lair situated on a cliff in an exclusive area of Marbella. The stunning El Torcal National Park also served as a backdrop, showcasing the natural beauty that enhances the visual storytelling of the series, according to Maloney. Such locations not only elevate the production quality but also attract international attention to Spain’s filmmaking potential.

In an era where production budgets are under constant scrutiny, the team behind “This City is Ours” implemented various strategies to contain costs without compromising quality. For instance, on “The Crown,” the stunning Andalusian landscapes doubled for locations in Athens, Australia, and Hollywood. Similarly, for “This City,” the port of Málaga served as a stand-in for Santander in northern Spain, while a roadside café near Marbella was transformed to suggest a central Spain location. This creative approach showcases the ingenuity of the production team in maximizing the potential of the locations available.

Additionally, Palma Pictures provided an excellent production base at the Wyndham Grand Hotel, where cast and crew were accommodated. The strategic choice of locations ensured that all shooting sites were within a 45-minute to one-hour range, facilitating efficient working days and minimizing extensive travel times. Maloney praised the base for offering a vast array of stunning landscapes and settings to explore, stating, “It was a truly wonderful experience. It was one of my favorite shooting experiences,” highlighting the high standards of production associated with this project.

Capturing the Adventurous Spirit of “Zorro” (Paramount+, France Télévisions, Le Collectif 64, Bien Sûr Productions, France)

The decision to film “Zorro,” starring Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin, in Spain was heavily influenced by the stunning natural landscapes available. Dujardin portrays the comically complex character Don Diego de la Vega, who becomes the Mayor of Los Angeles in 1821 and faces the chaos caused by his masked alter-ego. The picturesque locations not only enhance the storytelling but also showcase Spain’s diverse scenery to a global audience.

The consideration of locations for “Zorro” was multifaceted. Producer Marc Dujardin emphasized the importance of capturing Spain’s natural beauty, stating, “If you shoot exteriors in Spain, you have to shoot interiors as well. It’s very difficult to combine two tax break systems.” By leveraging Spain’s rebate for international productions, the eight-part series maintains its status as a fully European production, ensuring financial viability. Moreover, the landscapes of Spain provide an authentic backdrop that closely resembles historical California.

The interiors for “Zorro” were found around Toledo, where the production utilized two fincas, or rural mansions. One of these locations, the sixteenth-century country house Los Lavaderos, has a rich cinematic history, having hosted legends like Sophia Loren, Cary Grant, and Frank Sinatra for scenes in the 1957 film “Pride and Passion.” “Zorro” filmed both exterior shots of Diego’s home and interior scenes of the villain Don Emmanuel’s residence at Los Lavaderos. The series also made use of La Alamedilla, a magnificent large modern mock-nineteenth-century Mexican hacienda, for various casino and chateau scenes.

For desert scenes, the production team constructed sets around existing homes in El Chorrillo in Almería, a location previously utilized by Ridley Scott for his film “Exodus.” This attention to detail in selecting the right locations enhances the authenticity of the series and showcases the unique landscapes that Spain has to offer.

“Zorro” stands out as a distinctive European production for Paramount+, which plans to air the eight-part series in France, the U.K., Italy, Germany, and Latin America, followed by a release on public broadcaster France Télévisions in France. This strategic distribution highlights the potential of Spanish filming locations to appeal to a broad international audience.

Shooting in Spain proved to be an excellent decision, as Dujardin noted that the country possesses stunning desert landscapes. However, cost considerations posed challenges, particularly due to the limited availability of crew members in Almería, leading to the necessity of importing talent from Madrid at significant expense. Dujardin emphasized the importance of carefully calculating the balance of travel and accommodation costs between the Madrid area and Almería to ensure financial viability.

Capitalizing on Innovative Filmmaking with “Under Paris” (Netflix, Same Player, Let Me Be)

Spain not only captivates filmmakers with its stunning landscapes but also boasts a growing array of cutting-edge studios. A prime example is “Under Paris,” which has become the second most popular non-English language film ever on Netflix, with an impressive 102.3 million views. This French shark action thriller, directed by Xavier Gens and produced by Vincent Roget’s Same Player, features Academy Award-nominated Bérénice Bejo (“The Artist”). The plot centers around Bejo’s character, a brilliant marine scientist, who discovers a shark named Lilith in the North Pacific, which attacks without reason and grows unnaturally fast to seven meters. Two years later, Lilith adapts to climate change and is found in the Seine just before a Triathlon race in preparation for the Olympics, setting the stage for impending chaos.

While Belgium’s Vilvoorde houses Lites Studios, touted as one of the most advanced underwater filming stages globally, it remains an indoor facility. Spain offers a unique advantage with its Ciudad de la Luz, which reopened last year, featuring one of Europe’s rare open-air water tanks. This facility is particularly valuable for projects requiring extensive water scenes, setting Spain apart as a competitive location for filmmakers. The attractions of international shoot tax breaks further enhance Spain’s appeal