- The organization, alongside its national counterparts in Italy and Portugal, organized a large-scale meeting between producers and film commissions
- SFC actively participated in the annual assembly of the European Film Commission Network (EUFCN), which approved the 2026 annual action plan
- Juan Manuel Guimeráns, president of SFC, presents Spain’s experience in economic impact analysis and public policies in favor of the audiovisual sector at the forum organized by AFCI, Olsberg SPI, and Netflix
- EFM closes with the opening of the exhibition “The Talent Behind the Cameras” at the Spanish Embassy, organized by the Andalucía Film Commission
Madrid, February 18, 2026 – As part of the European Film Market (EFM), held in parallel with the 76th edition of the Berlinale (Berlin International Film Festival), Spain Film Commission has rolled out a wide range of activities aimed at strengthening Spain’s positioning and brand as a strategic destination for audiovisual production with international impact, and at consolidating key alliances in the European arena.
The most notable activities began at Netflix’s headquarters in Berlin, at the forum “Economic Impact Reporting as Strategy”, which featured Juan Manuel Guimeráns, president of the Spain Film Commission, alongside Claire Brooks, executive director of AFCI; Joshua Dedman, consultant at Olsberg SPI; Leonidas Christopoulos, CEO of EKKOMED; and Christiane Krone-Raab, from the Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission. The debate focused on the importance of having rigorous data as a basis for designing effective and sustainable public policies. In this context, Spain was presented as one of the most relevant case studies, thanks to the Economic Impact Study of International Filming in Spain, developed in 2024 by the Spain Film Commission and Olsberg SPI, in collaboration with PROFILM, which analyzed the impact of international film and television productions.
When analyzing this impact in detail, Guimeráns highlighted three key elements: the commitment of the Spanish authorities and the production sector to explain, with data, the relevance of this activity for the economy as a whole and the territories in which it is carried out, as it is an industry that generates a direct, indirect, and induced economic effect of great value and high diversification in all types of related sectors beyond the audiovisual sector itself; the effect on employment, as it is a sector that generates and demands skilled and quality employment, contributing to increasing high value-added professional training and digital skills; and the contribution to territorial balance between different areas of the country, resulting from the multiplication of productions and their diversification throughout Spain.
Another major milestone was the “Italian, Portugal, and Spain Film Commission: Connecting Producers” meeting, organized by SFC together with the national entities of Italy and Portugal, which brought together more than 150 professionals from the three countries with a common goal: to increase knowledge and strengthen co-production opportunities. The event was full to capacity, confirming the growing interest in creating synergies between countries that share values, culture, talent, diversity of locations, and a competitive incentive framework.
The association also played an active role in the annual meeting of the EUFCN (European Union of Film Commissions Network), which presented its 2026 action plan, including renewed participation by the European association in one of SFC’s key events, the Shooting Locations Marketplace, scheduled for October in the city of Valladolid. The day ended at the Spanish Embassy in Berlin with the opening of the exhibition “The Talent Behind the Cameras,” organized by the Andalusia Film Commission with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the diplomatic delegation, RTV Andalucía, and the Andalusian Audiovisual Cluster.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Pascual Navarrothe Spanish Ambassador in Berlin, together with Piluca Queroldirector of the Andalucía Film Commission and vice president of SFC, and Carlos Rosado, president of AFC and former president of SFC, who recalled that in 2026 the organization will celebrate 25 years of service to Spain and all its territories, promoting our country’s brand around the world, He also thanked the Spanish institutions that recognize and support this role, such as the Ministry of Culture, represented at the event by Carmen Páez, subsecretary of Culture of the Government of Spain.
The Spain Film Commission’s presence in Berlin was rounded off by supporting initiatives from collaborating institutions and entities. On the one hand, members of the SFC Board of Trustees, such as Clara Ruipérez de Azcárate, Director of Intellectual and Industrial Property at Telefónica, who spoke at the event “Distinct but Connected; Key Issues in the Audiovisual Sector,”reinforcing the association’s commitment to analyzing the structural challenges facing the sector and building strong public-private partnerships. On the other, institutions such as the ICAA (Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts), which organized a wide range of events, presentations, and meetings, culminating in a round table discussion led by Carmen Páez on one of the key challenges facing the Spanish audiovisual sector: its international marketing.
With this participation, Spain Film Commission successfully closes another edition of the European Film Market with the participation of thirteen partners from its network (Andalucía Film Commission, Asturias Film Commission, Bilbao Bizkaia Film Commission, Canary Islands Film, Cantabria Film Commission, Catalunya Film Commission, Galicia Film Commission, Ibiza Film Commission, Film Madrid Region, Madrid Film Office, Menorca Film Commission, Navarra Film Commission, and Vitoria-Gasteiz / Álava Film Commission), consolidating its role as a strategic partner in the main international forums and reaffirming its commitment to the sustainable, competitive, and innovative growth of the Spanish audiovisual industry.
