Alicante Becomes a Hub for Filming in 2023
Alicante hosted fifty shooting projects in 2023, maintaining a pace close to the year before. The mix included feature films, TV series, documentaries, television programs, promotional spots, and photo reports. The standout trend was a rise in international productions, while national projects kept steady. Filmmakers increasingly chose picturesque corners of the city for outdoor scenes, expanding beyond the traditional epicenters of Madrid and Barcelona.
Even amid the Hollywood strikes that paused many shoots across the country, Alicante Film Office managed to support five international productions this year, including three feature films and two television series. The Road to Bethlehem, featuring Antonio Banderas and released in Spain, showcases Santa Bárbara Castle. French Sharks in Paris was shot largely within the City of Light and was complemented by a Bollywood-style production in Spain, along with several TV series such as Miskina and Women in Spain. In 2021 there were no international feature films filmed in the area, and 2022 saw a major blockbuster linked to Guy Ritchie.
Trailer for Antonio Banderas’ Musical Journey to Bethlehem
In addition to national cinema, the year highlighted TV projects including Enemies directed by David Valero for Prime Video, and six series with prominent distributors such as Maritime Law featuring Luis Tosar and Blanca Portillo, Immortal, Camilo Superstar, Long Shadows, A Crime Story, and Benejúzar’s Fault. The city also welcomed the production of two short films and three documentaries, alongside a variety of television programs like Talent is in Spain and Tapas in Spain. Alicante served as the backdrop for televised commercials, promotional videos, and product catalogs from major brands. A notable feature was the Gioseppo campaign, headlined by actress Elsa Pataki and filmed around the island of Tabarca.
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Tourism officials emphasized filming as a powerful driver of local tourism. The practice enhances the city’s image and boosts hotel activity and commerce. The ongoing collaboration with the Alicante Film Office aims to maximize the qualitative lift brought by Ciudad de la Luz and to sustain support for production projects across the district.
The Alicante Film Office expanded its reach by joining the Spanish Film Commission, which opened doors to more production companies and opportunities at national events and fairs. They also coordinated two family trips to showcase locations to national and international producers and took part in the Shooting Locations Market Place in Valladolid, a central event for project shoots in Spain.
Projects for 2024
Filming for 2024 includes a project tied to Alejandro Amenábar that is expected to begin in February, with Ciudad de la Luz serving as a base of operations. A team of 150 to 200 crew members is already converging on local hotels. Rumors point to a high-profile international blockbuster titled Poison 3, with some sources suggesting shoots in nearby regions such as Murcia or Almería, and potential relocation to the City of Light. Casting calls and locations are being prepared, seeking four distinct profiles by the end of February.
Another anticipated title set to film in Alicante is a national feature described as Latest Tupperware, which will shoot exterior scenes in the Pau 2 area this week.
Costa Blanca Film Commission
The Costa Blanca Film Commission reported a total of 72 productions in 2023 supported by the provincial body. The breakdown showed 83% Spanish projects, 5.7% from the United States, 5.7% from the United Kingdom, and 4.3% from France. The data illustrate ongoing growth in audiovisual productions. Over the past five years, the province has seen a steady rise, with 41 productions in 2019, 43 in 2020, 58 in 2021, 66 in 2022, and 72 in 2023. These figures reflect a consistent expansion of filming activity in the region.