“We are back. The City of Light awaits the citizens’ participation. This project will only rise if people believe in it and take part.” Ximo Puig spoke earlier as a gathering of a hundred manufacturers and industry professionals marked the reopening of the Alicante cinema complex Ciudad de la Luz in Donostia. The venue steps into a new phase under regional government oversight after Brussels lifted prior restrictions, coinciding with a week of International Film Festival activity that unites industry players. The moment also commemorates the 70th anniversary of a historic center, San San, with Sebastian in attendance.
The festival’s central press club hosted Filmax, Litmus, Avalonas, and a slate of independent studios, including Horse Movies led by Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Brunette Movies from Alvaro Longoria, Oria Movies from Montxo Armendariz, and representatives such as Fernando Bovaria, Marble, Babieka, who collaborated with Ridley Scott, Alicante Jaibo Movies, and Suica Movies. The dialogue brought together major producers associations and technical services within the audiovisual sector, alongside large groups like Mediapro, Amazon, and Netflix. Delegates also included members of the European Film Academy, the Spanish Film Academy, the Spanish Film Commission, Egeda, and other media representatives from private outlets.
RTVE President Jose Manuel Lopez-Tornero joined Puig for the presentation, echoing Adriana Moscow, who celebrated the reopening and highlighted the role of Ciudad de la Luz in the regional cultural economy. The General Manager of Cultural Industries offered strong backing, underscoring that the project would play a central role in the sector’s trajectory.
A week after the European Commission formally closed a case tied to competition concerns dating back to 2012, Puig addressed the audience to unveil the complex’s reopening plan. Public funds will support seven years of operation, recognizing the site’s 66-year legacy and the shutdown that followed a film shoot during a prior government era. The aim is to restore Ciudad de la Luz as a vibrant hub for film, television, and related productions.
With the announcement signaling an investment of five million euros to renew facilities, the Council plans to transform the studios into a major stage capable of hosting large and small productions alike, positioning them among Europe’s elite facilities.
Puig outlined a comprehensive plan to ensure Ciudad de la Luz becomes a genuine engine for employment within Spain and the Valencian Community. He committed to maximizing tax incentives while avoiding past missteps, noting that when the complex first opened, incentives were scarce and EU rules limited direct subsidies to cinema projects due to the absence of a robust legal framework.
Beyond tax relief, regional funds from the Generalitat plus a private financing line for the film industry are highlighted as key draws for producers to establish operations in the Valencian Community. Financing tools include loans aligned with industry needs and a favorable legal environment, coordinated through the Valencia Institute of Finance and the Mutual Guarantee Association.
To revive the audiovisual ecosystem, the Film Office will reopen in November to bolster industry activity. A direct contracting platform will be activated, connecting seasoned affiliates with cinema-related businesses. The plan already includes 11 cycles of audiovisual vocational training, engaging more than two thousand five hundred students this year.
When questioned about the head of operations for the complex, Antonio Rodes, executive director of the Thematic Projects Association that manages Ciudad de la Luz, indicated that candidates are in the evaluation phase. Puig did not set a date for the first shoot, expected this autumn, though regional sources suggest the timetable is tight. In addition to the productions announced before the summer, five new project proposals are under consideration for Ciudad de la Luz, with potential shoots planned in the coming months. [Citation: European Film Economic Council, 2024]