A French high-budget production features a large crew of over 150 people, including a water tank that stands out as a key element in its setup. With this project, the Valencian administration restored activity at Ciudad de la Luz after the European Commission lifted the penalty on Alicante studios in March of last year.
The production team moved in at the Alicante cinema complex at the start of May and has been preparing the technical side ever since. Shooting is set to begin next Monday and will run through the end of July.
Both on set and in production, the water tank will be a central element, fully transformed with a broad platform and multiple cabins. The filming location will be in a newly configured space with several additional areas.
According to Anthony Rodes, chief executive officer of Digital Transformation Projects Community, the project expects around 2,600 nights of accommodation and local spending approaching two million euros.
While the Generalitat cannot share further details about this European project, which will be filmed in several countries, Rodes notes that the production team first visited Ciudad de la Luz three months ago and more visits followed before finalizing the deal. He emphasizes that the pit and the sets carry significant importance due to the large number of extras involved.
The early stage of this renewed phase will be twofold. In June, a series titled featuring Luis Tosar and Blanca Portillo, directed by Alberto Ruiz Rojo, began shooting in Madrid and is scheduled to be shown officially in Ciudad de la Luz next week.
National and international productions
Since the campaign began, the City of Light has hosted 24 visits by international producers, with many from the United States visiting the Alicante complex. There have also been several video conferences with major studios from Los Angeles.
Two large productions are in negotiations to start filming on Alicante’s sets before the end of 2023, with two more close to a deal. Delays caused by the writers’ strike in the US paused several projects.
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Alongside this, meetings are underway for filming two new local productions. The general manager of the SPTD notes that a September start is planned for a series that will occupy part of the studios for eight months, and a film by Spanish producer Gerardo Herrero RAQA, a story centered on environmental themes.
New impulse
Josefina Bueno, minister for Innovation, Universities, Science and the Digital Society, declared it a pleasure that filming has returned to Ciudad de la Luz. She explained that a prior project paused due to management issues, including a controversial expropriation by the former government and subsequent legal rulings in favor of the region by the Supreme Court. The administration has invested hundreds of millions to revive the studios and boost the local economy.
Assistance is expected to arrive from June as the professional team grows. The call for proposals will assess applicants who meet strict requirements, with a decision likely within a month. The grants aim to incentivize the Valencian film industry and local audiovisual spending, with subsidies up to 25% of accredited local expenditures. The program seeks to position the Valencian Community as a competitive destination alongside regions like the Canary Islands, Basque Country, and Navarra.
Ciudad de la Luz has also assembled a professional operation and marketing team to attract large productions. The bidding period ended in April and drew interest from many national and international executives and research marketers. A decision will follow the outcome of a challenge filed by a firm that did not meet the conditions; the Central Administrative Court of Appeals will rule in a few weeks. Providing this service would mark a major milestone for Ciudad de la Luz, offering a team with proven technical solvency to support film shoots and attract major productions.