Legacy in Focus: Spain’s Film Industry, India, and Global Collaboration
Spain Film Commission, within its Shooting in Spain initiative and its focus on India, participated in the 2024 edition of FICCI Frames in Mumbai. The aim was to elevate Spain as a preferred location for Indian film production and to strengthen bilateral ties between the Spanish and Indian audiovisual communities. The Spanish team conducted a robust schedule of networking activities to foster collaboration opportunities across both countries, highlighting the broad range of potential partnerships among industry players and institutions.
The Spanish Ambassador to India, Jose Maria Ridao, welcomed the delegation from Spain Film Commission and underscored the Spanish government’s cultural and industrial priorities in India. The emphasis was on actions that showcase Spain’s democratic values and the country’s cultural richness, aligning with the broader goals of deepening cultural exchange and economic cooperation.
Aligned with the broader plan known as Spain, Hub Audiovisual de Europa, Shooting in Spain – focus on India seeks to create spaces for collaboration with institutions and private sector partners in major international markets. The objective is to attract film activity and new shoots, including Indian producers and projects—whether through co-productions or original Spanish productions—while also advancing scriptwriting workshops, producer meetings, and cross-distribution initiatives for audiovisual products that face accessibility challenges in one market or another.
This effort is part of a more than decade-long strategy to engage the Indian market. It arrives at a moment when India has shown notable interest in Spain, as evidenced by current industry milestones. One example is Pathaan, a blockbuster from Yash Raj Films with musical sequences filmed in Cádiz and Mallorca. The film has achieved global popularity, with a music video shot in Cádiz nearing 900 million YouTube views. Directed by Rishabh Chopra, who recently received the title of Honorary Ambassador for Spain Film Commission at the latest Fitur Screen, Pathaan demonstrates the potential for Indian productions to generate significant economic impact and tourism, often referred to as the screen tourism phenomenon, by elevating a destination’s profile in international audiences.
The Spain Film Commission delegation also met with Neerka Shekhar and Prithul Kumar from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. They announced the government’s intent to launch a comprehensive program promoting international productions and India–Spain coproductions. Beyond formal channels, the delegation held discussions with Indian producers who have projects ready for international production, highlighting Spain’s favorable fiscal framework, localities, technical teams and services, and capable infrastructures as competitive advantages for hosting these ventures.
Legacy and future were a central theme at FICCI Frames 2024, with the event adopting the motto “Legacy Meets Future.” Attention was given to VGAC—video games, animation, and comics—a sector in which India is a global leader and which is expanding rapidly due to investments from industry and government alike.
The Spain Film Commission’s presence at this market marked a pivotal milestone, recognizing India as one of the world’s largest and most diverse film industries, with substantial international investment potential. During FICCI Frames, Spain Film Commission also participated in presenting the Ficci Frames Animation awards and spoke in two major sessions: “Film Visionaries” and “CineMagnet: Igniting Global Film Collaborations.”
These initiatives were made possible through collaboration with multiple Spanish and Indian entities, notably the Casa de la India Foundation, whose director, Guillermo Rodríguez, participated in the delegation, along with the Producers Guild of India, the Film Federation of India, and the South India Film Chamber of Commerce. Spain Film Commission received support from the Spanish Embassy in New Delhi and assistance from the Indian Embassy in Madrid, with participation from line producers from Spain’s Palma Pictures and Federation Spain.
The Shooting in Spain initiative, active since 2019, has pursued direct and reverse actions with major industries worldwide, ranging from the United States to Australia, the United Kingdom, Ibero-America, and India. It showcases Spain and its audiovisual sector as a strategic partner in global production, backed by a century-old industry and a consumer market exceeding 500 million Spanish speakers, underscoring the country’s enduring appeal and creative capacity.