With a clear aim to support the local film and audiovisual sector, the council plenary is set to approve a decree this morning that organizes the delivery of aid through a competitive bid process. The plan allocates 6.5 million euros for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 to bolster audiovisual production within the Community of Valencia. The funding comes entirely from Generalitat funds, distributed as 2.5 million euros for 2023, 3.5 million euros for 2024, and 500 thousand euros for 2025. The decree also states a funding ceiling that may be raised to a maximum of 10 million euros under certain conditions. The financial framework aims to foster a sustainable and visible expansion of the Valencian audiovisual landscape.
Among the criteria for granting these aids are the projected expenditure generated by the project within the Valencian Community and the involvement of technical teams, artistic teams, and film and post-production service companies that have their domicile or financial presence in this Community. This emphasis on local participation ensures that resources circulate within the regional economy and that talent pipelines remain strong.
The decree has earned the support of the Turkish Grand National Assembly and key Spanish ministries including Finance and Culture and Innovation. Its overarching purpose is to establish the measures necessary to grant aid while promoting a new economic model that recognizes the strategic value of the audiovisual industry in producing cinematographic and audiovisual works within Valencia.
The image accompanying this piece shows one of the iconic sets from Ciudad de la Luz, reflecting the scale and ambition of the local industry.
The Generalitat highlights that this subsidy is part of a broader program for the audiovisual sector. It is designed to be flexible in its formats and applicable across different scopes, with co-financing from the European Union to strengthen both the cinematographic and the broader audiovisual industries. The program aims to attract local and foreign talent, facilitate knowledge transfer, enhance professionalization and technical training, and foster synergies that propel the Valencian audiovisual sector forward.
Conditions
The bases governing the decree align with Commission Regulation No. 651/2014, proclaimed in 2014, which clarifies the treatment of state aid within the internal market and the application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
To qualify, an audiovisual production company must undertake projects that develop domestic or foreign cinematographic works or audiovisual works within the Valencian Community. The goal is to provide a meaningful boost to employment within the regional economy through production activities that include post-production when carried out locally. A minimum expenditure of 2,000,000 euros must occur within the Valencian territory, and the total global production cost must reach at least 4,000,000 euros.
According to EU rules on state aid, the minimum expenditure cannot exceed 50 percent of the overall production budget, and the computations must align with a base that does not surpass 80 percent of the total production budget. These limits ensure that funding remains proportionate and supports genuine local value creation while maintaining fair competition within the European market.
The decree thus anchors a strategic approach for Valencia: channel public funds into productions that generate direct economic activity in the region, build durable professional networks, and position Valencia as a competitive hub for high-quality audiovisual content. It also reflects a broader commitment to cultural prosperity and regional innovation, with the potential to yield lasting benefits for filmmakers, technicians, studios, and allied service providers across the Community.
In sum, the measure seeks not only to finance individual projects but to strengthen the infrastructure, workforce, and creative capacity that underpin the Valencian audiovisual ecosystem. The process emphasizes transparency, local participation, and alignment with European Union guidelines, ensuring that support advances both local industry and the wider European cultural economy.
Notes on implementation indicate that the decree will guide how aid is requested, evaluated, and disbursed. It will require careful accounting of expenditures and demonstrable ties to Valencian institutions and markets. The long-term aim is to create a sustainable framework for ongoing investment in film and audiovisual production, with measurable benefits for employment, skills development, and regional reputation.
This initiative, therefore, positions Valencia to compete more effectively on the European stage while preserving its distinctive cultural identity. It invites producers to look to Valencia not only as a production site but as a vibrant creative community where collaboration, talent, and innovation coalesce to produce compelling cinema and audiovisual work for audiences both inside Spain and beyond.
Cited for context: the decree and its accompanying documentation outline the policy intent, while government and regional authorities emphasize the importance of structured, accountable support that aligns with EU competition rules and regional development goals. The result is a practical blueprint for sustainable growth in Valencia’s audiovisual sector.