It will be very important for next October date City of Light. Filming is scheduled to return to the Alicante film complex that month, after the European Union lifts restrictions on facilities on 1 July. It was announced by the head of Generalitat Valenciana this Tuesday that filming will begin in October. Ximo Puigin his speech Forum AlicanteTitled “Ciudad de la Luz: a project with a future”, a full statement of intent about Consell’s plans for the Alicante complex and the impact it is expected to achieve in the productive fabric.
Organized by BİLGİ Club, Alicante University (UA), Valencian Community Business Confederation (CEV), Baleària and À Punt, Puig’s participation was introduced by BİLGİ club director Toni Cabot. Outside first shot For this new term, announced for October, the president has highlighted two more agreed-upon productions, one for which work will begin in November, and the other, which will arrive in January of next year. The first of the three projects will be carried out with a Spanish production company with an “international scope”, and the other two with American companies. While Puig is unable to name the companies due to confidentiality provisions, it should be noted that during his past visit to Hogueras, he stated that talks with Disney about filming in Ciudad de la Luz had progressed too far.
from Community Thematic Projects (SPTCV) has created a business plan for the first five years of activity returning to the Alicante complex after the EU lifted its restrictions. This roadmap predicts that up to 200 movies will be produced in five years, and studios will be profitable by 2025 or by 2026 at the latest. It is expected to be 10% of the 200 movies expected to be shown. they are for big projects. Other positive effects for the Alicante economy from the return of seventh arts-related activities will be 5,000 contacts, 1.4 million overnight stays, or an encrypted turnover of 850, according to data Puig announced. million euros.
predictions
Hard work has been done in recent months from the Generalitat, with steps directly overseen by the president, to ensure that these economic forecasts come true. strategic bet Ciudad de la Luz’s work is key to leaving behind the “legacy of reputation” taken from the dark years of corruption that damaged the external image projected by the Valencian Community. The work carried out includes meetings with major production companies, the Spanish Film Commission or the Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX).
Puig began his speech by recalling the difficult negotiations with the “men in black” in Brussels to avoid the loss of a complex that has already invested nearly 400 million and is to be auctioned off. 17 and whose future is destined to transform as a logistics warehouse. In this context, it is worth remembering that Ciudad de la Luz became the center of cinema in the years when cinematographic activity was reduced to exclusion. Digital Zone, the “vaccine centre”, a shelter for the Ukrainian population who fled their country due to the large doses of supplies and war against the epidemic. In fact, these refugees are still in the complex and one of the next tasks Eylul faces will be to find a new shelter for them.
The transfer of Ukrainian refugees will allow Ciudad de la Luz to have more space for filming after August. “We need to resettle these people and look for a more reasonable, stable and humane life program,” he said. head of council. He discussed this issue a few weeks ago, with vice-president Aitana Mas, who live-streamed Puig’s intervention yesterday, along with minister José Luis Escrivá, to whom he proposed the transfer of incoming citizens to the state. From Ukraine to a “more dignified” area.
Initial investment
Generalitat made its first investment 2.5 million For the commissioning of plants. This facelift envisions the rehabilitation of the famous water tank, one of its main claims to attract big production companies, as seen in one of the most famous movies shot in Ciudad. Light is impossible. The water tank is expected to be fully operational from next November.
In his speech at the Alicante Forum, Puig reiterated that one of his main goals is to position the sets themselves as “Spain’s main film studio and one of the most important in Europe”. To do this, he said the forecasts considered confirm “sufficient demand” and that the audiovisual sector is experiencing a “great post-pandemic moment”, a factor that confirms the growth they have experienced recently. Platforms like Netflix or HBO, in which city they are trying to shoot. Similarly, the agreement with the continental news channel Euronews to host its headquarters in Spain has de facto closed.
25 million investment planned for the expansion of the facilities
If the Generalitat Valenciana’s business plan for the next five years is fulfilled, Ciudad de la Luz will also grow in every way on a physical level. As Ximo Puig moves through the Alicante Forum, an investment of 25 million euros is being considered, which will be used to expand the land currently occupied, as there is 90,000 square meters of building space produced and can be tailored to needs. from emerging market opportunities in an industry where digitization is increasingly present, such as the audio-visual sector. In fact, Generalitat’s president left the door open for facilities to host esports competitions or events. streamers.
During his speech at the colloquium, the socialist leader said that Consell was considering the possibility of offering tax incentives to encourage productions in Ciudad de la Luz, thus following the guidelines set by the community regulations. Puig addressed the need to strengthen Alicante’s innovative position and advocated maintaining the connection that studios already have with innovation as it is one of the Digital Zone hubs. It is thought in this area to give impetus to new sectors such as electronic sports or electronic sports. play a gamewhich already has a certain weight in the province.
The President recalled that a significant effort has been made in terms of innovation in the Community of Valencia to consolidate itself as the Spanish region that has made the most progress in this area in recent years, climbing 29 places in the latest official classifications. The European Union’s coming to the point of being the third Spanish autonomous community in this field offers a range of possibilities beyond cinema.