Madrid Film Office, the audiovisual office of the Madrid City Council attached to the Tourism Department, has intensified its efforts in recent weeks to project the city's audiovisual industry beyond its borders. This move comes at a time when the capital has established itself as one of the main centers for creation and production in Europe, leading the institution to seek new business opportunities for local companies.
Recent initiatives include the sponsorship of Iberseries & Platino Industria and a meeting organized with a delegation of Chinese producers in Madrid, two actions that reflect the office's dual approach: strengthening ties with Ibero-America and paving the way toward markets such as Asia.
A program focused on training and business opportunities
During Iberseries & Platino Industria, Madrid Film Office deployed a program aimed at showcasing its current priorities. One of the events was the Showrunner Training Workshop, coordinated by The Core School with the support of CIMA, which offered specialized training to twelve projects from various Ibero-American countries.
The office also promoted the conference The Madrid Effect: Creativity, Industry and Global Financing, moderated by the director of Madrid Film Office, Raúl Torquemada. The meeting brought together Jaume Banacolocha of Diagonal TV, Merche Herranz of La Zona, and director and screenwriter Manuel Gómez Pereira, who analyzed Madrid's role within an industry increasingly connected to international production and financing circuits.
Among the factors highlighted by the speakers as key to explaining the city's appeal are access to talent and technical resources, public support, the presence of streaming platforms based in Madrid, and the capital's connectivity with other markets.
Pitch Madrid, a showcase for projects in development
One of the spaces with the greatest continuity within this strategy is Pitch Madrid, conceived as an industry showcase for projects linked to programs and initiatives that support Madrid's audiovisual sector.
This edition featured nine series and feature film projects, both fiction and documentary, from the Academy Residencies, the ECAM Forum, TorinoSeriesLab, and Ventana Madrid. Also included were proposals that received municipal grants and projects presented by the New Filmmakers Platform and The Core school.
With this initiative, Madrid Film Office not only supports the creation of projects in their early stages but also seeks to accompany them in their approach to potential producers, financiers, and partners, both national and international.
Looking toward China as a new strategic market
The commitment to connecting Madrid's audiovisual ecosystem with new opportunities outside of Spain has become especially visible with the recent visit to Madrid by a high-level delegation from the China Film Producers Association (CFPA).
The visit is part of a mission promoted by ICEX, in which Madrid Film Office, together with the specialized consultancy Bridging Visions, was responsible for organizing the delegation's stay in the capital and their introduction to the local audiovisual fabric.
The initiative brought together seven Chinese institutional and business representatives, led by the association's president, Jiao Hongfen, with Spanish professionals and companies, with the goal of exploring possibilities for collaboration, co-production, and investment between both industries.
A tour of the capital’s audiovisual fabric
The program designed for the Chinese delegation was not limited to institutional meetings but sought to offer a direct view of the diversity of Madrid's audiovisual industry.
The agenda included a meeting day with representatives from the Madrid Audiovisual Cluster, Pixel Clúster Madrid, PATE, AECINE, PROFILM, PROXIMA, and ADICINE, as well as production, distribution, sales, and audiovisual service companies.
The delegation also visited the School of Cinematography and Audiovisual of the Community of Madrid (ECAM) and Madrid Content City, and participated in Iberseries & Platino Industria, where they held additional meetings with professionals from the Spanish sector.
Ibero-America and Asia, two axes of the same strategy
For Madrid Film Office, these two lines of work pursue the same objective: to leverage the city's convening power to generate connections that can turn into concrete projects.
Ibero-America remains a natural strategic space for Madrid for cultural, linguistic, and industrial reasons, reinforced by the growing presence of professionals from other territories at the city's main professional gatherings.
The approach to China, meanwhile, represents a step in market diversification and in building relationships that facilitate both the arrival of productions and investment, as well as new collaboration opportunities for Madrid-based companies and professionals. In fact, the CFPA visit is intended as a prelude to a larger-scale program planned by Madrid Film Office for 2027.
The goal declared by Madrid Film Office
The director of Madrid Film Office, Raúl Torquemada, summarized the purpose of these actions by noting that the intention is to make Madrid not only a great audiovisual stage but also a place from which to create, produce, connect, and develop new projects with an international vocation.
These actions are part of the municipal office's general objectives, focused on supporting Madrid's talent, favoring the circulation of projects, promoting meeting spaces, connecting companies, attracting investment, and projecting the city's potential internationally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Madrid Film Office?It is the audiovisual office of the Madrid City Council, attached to the Tourism Department, responsible for supporting and promoting the city's audiovisual industry.
Who directs Madrid Film Office?Raúl Torquemada is the director of Madrid Film Office.
What is Pitch Madrid?It is a space created by Madrid Film Office to present series and feature film projects linked to support programs for Madrid's audiovisual sector, such as the Academy Residencies, the ECAM Forum, TorinoSeriesLab, or Ventana Madrid, to the industry.
What role did the Chinese delegation play in Madrid?A delegation from the China Film Producers Association, led by its president, Jiao Hongfen, visited Madrid as part of a mission promoted by ICEX, organized together with Madrid Film Office and Bridging Visions, with the goal of exploring collaborations, co-productions, and investment with the Spanish industry.
Which institutions participated in the meetings with the Chinese delegation?Among others, the Madrid Audiovisual Cluster, Pixel Clúster Madrid, PATE, AECINE, PROFILM, PROXIMA, and ADICINE, in addition to production, distribution, and audiovisual service companies, ECAM, and Madrid Content City.
What plans does Madrid Film Office have for the coming years?The visit of the Chinese delegation is intended as a prelude to a larger-scale program planned for 2027, as part of the office's international market diversification strategy.
