LA HOJARASCA (THE UNDERGROWTH), directed by Canarian filmmaker Macu Machín, is set to have its world premiere at Berlinale Forum. In recent years, productions from the Canary Islands, such as Matar cangrejos, Un volcán habitado, Ellos transportan la muerte, and Semilla del Son, have garnered acclaim at major film festivals.
CANARY ISLANDS FILM, an initiative of the Government of the Canary Islands aimed at promoting the audiovisual industry of the islands, will present its latest updates on co-production aid, incentives, and filming at the upcoming Berlinale. The focus will be on showcasing the potential of Canary Islands professionals in this sector, exemplified by the first 100% Canarian film, La Hojarasca (The Undergrowth), directed by Macu Machín.
In 2023, Canarian cinema received significant exposure at international and national festivals. Standout feature films include Un volcán habitado by David Pantaleón and José Victor Fuentes. This had its premiere at Visions du Réel, then at Seminci, and was awarded a prize at Márgenes. Matar cangrejos by Omar Al Abdul Razzak, awarded in both Málaga and Las Palmas festivals. Semilla del Son, by Juanma Betancort premiered at San Sebastian Made in Spain and Seminci and Benito Pérez Buñuel by Luis Roca got the Premio de la crítica at the Festival Internacional de Cine Documental de Uruguay.
Additionally, several short films gained attention at various festivals worldwide: titles such as Bloom by Samuel M Delgado and Helena Girón could be seen in Rotterdam, Chicago, Viennale; Aitana by Marina Alberti, selected in Venice and awarded in Seminci and Bogoshorts; Las invasiones biológicas. El caso del Ovis Orientalis Musimon en la isla de Tenerife: El último muflón, by Omar Al Abdul Razzak and Shira Ukrainitz participated at Krakow Film Festival and Seminci; Meteoro, by Víctor Moreno won the Spanish short film at Seminci or Circe, by María Abenia won several awards in the Canary Islands and participated at Gijón Festival.
Image of the shooting of Matar cangrejos
Image of the shooting of Un volcán habitado
A retrospective of Canarian cinema was held in France at the Toulouse Festival, featuring discussions with filmmakers such as Jose Alayón, Samuel M Delgado, David Pantaleón, and Miguel G. Morales. Furthermore, Ellos transportan la muerte by Samuel M Delgado and Helena Girón was released in cinemas.
Other theatrical releases in Spain include Canarian titles such as Absolución by Juan Alfredo Amil, Gleich by Jeniffer Castañeda, and Benito Pérez Buñuel by Luis Roca. Additionally, upcoming premieres in Canarian cinemas include Lo carga el diablo by Guillermo Polo, Una casa en el pueblo by Domingo J. González, Voy a desaparecer by Coré Ruiz, and Superklaus, an animated film directed by Andrea Sebastiá and Steven Majaury and co-produced by the Canary Islands-based 3 Doubles Producciones.
INCENTIVES AND FILMING
The Canary Islands have solidified their position as a preferred destination for filmmakers nationally and internationally. Cristóbal de la Rosa, General Director for Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries of the Canary Islands Government, attributes this success “to the islands’ unique conditions, versatile locations, warm climate, quality hotel infrastructure, security, and professional industry”.
The islands’ own Régimen Económico y Fiscal (REF) offers advantageous tax incentives for audiovisual productions, resulting in a significant increase in filming activity in recent years. This means that the deductions applied to audiovisual productions will always be 80% higher, with a minimum of 20 points, compared to the deductions in the rest of Spain, which translates into tax deductions of up to 54%.
These advantages have favored an unstoppable growth in filming on the islands over the last few years. In 2022, there were 164 film shoots, which is 85 more than five years ago. Notable international productions have chosen locations in the archipelago for their projects: Jason Bourne; Jack Ryan T4; The Eternals; Wonder Woman; Rambo V; Han Solo: a Star Wars Story among others.
CANARY MARKETS
The commitment to the audiovisual sector is further demonstrated through annual professional events, which have become important meetings for the local and foreign industry’s agenda. It is the case of the Mercado de Cine Casi Hecho (MECAS), the Quirino Ibero-American Animation Awards Co-production Forum, the MiradasDoc Market, and the Canary Islands International Film Market (CIIFM).
ANIMATION in the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands have emerged as an important global animation center, attracting international studios and producers due to tax benefits and quality of life. Proof of this is that it has grown from two animation studios in 2016 with 29 employees, to more than 12 studios today and more than 800 employees.
«LA HOJARASCA» (THE UNDERGROWTH), directed by Macu Machín, is a collaborative effort involving a production company from Tenerife (El Viaje Films), a filmmaker from Gran Canaria (Macu Machín), and filming on La Palma. The film received support from ICAA, the Government of the Canary Islands, and various island laboratories such as MiradasDoc, Creadoc, Aceleradora, MECAS. The synopsis of the film tells the story of the distribution of an inheritance acquired through a supernatural encounter that plunges three sisters into a prolonged conflict.
Canarian talent: The creative team includes the cinematographer José Alayón (Blanco en blanco, Ellos transportan la muerte and La ciudad oculta). The music is by Canarian composer and critic Jonay Armas (La parra, Blanco en blanco).
It is worth noting that, in 2018, the documentary En busca del Óscar, by Canarian filmmaker Octavio Guerra and Canarian production company Calibrando producciones, was selected for the Berlinale’s Critics’ Week, being the first Spanish film to be screened in the section parallel to the Berlin Film Festival. This project was supported by the Canary Islands Government’s Creative Documentary Development Laboratory (CreaDoc).
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