The Board of Castile and León wishes to show its support for cinema. Therefore, the body is attending the Shooting Locations Marketplace on the 17th and 18th of October, through the Castile and León Film Commission, establishing itself as one of the most significant meetings about the film industry in Europe.

The Castile and León Film Commission is a service of the Department of Culture, Tourism, and Sport of the Board of Castile and León. Its role is to promote the Community as a filming destination and to provide all the necessary information to facilitate any shooting undertaken, aiming to contribute to the growth of the audiovisual sector and related companies, and to create networks to enable the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

Heritage and nature: The region’s key

The Community of Castile and León is an ideal setting for the shooting of all kinds of audiovisual works. It is the largest region in Europe, covering 94,000 km2, boasting a vast variety of landscapes—it has 35,000 km2 of mountainous terrain, 10,500 km of rivers, 5 million hectares of forests, 10 biosphere reserves, and 1 million hectares of vineyards.

Its rich historical and cultural heritage includes 8 World Heritage Sites, over 400 museums, collections, and interpretation centres, and 23 archaeological sites. It also boasts over a hundred festivals declared of regional, national, and international tourist interest, among which Easter stands out as one of the religious, cultural, and popular events with the most significant roots and tourist appeal, and of which Castile and León has 8 of the 22 declared of international tourist interest in all of Spain.

Its name is a clear nod to its origins: a land filled with castles (Castile) preserved since the Middle Ages, where the Legio VII (León) of the Roman Empire settled. A land that still retains significant Roman remains, medieval towns, and perfectly preserved walled cities. A territory where all European artistic styles and movements can be seen, often influenced by German, Arabic, Hebrew, Flemish, Italian, or French styles.

Furthermore, Castile and León is a vast natural set. The natural space has stark contrasts, allowing it to resemble nearly every geography in the world. This is aided by the distinct seasons throughout the region. Great mountains like the Picos de Europa, the vast steppe plain, the beautiful beech, chestnut, and oak forests, the rivers with their impressive cliffs, and the air of the typical mountain villages have enabled the shooting of significant nature series and major films that are now part of international cinema history.

Total support, on and off-screen

Castile and León not only offers a wide range of locations but also has a network of Film Commissions and Film Offices throughout the Community. Ávila, Burgos, Riaza, Segovia, Salamanca, Soria, and Valladolid have organisations that assist with any off-screen needs. These offices facilitate contacts with local administrations to swiftly manage all filming permits. Lastly, the Community is equipped with professionals and businesses in the audiovisual and services sector to cater to all filming needs.