Catalonia will be present at Shooting Locations Marketplace 2025 with a proposal that goes beyond institutional promotion and focuses on the articulation of a fully-fledged audiovisual ecosystem: from administrative procedures and talent recruitment to access to financing, production sustainability and the international projection of projects. Its participation in the event, held on October 15 and 16 in Valladolid, reinforces the region’s strategic role as one of the most prepared filming destinations in Southern Europe.
At the core of this system is the Institut Català de les Empreses Culturals (ICEC), an agency under the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia. Through its platform, ICEC offers unified access to grants, funding opportunities, training, legal advice and market studies. Its support extends beyond production to include distribution, exhibition and preservation of Catalonia’s film heritage. All of this is delivered with a cross-cutting approach that promotes gender equality, supports internationalisation —through initiatives like Catalan Films— and fosters sustainable filmmaking under the Pla C Cultura pel Clima programme.
In parallel, the Catalunya Film Commission acts as a specialised one-stop shop to facilitate shoots throughout the region, from permit processing to location scouting. Its website includes a large geo-tagged database with technical specifications, contact details and regulations for a wide variety of spaces: coastal towns, rural settings, heritage buildings and protected natural areas. As the capital, Barcelona operates its own system for managing public space permits, accessible through a unified portal covering filming in streets, parks, beaches and public buildings, with clear guidance on signage, technical vehicle parking and compliance with local guidelines.
A professional ecosystem at the service of production
Beyond its institutional framework, Catalonia has built a robust network of professional associations that bring together producers, screenwriters, technicians and specialists from all audiovisual disciplines. Organisations such as PROA —which includes PRO-FICCIÓ, PRO-DOCS, PRO-ANIMATS and PRO-TV— and PAC —the Catalan Audiovisual Producers Association— act as official interlocutors with public and private stakeholders. Other key players like the Clúster Audiovisual de Catalunya, the Col·legi Professional de l’Audiovisual de Catalunya or Dones Visuals provide spaces for training, advocacy and industry recognition across different levels of experience.
This network is complemented by initiatives such as Catalunya Film Festivals, which unites over fifty festivals with international impact, and the Europe Creative Desk – MEDIA Catalunya, the official liaison for accessing European audiovisual support programmes. Together, they form a framework where shooting is not only possible, but efficient, accessible and strategically supported.
The dynamism of the industry is also reflected in recent and ongoing productions. Titles such as Apocalipsis Z: Parte II, directed by Carles Torrens for Prime Video, and the dramatic comedy series La mirada de Fiona, shot in various locations across Barcelona, underscore the region’s capacity to host large-scale national and international projects. This is made possible thanks to consistent public policy, a skilled administration and a clear commitment to boosting the global competitiveness of Catalonia’s cultural and creative industries.
Catalonia arrives at Shooting Locations Marketplace 2025 not just as a beautiful location, but as a region fully equipped to support productions from concept to global distribution — a place where filming is not just allowed, but empowered.