Shining a Light on the Benefits of Shooting in Basque Country

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If you’ve attended the San Sebastian International Film Festival, explored the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao designed by Frank Gehry, or indulged in local cuisine like pintxos or dined at Michelin-starred restaurants in the area, then you’re familiar with.

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel drawn to the unique allure of the Basque Country. This northern autonomous region in Spain is not just another place, it’s a sophisticated, innovative, and thriving community that never fails to impress. And let’s talk about their film sector – it’s no ordinary industry, it’s a vibrant, dynamic scene that keeps pushing boundaries. Now, they’re taking things to the next level with a new initiative called Film Basque Country, which will make its grand debut at the Berlinale on February 16th.

Ruth Aristondo, head of Film Basque Country (FBC), notes that their initiative aims to establish Basque Country as a premier location for visual production projects. The FBC organization, debuting its new website on February 16th, is dedicated to showcasing the entire region as a filming destination. This platform will provide a distinctive perspective to those considering shooting in Basque Country.

Aristondo’s project, which he’s been working on for over a decade, aligns with a recent surge of incentives – tax credits ranging from 60% to 70% (to be discussed further) – and a growing desire to film in this region. He notes that the timing of this long-in-the-works project is significant as it demonstrates that the Basque Country is equally attractive to the film industry.

Through our centralized hub, FBC aims to provide vital details including location specifics, competitive tax benefits, connections to skilled local workforce, a glimpse into the distinctive Basque culture and linguistics, as well as diverse natural wonders and architectural history. “Our design is intended to facilitate a seamless production journey, while providing both creative stimulus and practical perks,” Aristondo explains.

FBC additionally seeks to foster global partnerships and assist local businesses in competing on a global scale, collaborating with Basque Audiovisual – an established entity supporting Basque experts in foreign markets, while also promoting joint productions and disseminating Basque-originated projects.

Aristondo notes that the Basque Country provides not just attractive incentives, but also a compact setting teeming with adaptability, expertise, and skill. Here, innovation, productivity, and ongoing assistance for the industry intertwine to ensure any audiovisual project becomes a tangible success.

She emphasizes the importance of an institutional dedication towards the industry. This involves welcoming and accessible local authorities and institutions who aid and facilitate productions, thereby making the filming process smooth and stress-free – right from planning to the actual shoot and editing stages.

The Basque Country boasts some of Europe’s most advantageous tax credits, which are also the largest in Spain. These credits offer up to a 60% reduction on the costs of feature films, short films, series, documentaries, animation, or fiction, as long as more than half of the spending is done locally. Additional incentives of an extra 10% can be gained if specific criteria are met. Following the implementation of these incentives, Bilbao and its surrounding Bizkaia province witnessed a surge in feature film shoots by 140% and series production by 40% in 2023. Furthermore, the economic benefits surpassed those of the previous year by more than four times.

As a passionate admirer, I can’t help but express my strong belief that the Basque tax incentive, a game-changer for Spanish industry, presents an incredibly alluring opportunity. This is due to its exceptionally high tax rate. Having recently filmed San Sebastian-born director Julio Medem’s latest film, 8, and part of Agustina Macri’s Miss Carbón in the Basque Country last year, we were able to capitalize on this credit on both projects.

According to Longoria, they’ve been quite eager in setting up teams, studios, and production facilities swiftly, thereby enabling numerous films to be produced there. This has resulted in regular work for local providers and talent, who are also gaining expertise on larger and more intricate sets. However, crews are usually recruited from other parts of Spain or Europe.

José Luis Escolar, a seasoned production manager, assistant director, and producer, predicts that there will be many skilled professionals in the near future. He has recently established Gurutze Kalea, a production company based in Bilbao, to leverage local incentives. Last year, his company filmed the majority of the Spanish-Swiss series In High Seas at Bilbao’s port. Escolar also mentions that wages and housing costs in Spain remain affordable ‘compared to the quality you receive.’

Aristondo explains that the incentives are applicable to both domestic and foreign productions, aiming to foster not only big-scale projects but also smaller ones that positively impact economically and culturally within the region. He further notes that one of the significant advantages of the tax system in the Basque Country is its transparency: “The provincial councils provide a straightforward and clear pathway to these benefits, along with a geographically nearby administration, which streamlines the process for producers when it comes to financing.

In the sweltering summer of 2019, Woody Allen filmed “Rifkin’s Festival” not only in San Sebastian but also other parts of Basque Country. Given his frequent visits and fondness for the city, this move didn’t catch locals off guard. As José Luis Rebordinos, head of the San Sebastian International Film Festival (SSIFF), recounts, Allen had often expressed his desire to make a film in San Sebastian, praising it as a marvelous city. True to his word, the following year, this romantic comedy that featured the SSIFF in its narrative served as the festival’s opening night film.

Currently, you can discover an online walking tour themed around Woody Allen’s San Sebastian. Furthermore, interactive maps and tours across Basque Country highlight famous sites that resonate with global viewers, such as the Hermitage of San Juan de Gaztelugatxe (commonly known as Game of Thrones’ Dragonstone), the contemporary architecture of Bilbao showcased in Netflix’s Intimacy series, and the iconic Guggenheim Museum where Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond famously rappelled from a window in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough.

In the heart of Basque Country, I’ve found myself standing in awe. From Bilbao, you can venture to numerous European cities like Vienna and Paris, all without leaving the country! Plus, the breathtaking landscapes here are truly unforgettable.

Ignacio Corrales, head of Buendía Estudios, who filmed the thriller “Sin Cobertura” in Bizkaia last year and plans to shoot the Mexican telenovela “Angela” there in 2023, praises the Basque Country for its immense landscape variety. This diversity offers an excellent backdrop for films set in various time periods and locations. For instance, “Angela” is a modern thriller that features designer urban environments, luxury housing estates, coastlines, and mountains, while “Sin Cobertura” is a medieval drama filmed in a castle. Bizkaia serves as an expansive film set where, within an hour’s drive, one can find stunning urban and natural landscapes, making logistics and budget management much more straightforward.

Aristond contributes by saying: “Filming in the Basque Country isn’t just about utilizing a location with remarkable practical benefits; it’s also about embracing an atmosphere that stimulates creativity, streamlines processes, and provides a rewarding experience, making it enticing for any production team to revisit this region.

According to a report published by the Culture Observatory of the Fundación Contemporánea in January, the Basque Country has been recognized as the third most culturally significant region in Spain. This recognition is due to the exceptional quality and innovation of its cultural offerings. Moreover, the San Sebastián International Film Festival (SSIFF) was ranked as the third most significant cultural event taking place in 2024, trailing behind the Prado Museum and the Reina Sofia Museum, both located in Madrid. The Guggenheim came in fourth place.

According to the director of SSIFF, the backing provided by the Basque government for Basque cinema over the past few years has been exceptional and clever. At 63 years old, I’ve been involved in cinema as a programmer since I was 27, and I confidently assert that I haven’t witnessed a better time for Spanish cinema overall, considering both quantity and diversity, especially within Basque cinema.

Each year since the 2014 inaugural competition of the drama “Flowers” (also known as “Loreak”), directed by Jon Garaño and Jose Mari Goenaga, a Basque film has been included in the festival’s official selection. This groundbreaking film was the first Basque-language movie to represent Spain for the best international Oscar. Rebordinos emphasizes this consistent representation of Basque cinema.

The goal of the festival is to promote and showcase Basque films, as they are now creating more exceptional productions suitable for inclusion in internationally recognized events, according to Rebordinos. He notes that these films stand on par with the top-tier Spanish productions.

Rebordinos points out that previously, Basque directors from past generations had to leave Basque Country to produce their films. However, today, he notes that they tend to stay: “For some time now, all sectors of cinema have been collaborating closely – Basque television, the Basque administration, production companies – we are all working towards the same goal.

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2025-02-18 11:55