The Secuoya Studios's president discussed the importance of tax incentives and local talent in attracting productions to Spain, noting that the country has become "the Hollywood of Europe"
The first US Day, held at the fourth edition of Iberseries & Platino Industria, kicked off with the presentation Production By USA. The panel included James Costos, President of Secuoya Studios; Georgina Gonzalez, VP Global Scripted Series at NBC Universal International Studios; and Jacobo Aparicio, International Director of Anonymous Content.
The talk addressed key issues about the importance of creating content outside the U.S. market, highlighting Spain as an attractive destination for international audiovisual production.
James Costos, Presidente de @SecuoyaStudios EEUU, en el marco de #IberseriesyPlatinoIndustria24 #somosaudiovisual @EGEDA_Comunica @FSecuoya @fipca_org @Madrid_FO @film_madrid @JamesCostos pic.twitter.com/6WaApvG0cP
— Iberseries & Platino Industria (@iberseries_pi) October 3, 2024
During his speech, James Costos highlighted that Spain has become a strategic location for the industry. “Spain is a gold mine for filming”, he said. Thanks to the implementation of tax incentives since 2015, the country has seen a significant increase in international projects. These incentives, which in some regions such as the Canary Islands reach up to 54%, have been a decisive factor in attracting major productions.
Another aspect Costos highlighted was the quality of local talent, stating that Spain is not only attractive for its natural beauty and infrastructure, but also for its highly skilled workforce. “There is an incredibly experienced workforce and producers who create great stories”, he stated.
Costos also mentioned the key role of infrastructure such as Madrid Content City (MCC), and the training of 17,000 students as part of the local talent development plan. “We want to attract as much business as possible, whether it's from Secuoya or our competitors, we want that business to land here”, he emphasized.
Finally, the studio president reaffirmed his commitment to the growth of the audiovisual industry in Spain and stressed that the collaboration between the United States and Spain will continue to strengthen in the coming years. “We want to attract as much business as possible, whether it's from Secuoya or our competitors. We want that business to land here”, he emphasized. The US Day celebration, dedicated to U.S. companies, is a clear testament to the road travelled so far and the potential that remains to be tapped.
