From Prime Video’s hit series “Red Queen” to “Beloved” by Rodrigo Sorologioyen, starring Javier Bardem and Diegorna, Madrid hosted many prominent co-productions this year with his Latin American partners.
The 5th Ever Series and the Eve of the Platinum Industry – A go-to networking event for the Spanish and Portuguese audiovisual industries – The Madrid Film Bureau’s Hongcho Ruhr Torkumada spoke about the diversity of co-production and appearance in the Spanish capital, promoted by the promotional body of the Madrid City Council.
“Our strategy is two: First we sell the city and its location. Madrid is the chameleon of the city. This can easily be passed by for Buenos Aires, Paris or Mexico. So the opportunities for filming are enormous. From Netflix, Disney and Amazon Prime videos to the Spanish groups Atresmedia, Movistar Plus+, Medipro Studio, RTVE, Mediaset España, we have talent, sustainable public support and the largest cluster of audiovisual groups based in Madrid.
“Madrid has an ecosystem that supports the development of the audiovisual industry as a whole,” he insisted on a double-populating 1.2% of the national average, referring to 3,500 auditory audiovisual costumes and over 30,000 experts, which accounted for 2.6% of Madrid’s GDP, according to AFI (Analistas Financieos Internacionales).
Torquemada also highlighted the Netflix effect of lifting the Spanish capital into a major European production hub since global streamers first set up their local shops a decade ago. “Netflix’s “La Casa de Papel” (“Money Heist”) was a groundbreaking show in Madrid and Spain. Furthermore, we have shown that we can provide the highest quality international production in our city, our region and our country. Additionally, the establishment of Netflix at Secuoya Studios at TRES Campos fueled the development of the following groups:
Private and public sector collaboration is key to us,” a Spanish executive argued.
Recent figures on the surge in filming activities in Madrid and the region, and, in particular, the international co-production that itself speaks of, as in Latin America.
Nearly 40% of the 972 Spanish films (fiction, documentaries, animation) were led by Madrid-based costumes, which came from 53% to 53% in 2023, according to data from the Spanish film agency ICAA shared between 2021 and 2023. A company based in Madrid.
Confirming strong relations with Latin America, most co-productions during that period include European countries such as Argentina (15), Mexico (12), Peru (7), and France (16), Portugal (7), and Italy (6). Only some of these films used Madrid as the location of filming.
Looking at 2024 and MFO’s own data, the office responded to 3,853 specific filming requests, up almost 18% from 2023. The city was set for 41 films (matching the 2023 people’s numbers), including 14 co-productions such as Rennie Harlin’s “The Beast.” Almost half (6) of the co-productions are related to Latin America, with Mexico contributing to five.
Acknowledging Madrid’s position as a major European hub for series production, the 48-fiction, five Docu series chose it as a shooting location roughly equivalent to 2023 (49-fiction/6 Doc).
The nine shows were high-profile international co-productions such as Eric McCormack and David Ajara, which airs on September 27th on the BBC, including AMC’s third season, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon and the MGM+/BBC thriller “Nine Bodys in a Mexican Morgue.” Loading weight again, Mexico was involved in the three international shows. Prime Video’s mega-hit “Red Queen” Season 2 (“Reina Negra: Roban Negra”) is based on Juan Gomez Jurado’s bestselling novel trilogy. Meanwhile, Argentine star Óscar Martínez has reinforced the Movistar Plus+ original “Fine Arts” (“Bellas Artes”) as the new director of Madrid’s important contemporary art museums.
The first seven months of 2025 reflect the continued growth of feature film productions filmed in the Spanish capital, with 46 titles including 10 international co-productions, including the French-Spanish drama The Beloved (“El Ser Querido”), starring Oscar-nominated Rodrigo Sororoen, starring Javie Bardem. The two expected titles have been co-produced with Mexico. “Ass Mouth Full” (“Ceniza en la boca”) is a collection of comedy “La Navidad an Sus Manos 2” with “Andor” star Diegorna.
On the TV front, Madrid hosted the 33 Series. This includes three collaborative works. “Red Queen” season 2.
Commercials have played a key role in Madrid’s filming boom, occurring at 410 in 2023, 430 in 2024, and 264 in the first seven months of 2025.
Torquemada said “enhancing and projection of Madrid’s image as a friendly and competitive city for international production” remains his priorities, in addition to developing sustainability efforts in photography.
Next to the filming backup, the head of the MFO emphasized the office’s “institutional commitment and support for events aimed at connecting the industry to exchange ideas with projects and projects that are centered around collaborative production with other parts of Latin America.”
“This is true,” he emphasized. “It is also among events that sponsor or organize directly from the Madrid film office, such as the iberseries & Platino Industry, the Platino Awards, the Ecam Forum, and the Documenta Pro and Animario Pro section.
Torquemada, which has strengthened the Madrid City Council’s widespread support for the international film and television community, also cited the “important line of grants” available through the general coordination of the mayor’s office. “These grants are intended to promote Madrid-based productions and include funds similar to those incorporated into the ICAA grant line since 2023.
It is organized by the Audiovisual Producers’ Rights Management Entity and the Secuoya Foundation and will be held in the heart of Matadero, Madrid during the FIPCA (Federation of Ibero-American Film and Audiovisual Producers), the Madrid community, the Madrid City Council, and the fifth edition of the Iberseries & Platino Industry.
