The Spanish audiovisual sector is a growing industry, promoted by the EU and Spanish Government with measures such as Spain Audiovisual Hub of Europe (which includes many grants and funding for Spanish audiovisual projects) and recent approval of the Audiovisual Communication and Cinema Law. In 2022, the sector experienced significant growth, driven by the increasing demand for Spanish-language content, both in Spain and abroad. This trend is expected to continue in 2023, as the industry continues to evolve and adapt to the changing media landscape.
One of the key factors driving the growth of the Spanish audiovisual sector is the increasing availability of streaming services, both in Spain and globally. In 2022, major players such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ continued to invest heavily in Spanish-language content, including original series, films, and documentaries. This has led to a surge in demand for Spanish audiovisual content, both in Spain and around the world.
Another factor contributing to the growth of the Spanish audiovisual sector is the country’s highly skilled and experienced workforce. Spain has a long tradition of excellence in the arts, and its film and television industries are no exception. The country has a large number of talented actors, directors, screenwriters and other professionals who are highly sought after by Spanish and foreign production companies.
In fact, one of the government’s measures is to promote the attraction of foreign talent and investment to Spain, facilitating the administrative processes so that foreign professionals in this sector can quickly start audiovisual activity in Spain with a fast -residency process. Profiles such as 3D, VFX, Broadcaster Engineers are professions within the Spanish labor market high demanded up the moment.
Despite these strengths, the Spanish audiovisual sector faces a number of challenges, including competition from other countries, changing viewer habits, and the rise of new technologies. Nevertheless, the sector remains optimistic about its future, and many industry leaders believe that the Spanish audiovisual sector has the potential to continue to grow and thrive in the years to come. The fastest growing sectors within the industry are streaming services and eSports (official competitions organized in Spain such as Activision-Blizzard (Call of Duty League, Overwatch League), Electronic Arts (Fifa eWorld Cup) or Riot Games (League of Legends European Championship).
If you are a company in the audiovisual sector (production company, video games, streaming, broadcast, etc.) or if you are a professional who intends to develop a project or activity in Spain (profiles currently in demand by companies: production controller, executive producer, image illustrator or software developer, among others), and you need advice, contact AGM Abogados.
Marc Fernández de la Peña
Head of Immigration Department
AGM Abogados
