Spain’s Independent Production Sector Voices ‘Astonishment’ at New Film-TV Bill
variety.comJohn Hopewell Chief International CorrespondentOne of the biggest challenges facing independent production around the world is how, coming out of pandemic, streaming finance and state funding can be made to mesh in new regulatory terms.Nowhere currently is this issue proving more fraught than in Spain, as it attempts to transpose into national law Europe’s celebrated Audiovisual Media Services Directive, which can oblige global streamers to invest in a country’s national production, as has happened in France and will be case in Spain.Currently, Spain’s draft law requires networks and local and global platforms to plow 5% of annual revenues into European titles, 3.5% off that in works from independent Spanish producers, of which 2% are accounted for by movies and 1.5% by films.
Loud alarm bells rang, however, when its industry bodies discovered a last-minute change to Spain’s draft General Audiovisual Communication Law, now in consideration in Spain’s Congress, which affects the definition of an independent producer.Prior phrasing, pacted with trade associations, dubbed producers independent if they did not depend on “a” service provider – read platforms or networks.
That “a,” has now be modified to “said” – allowing producers owned by providers – Buendía Estudios, Telecinco Cinema, for example – to produce for streaming platforms, and have those films and series termed independent productions, qualifying if films for state subsidies.That’s an Armageddon scenario, Spain’s independent producers argue.
It encourages global streamers and Spain’s highly dominant broadcast groups to produce with each other, squeezing out true independents.In a rare show of unanimity, Spain’s independent producers have closed ranks, reacting.
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