Audiovisual productions grow by 12% and leave 3 million euros in the city

Benidorm was during 2017 set of 95 audiovisual productions, 12% more than the previous year, according to the data of the annual film office balance presented today by the mayor, Toni Pérez, and the person in charge of the same, Rosa Llorca, and that reveal that this activity raised the cost made in the city to 3 million euros. The same balance indicates that there has also been a percentage increase in the average stay of the production teams (which is situated in 3-4 days) and in the overnight stays linked to the audiovisual activity: more than 8,700.

The mayor stressed that "they are very good data" fruit "of the magnificent work that is being done from the Film Office" in collaboration and "close relationship" with the different municipal departments, with Visit Benidorm Foundation and with private companies. Pérez has stressed that the increase in activity "confirms that Benidorm is a magnificent showcase and that it is knowing how to squeeze everything that this segment can bring to us", a path that "some City Councils begin to move now" and in which the city "It's a pioneer."

The head of the Film Office explained that "working this segment of the audiovisual" is important "not only because of the impact in terms of income and job creation, but also promotion of the destination practically at zero cost".

Llorca detailed that the 95 productions made in Benidorm have resulted in 350 days of shooting or recording, "almost daily". This has contributed significantly to the filming of the 10th season of the British series 'Benidorm', the recording of the French series 'Ad Vitam' for two weeks and the film 'RG02' by the director Romain Gavras over five weeks. Regarding employment, the audiovisual activity has meant the signing of "more than 150 contracts with companies, 75 with technicians and almost 3,000 with extras".

Apart from the aforementioned productions, the Film Office manager has referred, among others, to the advertisement of a brand of sunglasses with the cyclist Marc Cavendishh - shot in the area of Serra Gelada -, the new spots of firms already habitual as Audi or Mercedes, the launching of the Citroën Mehari -with images of the natural park and Paseo de Poniente-, or the return to Benidorm of H & M and El Corte Inglés for two of its campaigns.

Llorca stated that in addition to its natural and urban settings, the key of Benidorm to capture films and productions is the promptness when processing permits. In addition, the approval this year of the Ordinance Regulating the Realization of Audiovisual Products has implied a "push" to the activity, since "it is an instrument that offers guarantees of work to the producers and to the city itself". Just the wording of this ordinance, one of the few that operate at national level, affects the concept of Benidorm as a 'film friendly' city.

Looking ahead to 2018, "expectations are also good" and in a few weeks more details of important productions that will take place in Benidorm will be showed.

Boosting local and provincial audiovisual activity

The mayor, meanwhile, has also referred to the opportunities that are opened this year with the creation of Costa Blanca Film Commission, in which Benidorm "has collaborated very intensely" and that will contribute to "position ourselves even more" within the audiovisual segment. With the aim of boosting the activity of the audiovisual professionals of Benidorm and the area, the new Film Office website will be launched next March that will also include a Resource Guide with companies, technicians and jobs related to the audiovisual sector at the local and provincial level.