About the Ibiza Film Commission and its benefitsWhat are the main benefits of having a Film Commission in Ibiza for the island and its community?
NC: “Film Commissions are the ones that connect territories with the rest of the world. In our case we are the link between Ibiza and the rest of the national and international industry. Not only do we make sure that the focus is put here and the island is taken into account for filming, but we also learn about all the trends and novelties in the market to share them with the local industry and thus open up the number of opportunities for everyone… It is also very important to be the link between the producers and the institutions, since we facilitate not only information for the different permit procedures, but also the dialogues between them”.
In recent years, we have seen an increase in audiovisual production in Ibiza.
How has the Film Commission contributed to this growth?
NC: “We believe it is totally related. The Film Commission has a budget for advertising in specialized media and a presence in both national and international markets. The fact that we are getting more exposure for our brand means that industry professionals have us more in mind when choosing locations”.
Ibiza is known worldwide for its natural beauty and nightlife.
How has the Film Commission managed to promote these and other unique aspects of the island to attract international productions?
NC: “Ibiza has the best party in the world, but it’s much more than that. In fact, that’s only a small part of what this island has to offer. We focus on showing all the other aspects of Ibiza’s culture which, apart from its unique landscapes and beaches, has a rich and extensive cultural and architectural heritage. Ibiza has 4 World Heritage Sites declared by Unesco”.
Future projects and strategies
What specific projects does the Ibiza Film Commission have on the horizon for the coming years?
NC: “The main projects or objectives that the IFC has in the medium term are: to help the local industry, a network of prepared and passionate professionals who are increasingly doing more work locally and strengthen its image both inside and outside the island. Also, to attract international fiction shootings that put Ibiza on the map of what is known as “film tourism” and of course, to help and support the institutions so that the process of filming permits is increasingly agile and simple for producers”.
Sustainability and local culture
Given the environmental impact that audiovisual productions can have, how does the Film Commission address the challenge of sustainability in productions made in Ibiza?
NC: “Most of the productions that come to Ibiza are from small teams that take care of the environment, and when they are larger productions we make sure they have an adequate sustainability plan. Nowadays all these types of productions already have an ecomanager who is in charge of ensuring that the impact is as low as possible. The audiovisual industry is becoming more and more aware and we are very happy about that.
How does the Film Commission work to ensure that audiovisual productions respect and promote Ibiza’s local culture and traditions?
NC: “We can’t control all the productions, but it is something we promote in all the production companies that come through us and of course it is something primordial in all those that are given direct support from the Consell de Ibiza, as one of our objectives is to promote local culture and help show it to the world as we believe it offers a unique culture and diversity”.
Collaborations and growth
What has it meant to be part of the Spain Film Commission?
What do you hope to achieve with these alliances?
NC: “Spain Film Commission is a network that includes practically all the Film Commissions in Spain and we firmly believed that an island like Ibiza had to be part of it. I personally believe that working in a network is better than working individually, because this way we can learn from the experiences of other films that have been operating for a longer period of time to apply them here and also generate synergies between all of us that help our territories to be more and more attractive. The great team that the Spain Film Commission has also helps us to take advantage of this alliance from minute one”.
Innovation and challenges
In a competitive and globalized environment, what innovative strategies is the Film Commission implementing to maintain Ibiza as an attractive destination for audiovisual production?
NC: “The most important thing is to know your territory and know what differentiates it from others. Ibiza may not have the most innovative strategies in this sense, but, for example, it has some characteristics in terms of natural environment and authenticity of its community that are unique in the world. That is where we put the focus, on what makes us unique, because that, in the end, is what makes them choose you in an increasingly homogeneous world”.
Community impact
How does the Film Commission involve the local community in the projects carried out on the island?
NC: “For us, the local community is a priority in capital letters. We promote the hiring of local people when outside production companies come and we build bridges between them so that the experience is as beneficial as possible for all parties. The audiovisual industry is a very rich industry that brings many benefits to the local community that go beyond the economic impact”.
What measures is the Film Commission taking to promote the training and development of local talent in the audiovisual sector?
NC: “Another of the objectives we have is to provide free training to the local industry, for this fall we are preparing a course that will be totally free and the idea is to do at least one per year”.
