FILMING IN MADRID

FILMING IN MADRID

Madrid as an audiovisual stage: an urban set with history, diversity and international projection

Filming in Madrid. Madrid has established itself as one of the most dynamic and versatile territories for audiovisual production in Europe, and is currently positioned as one of the most attractive and multifaceted audiovisual destinations in the world for the production of audiovisual works. The combination of its architectural heritage, its film infrastructure that includes all types of specialised technicians, the institutional backing through its tax incentives and its favourable climate means that filming in Madrid is an authentic natural set for all types of filming, from large national and international productions to television series, short films and documentaries, which find the setting they need when filming in Madrid.

Diversity of locations: from the historical to the contemporary

Madrid has established itself as a benchmark in audiovisual production due to the extraordinary variety of locations, landscapes and architectural environments that are offered in a compact and accessible geographical framework:

-In the capital, from the historic charm of Hapsburg Madrid with its cobbled streets, centuries-old squares and emblematic monuments dating back to the 17th century, such as the Royal Palace or the Plaza Mayor, presents an ideal setting for historical dramas to be filmed in Madrid.

-In contrast, modern and cosmopolitan Madrid offers modern locations with skyscrapers, glassed-in offices and designer neighbourhoods such as AZCA, Cuatro Torres or the Chamartín area, the city provides perfect settings for urban thrillers, police series or science fiction productions.

-Beyond the city centre, municipalities such as Aranjuez, San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Chinchón add authenticity and rich heritage, ideal for recreating different historical periods with a high level of realism, with national and international productions filmed from the 1950s to the present day. And for those in search of nature and epic, the Sierra de Madrid offers forests, reservoirs and mountains, which have been the setting for epic fiction, adventure films, westerns and great stories for decades.

For all these diverse locations, we can say with absolute firmness and without any doubt that that filming in Madrid is one of the places that offers the most possibilities for producers, whether national or foreign, to produce their audiovisual work

A cinema story, from classics to platforms: Madrid, a stage with history and future

Madrid has been the epicentre of the Spanish film industry for decades, from the golden years of black and white cinema, through the comedies of the 60s and 70s or the committed cinema of the Transition, to the rise of contemporary series such as The Paper House, , Elite o Valeria, recorded partially or entirely on location in Madrid and which have conquered audiences all over the world

The city has recreated cities as different as New York, Paris, Berlin or Mexico City without having to leave its streets, thanks to the diversity of its neighbourhoods and the excellent local production teams, which combine the highest technical level and proven experience in productions all over the world. Filming in Madrid also offers the possibility of having all kinds of studios and sets, and has infrastructures that have already hosted high-level filming that compete in quality with major international productions, whether feature films, short films or series, and which place the region at the level of the big ones hubs international.

Professional infrastructure and technical services

Madrid has a consolidated network of professionals in the sector: art directors, sound technicians, camera operators, costume designers, etc., who bring experience and technical expertise to productions. The community has filming studios, equipment rental like camera, Lighting, post-production, VFX and dubbing services, many of which are certified for international productions.

In addition, a network of specialised schools such as ECAM or TAI has been developed, which guarantees the generational replacement of highly qualified creative and technical professionals.

Fiscal incentives and economic competitiveness

Although Madrid does not have its own tax regime like the Canary Islands, Navarre or Bizkaia, national and foreign productions are eligible for state tax incentives, which allow them to deductions of up to 30% on the first million euros and 25 % on the second million euros and 25% of the rest of the expenditure executed in Spanish territory. These incentives are compatible with other public aid from the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales (ICAA), and can be combined with international co-productions that increase the financial viability of the project.

In addition, the high volume of filming in the region allows production companies to optimise costs and reduce timescales through logistical synergies, local talent and quick access to urban and natural locations.

Madrid as an international brand

Thanks to its growing presence in productions by Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO and Movistar+, filming in Madrid has become a globally recognisable icon, exporting a modern, diverse and culturally vibrant image. The city also hosts numerous international festivals, such as the Madrid Film Festival, DocumentaMadrid, as well as professional events such as Shooting Locations, Marketplace o Connect Fiction, the European Commission's new "creative pole" role is reinforced.

Madrid: Connectivity and accessibility for your production

Filming in Madrid means having a first level road infrastructure network, which guarantees a fast and efficient mobility for equipment, materials and technical staff. The Community of Madrid is the spain's logistics epicentre, the city has a radial structure that connects the capital with any point in the country and in Europe.

Strategic connections in Madrid

-National highways and motorways (A-1 to A-6): Madrid is at the heart of the road network, facilitating immediate travel to the north, south, east and south-east of the city and western peninsular.

-Ring roads (M-30, M-40, M-45, M-50): allow easy access to any neighbourhood in the city and to peripheral municipalities, thus reducing and optimising filming logistics.

-High-capacity radials (R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5): fast alternatives to avoid congestion and connect to great natural and cultural scenes urban.

Full mobility for the team: From a shoot in the historic centre to a super-production in the mountains, the proximity of locations and the transport efficiency make it possible to shoot several scenes in a single day without sacrificing quality or production time.

International gatewayDirect access to the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, just minutes from the city centre and with connections to over 200 destinations.

Integration with logistics platforms and rail networks, ensuring seamless multimodal transport for large productions.

Madrid's gastronomy: flavour and tradition at the service of production

Madrid is not only a natural set complete with unique locations; it is also a territory where the gastronomic experience becomes an added value to any shoot. Shooting in Madrid means everything from catering for crews to iconic spaces for filming; the capital offers a diverse cuisine, internationally recognised and capable of adapting to any production requirement.

Variety and authenticity in every dish: Madrid's cuisine combines tradition and modernity, with emblematic recipes that have marked Spain's cultural identity, such as cocido madrileño, the most representative dish, ideal for scenes with a traditional atmosphere; callos a la madrileña, a traditional flavour for stories with roots; Spanish omelette or homemade croquettes, a must on any filming menu.

Madrid is also one of the most famous cities for enjoying tapas, with emblematic neighbourhoods and streets that combine tradition, modernity and gastronomy for all tastes, particularly La Latina, where you will find

streets of note as Cava Baja y Cava Alta and iconic bars: Lucio House (famous for broken eggs), Txirimiri, o La Perejila; the historic district of Las Letras, a historic area with modern bars and classic taverns, with its outstanding streets as Huertas Street and around Plaza Santa Ana; Chamberí neighbourhood, possibly the most traditional and where the most important ponzano Street (famous for "ponzaning"); and Calle Huertas and Sol, a very touristy area. In all these places you can find typical Madrilenian taverns, tapas bars and modern taverns.

For more sophisticated proposals, Madrid has Michelin-starred restaurants and avant-garde chefs who take local gastronomy to creative levels, including DiverXO, StreetXO and RavioXO by chef Dabiz Muñoz, proclaimed the best chef in the world for several years; Coque by Mario Sandoval; Deesa by chef Quique Dacosta at the Mandarin Oriental Ritz Hotel; DSTAgE by chef Diego Guerrero; or Paco Roncero Restaurant and Sublimotion by chef Paco Roncero, who is also behind concepts such as Estado Puro (Madrid, Shanghai) and Gastrohub, all of them world-famous chefs.

Gastronomic venues for filming in Madrid

Mercado de San Miguel: a gourmet icon in the heart of the historic centre; or century-old restaurants such as Casa Botín or Lhardy, ideal settings for period films.

Madrid also has traditional markets (San Antón, Chamberí...) and traditional taverns, perfect for advertising spots or traditional scenes, all of which makes for a very considerable offer for filming in Madrid.

Catering and services adapted to the cinema in Madrid

Companies specialising in filming: complete menus for crews, adapted to international diets; Food trucks y corners gastronomic: quick outdoor solutions, as well as healthy and vegan options in line with new trends.

Conclusion

Madrid is now an integral audiovisual location, capable of hosting all kinds of productions thanks to its diversity of settings, its human talent, its first-class infrastructure and its gastronomic offer. Far from being just a city set, Madrid is another character in every story that is filmed among its streets, mountains, squares and palaces. A territory that not only reflects reality, but also transforms it into visual art.

For all these reasons, filming in Madrid is the perfect setting for all types of audiovisual work (whether feature films, short films, documentaries, series...), both for national and foreign producers.

WHAT DOES CAMALEÓN CINEMA SERVICES OFFER TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRODUCERS?

1.- Integrated location management We take care of everything necessary for your filming to run smoothly, with a personalised search for locations; processing of permits, both for public and private spaces; logistical and technical coordination; and supervision during filming and access control.

2.- First class infrastructure and professionals. Madrid has an established network of film & tv studios, technicians, Film & tv equipment rental, post-production services and film schools. We work with the best local suppliers and the most professional technicians so that your project has the quality it deserves, without unnecessary costs or delays

3.- Compatible tax incentives. Audiovisual productions in Madrid are eligible for a national tax deduction, state subsidies (ICAA) and regional aid. We advise on all the possibilities, as well as theco-production and financing structures.

4.- A city with international projection. Madrid has been the setting for major national and international productions. The next big shoot? Yours.

Contact us: If you are looking for locations in Madrid for your next audiovisual production, contact CAMALEÓN CINEMA SERVICES. Tell us about your project and we will help you make it a reality from pre-production to the final shoot.

The advantages of collaborating with Camaleón Cinema

Camaleón Cinema is not only a film and advertising production company, but also has Camaleón Rental, its own brand specializing in the rental of film equipment, including cameras, lighting, and grips.

We offer a wide range of production and consulting services for feature film production in Spain. Our main advantages include managing tax incentives, investing in film projects, and the possibility of establishing co-productions with our company.