PRODUCTION SERVICES BASQUE COUNTRY

The Basque Country is undoubtedly a unique and diverse territory, with a millenary culture and its own idiosyncrasy. It offers many possibilities for film services because of its unique environments, its variety, the beauty of its urban and natural landscapes, and, of course, its cuisine, considered one of the best in the world. The Basque Country is also a land of contrasts, where timeless environments and the most modern and amazing constructions coexist; here you will find the most suitable places for all kinds of film services. You can choose from many Basque  cities, depending on the type of film shooting.

For example Bilbao, has had a prodigious transformation in the last few decades; its maximum exponent is the Museo Guggenheim, designed by Fran Gehry. The museum is located on the banks of the renewed "Ría de Bilbao", it has become the most important world-famous tourist attraction in the Basque Country. We also have San Sebastián, one of the most beautiful cities in Spain, with the spectacular "Playa de la Concha" beach. Places like Gipuzkoa, Navarra, Vitoria or Alava still have the Basque tradition and cultural essence. In the Basque Country coast you'll find "San Juan de Gaztelugatxe", a small island where part of Game of Thrones was filmed.

At CAMALEÓN CINEMA SERVICES BASQUE COUNTRY we have a team of experienced in film professionals that can help you find the perfect locations for the shooting of your film project anywhere in the Basque Country. We can give you advice and carry out all film production services if needed, turning each project into reality with the greatest guarantees of success.

At CAMALEON CINEMA SERVICES BASQUE COUNTRY will help you make your film project possible. We have the most advanced technical equipment, the most qualified and professional technical and artistic staff, and a team of advisors who will study each film project; they will seek for financing and manage the request for the most suitable grant or subsidy. Thanks to this, you will obtain the best financial option and the tax relief the film services project generates. We can make a film services project come true and film it with the utmost rigor and every guarantee of success. If you give us your trust, we will show you excellent results.

What tax reliefs can be obtained for Film projects in Basque Country?

The tax regime that establishes tax deductions in a film project in the Basque Country is different from the rest of the Spanish State. As regulated in the "Foral" Regulations of the three territories that make the Basque Country, 2/2014 in Gipuzkoa, 11/2013 in Bizkaia and 31/2013 in Alava, relating to Corporate Tax, the general deduction for audiovisual works is set at 30% of the quota resulting from the Corporation Tax, and it will be applied both in national and international co-productions.

What tax incentives can be applied in Gipuzkoa, Basque Country?

In Gipuzkoa, the creation of new incentives is planned according to the preliminary project of the regional reform presented at the last San Sebastian Film Festival, which is expected to be approved this year and is expected to introduce two new incentives: one for film works made in the Basque Country, and another one for investments in foreign productions but filmed in the Basque Autonomous Community, designed to cover 40% of the movie projects filmed in "Euskera" (Basque).The maximum deduction contemplated in the Foral Regulations amounts are € 2,500,000. With a series of requirements that must be met in order to get this relief. Due to its relevance we highlight:

• At least 50% of the base deduction must be expenses incurred in the Basque Country.
• At least four of the components of the project, whether the technical or artistic team, must be citizens of the Community.
• A minimum filming period is established for each audiovisual project: two weeks, except with short film shoots.
• The tax deduction may be applied in the tax period in which the film project is exhibited in cinemas, broadcast on television or replayed on other audiovisual platforms.
• In the case of investments in foreign productions, the tax relief will reach 25% of the expenses incurred in the Basque Country. And the base of the deduction will be the expenses caused by the use of Basque Country industries and suppliers, with a minimum expenditure of 1,000,000 euros in Basque territory.

What tax incentives can be applied in Bizkaia, Basque Country?

Bizkaia is governed to regulate the incentives for the promotion of culture that are applicable in the Corporation Tax for the Fifteenth Additional Provision of the Regional Rule 11/2013 of December 5. The establishment of a deduction of the liquid quota stands out for investments in Spanish productions of feature films and audiovisual fiction, animation or documentary series, which allow the preparation of a physical support prior to its serial industrial production.

This Foral Standard was modified by Foral Decree 140/2015 of July 28, which establishes additional requirements to those previously existing to fit into the regulations of the European Union. In order to apply the deduction it will be necessary to meet the following requirements:1) The film production must obtain the corresponding certificate of nationality and the certificate that accredits the cultural character in relation to its content, its connection with the cultural reality or its contribution to the enrichment of the cultural diversity of the cinematographic works that are exhibited in territory Spanish, issued by the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA)2) A new copy must be deposited and in perfect condition of the audiovisual project of the Spanish Film Library or the film library officially recognized by the respective Autonomous Community, according to legal provisions in matters of recognition of the cost of a film and investment of the producer, establishment of the regulatory bases of state aid and structure of the Administrative Registry of Cinematographic and Audiovisual Companies. Special relevance is attributed to the difficult nature of an audiovisual project, with limited assumptions to attribute such character, such as short films, films that are the first or second work of a director, works whose only original version is in "Euskera" , low-budget works, as those whose production cost does not exceed 500,000 euros, and those works that, due to their theme or other issues inherent to production, find it difficult to enter into the market.

What tax incentives can be applied in Alava, Basque Country?

The producer may deduct 30% of the investments in Spanish feature films and audiovisual fiction, animation or documentary series, which allow the preparation of a physical support prior to its serial industrial production. This deduction will be 40% in the assumption that the projects reviewed have "Euskera" as the original language.The base of the deduction will be constituted by the cost of the production, as well as by the expenses for the obtaining of copies and the expenses of publicity and promotion in charge of the producer until the limit for both of 40% of the cost of production.For the application of the provisions of the preceding paragraph, at least 50% of the deduction base will be required to correspond to expenses incurred in the territory of Alava. The amount of this deduction may not exceed 3,000,000 euros for each audiovisual project. Producers registered in the Cinematographic Companies of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports or, where appropriate, in which it can be created as a Basque Country Government Registry that is responsible for the execution of a foreign production of cinematographic feature films or audiovisual works that allow the preparation of a physical support prior to its serial industrial production will be entitled to a deduction of 15% of the expenses incurred in Alava territory, provided that the expenses incurred in Alava territory are at least 1,000 .000 euros.

What aid is offered in the Basque Country for film service projects?

The Government of the Basque Country offers a wide range of subsidies for audiovisual projects, from the subsidy to cultural creation related to film scripts, such as development grants and audiovisual projects; which includes the creation of documentaries, feature films, fiction films, with a special section for low-budget fiction films, the production of short films or general subsidies for the development of audiovisual projects, establishing in each case the bases and requirements that must be met in order to access said grants, and the deadlines and formalities and which are convened annually. In addition, in each of the territories that make up the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, grants and subsidies to audiovisual productions are also called on an annual basis, establishing in each case those that may be compatible with those granted at the regional and state level, and which will be subject to incompatibility and cannot be obtained jointly with those granted by other territories or by the State. In this way, the Basque Country offers a wide range of possibilities by offering subsidies and grants for audiovisual projects in any of its variants, both at the regional level and those provided by each territory and local entities. Compatible with each other as long as there are no express incompatibilities in the regulatory bases of each call. Producers may therefore choose one or more categories to apply for a subsidy.

What possibilities does CAMALEON CINEMA SERVICES offer for Film Productions in Basque Country?

At CAMALEON CINEMA SERVICES BASQUE COUNTRY has first of all an advisory team that will study the audiovisual production project and that will rigorously inform the requirements that must be met in order to access tax relief and subsidies, and which will allow the audiovisual work is carried out with the best guarantees and the most profitable deductions and aid for the Producer, contributing his knowledge and experience in obtaining financing, both through private investors and with public grants and subsidies, and getting the best profitability through tax relief. In addition, CAMALEON CINEMA SERVICES BASQUE COUNTRY has the most modern material to provide the film service, with its own camera, lighting and grip equipment, as well as a large team of professionals with proven experience, both technical and artistic , which may ensure that audiovisual production is carried out with the best guarantees of success in Bilbao, Gipuzkoa, San Sebastian, Navarra, Vitoria or Alava. We can supply any audiovisual production service, be it a feature film, a television series, a short film, a documentary, an advertisement ... Check the possibilities we offer for advice, equipment and personnel supply, and take advantage of the excellent opportunities the Basque Country offers in all its territory. Here, your film will become a real and successful project.