Canary Islands International Film Market Set to Boost Co-Productions

The Canary Islands International Film Market (CIIF Market) is coming to Santa Cruz de Tenerife next week, running from Monday, October 27th, to Friday, October 31st. The main hub for the event will be the Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey Hotel.

The 21st edition of the film market was unveiled this Tuesday. Attendees included the city's mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, along with Carmen Pérez, CEO of the Development Society, and Guillermo Ríos, the director of the CIIF Market.

During the presentation, the chosen projects were announced, along with the official schedule, which you can find on their website: www.ciifmarket.com. The market has become a key meeting place for European producers, distributors, and investors. Its goal is to boost funding and encourage international collaborations for feature films, documentaries, and TV series in the global market. This year, projects from Spain, Peru, Chile, Panama, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina have been selected.

The event includes talks, pitching sessions, one-on-one meetings, panels, screenings, training, and networking opportunities. Ríos highlighted that over its 21 editions, the CIIF Market has "helped strengthen the creative and business side of the industry, acting as a bridge between Europe and Latin America and establishing the Canary Islands as a place for meetings, talent, and opportunities."

He added, "Each year reinforces our dedication to internationalizing audiovisual projects and promoting the local industry," by "connecting producers, distributors, investors, and fresh voices that are changing how stories are told. Many projects that started at the market have gone on to become successful productions, appearing at festivals and on screens worldwide."

The awards ceremony will be held on the final day, October 31st, at Espacio Price.

CIIF Market is organized by Festeam, Comunicación y Eventos, and is supported by the Cabildo de Tenerife (through the Area of Culture, Museums and Sports), the Government of the Canary Islands (through the Canary Islands Institute of Cultural Development, Canary Islands Film, and Proexca), the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (with the Development Society), and Macaronesia Films. Turismo de Tenerife (Tenerife Film Commission) and the Canary Islands Audiovisual Cluster are also among the collaborators.

The CIIF Market kicks off on Monday with various activities designed to help participants make initial connections and share their projects. Tuesday will focus on meeting the local industry, including a panel discussion titled "Producing in the Canary Islands: the keys to the financial gear" and visits to different filming locations. Wednesday will feature video pitching sessions and one-on-one meetings to encourage strategic partnerships.

Thursday's schedule includes presentations from new companies and a panel discussion on "Case Studies: International co-productions in the Canary Islands." There will also be a screening of the Panamanian film "Me dicen el Panzer" by Rodrigo Quintero Arauz at the new Espacio Price, followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.

Finally, on Friday, October 31st, the CIIF Market will conclude with the awards ceremony at Espacio Price, followed by a special screening of "Bajo un volcán," a feature film by Hugo Martín Cuervo, filmed entirely in Tenerife, with members of the team present.