CIIF Market Highlights Canary Islands Film Growth, Screens 'Me Dicen el Panzer'

The 21st Canary Islands International Film Market (CIIF Market) is currently underway in Santa Cruz de Tenerife until October 31. This year, the market is featuring two special discussions that highlight what's making the Canary Islands' film and TV industry grow: how it's funded and how it works with international partners.

These two events, titled "Producing in the Canary Islands: The Keys to the Financial Mechanism" and "Case Study: International Co-productions in the Canary Islands," will gather experts, production companies, and government officials. They will explore, in a practical way, how the Canary Islands have become a key location for films and series. This success is due to their attractive tax benefits, a thriving local industry, and their ability to draw in and create international projects.

The first panel, "Producing in the Canary Islands: The Keys to the Financial Mechanism," is scheduled for this Tuesday at 11:30 AM in the Nivaria Hall of the Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey Hotel. Legal, banking, and government experts will explain how film companies can best use the tax breaks from the Economic and Fiscal Regime (REF) and access various funding options and public grants. Speakers will include Carmen Aguado from Écija Abogados (specializing in audiovisual law), Fernando Rodríguez, Director of Corporate Banking at Bankinter, and José Ramón Barrera, an advisor to the Canary Islands Government's Economic and Fiscal Regime Commissioner.

The second panel, "Case Studies: International Co-productions in the Canary Islands," will be held on Thursday at 10:30 AM. The Canary Islands are increasingly seen as a top choice for international film and TV productions. With competitive tax incentives, a variety of natural settings, and a growing network of professionals, the islands have become a go-to place for major projects. This panel will look at two successful examples that show how mature the islands' film and TV industry has become. These examples come from Volcano Films, one of the Canary Islands' most experienced production companies, with over 30 years in the business and a history of working on major international productions filmed there.

Sebastián Álvarez, CEO and producer of Volcano Films, and Alejandro Álamo, also a producer at the company, will lead a discussion on two different ways the Canary Islands fit into the global production scene. They will cover an international production that used tax incentives as a service, and a Spanish co-production with its own funding through an AIE (Economic Interest Grouping). Ricardo Martínez, director of the Tenerife Film Commission, will moderate the session.

For more details about the CIIF Market, including how to register for the panels, visit ciifmarket.com.

As part of the CIIF Market 2025, the new Espacio Price will host a special screening this Thursday at 8:00 PM. The film is "Me dicen el Panzer" (They Call Me Panzer), directed by Panamanian filmmaker Rodrigo Quintero Arauz. A discussion with some of the creative team will follow the screening.

"Me dicen el Panzer" was first featured at the CIIF Market in 2018 as a standout project. Now, after a successful international run, it returns, completing a journey that began with the market's support. This biographical drama tells the story of Rommel Fernández Gutiérrez, a legendary footballer from Panama and Tenerife. He was a beloved figure for Club Deportivo Tenerife and Panamanian football in the 1980s and 1990s.

Filmed in various Tenerife locations, including Tenerife North, the Heliodoro Rodríguez López stadium, Las Teresitas beach, and Tomé Cano street, the movie honors the player's strong ties to Tenerife and his lasting impact on sports and public memory. Set in Panama in 1986, the film follows young Rommel, nicknamed "Cabezón" (Big Head). He dreams of becoming a professional footballer despite challenges at home and in his community. His drive and skill help him change his life and become "El Panzer," a symbol of determination, humility, and persistence.

The film premiered globally at the 55th International Film Festival of India in 2024 and won Best Foreign Film at Spain's Oriana Awards. These accolades highlight its international success and emotional resonance with audiences worldwide.

After the screening, there will be a discussion with the film's team: Jairo Ramos (producer and screenwriter, Infocus Video Factory, Panama), Marco Toledo (executive producer, La Chola Creativa, Spain), and Viviana Caló (associate producer, Bibika Films, Spain). They will share insights into the challenges, creative process, and stories behind this compelling tale of film and football.