La Palma in Spotlight as European Location Award Finalist
La Palma is a finalist for the EUFCN 'Best European Location' award for its role in the Netflix miniseries ‘La Palma’, with the winner to be announced this Sunday, February 15, boosting the island's profile at the European Film Market during the Berlinale.
The island of La Palma is awaiting a big moment for its film industry. This Sunday, February 15, the winner of the European Film Commissions Network (EUFCN) awards will be announced, and La Palma is a finalist for the 'Best European Location' award. The La Palma Island Council shared this news, which puts the island in the spotlight at the European Film Market (EFM). The EFM is a key part of the Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), a globally recognized event for the film sector.
La Palma's nomination comes from its role as the setting for the Netflix miniseries ‘La Palma’. This recognition helps the island attract more film and TV productions. The jury for the EUFCN Location Awards — a group of over a hundred film commissions from 33 countries, including Canary Islands Film — praised how La Palma's locations enhance stories and become key parts of productions.
The miniseries, produced by Danish Fante Films with local support from Volcano Films, brought an estimated three million euros to La Palma. It also created jobs for about 150 professionals and over a hundred extras. Beyond the money, the project showcased the island's strong logistical and technical abilities for film production. Smooth coordination between the La Palma Film Commission, Volcano Films, and a dozen other organizations was essential for managing permits and the entire filming process.
This nomination significantly boosts La Palma's profile at the European Film Market (EFM), an annual event that brings together thousands of major players in the global film industry, including production companies, studios, streaming platforms, and international agents. This year, a delegation from the Canary Islands, organized by PROEXCA and the Canary Islands Audiovisual Cluster, is attending. Over 40 companies and professionals have scheduled nearly 60 meetings with production companies interested in filming or co-producing in the archipelago. Their presence at the EFM is highlighted by the slogan, 'Forget love, have a passionate affair with Canarian Cinema,' a playful nod to Valentine's Day.
La Palma is no stranger to large-scale productions. Companies like Sur Film, also attending the EFM, have chosen the island for major international projects such as ‘Pluribus’, ‘Hostage’, and ‘The Witcher’. This proves the island's ability to host high-level film shoots. The local film scene also supports homegrown talent, as seen with La Palma filmmaker Javi Armas of Kipuka Films & Estudio, who is part of the Canarian delegation and is developing his short film ‘Kipuka’ into a feature film.
Local authorities already see the nomination as a major success. Sergio Rodríguez, president of the La Palma Island Council, views this recognition at such an important event as the Berlinale as proof that their ongoing efforts to establish the island as a competitive film location are working. Rodríguez highlighted that this moment provides a platform to fully showcase the island's image and to promote a strategy for economic growth that creates jobs and new opportunities.
Miriam Perestelo, Councillor for Economic Promotion and CEO of Sodepal, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that La Palma's presence at the European Film Market is part of an ongoing international strategy. She noted that regardless of the final award result, the visibility gained among international producers and platforms strengthens the island's reputation as an ideal location for major productions and a boost for local talent.