Sunrise Films Production

Audiovisual Production Company in the Canary Islands

Sunrise Films manages local production in the Canary Islands for international shoots seeking to take advantage of the 50% tax incentive, the unique volcanic landscapes found nowhere else in Europe, and the support of Canary Islands Film. We handle local technical crews, locations, permits, and full production services from the islands.

Sunrise Films is your filming services company in the Canary Islands: 50% tax incentive, unique landscapes and local technical team.

Audiovisual production services in the Canary Islands

In the last year, the Canary Islands hosted more than 180 audiovisual productions and generated over €432 million. International series and films choose the islands for the same reason: a 50% tax incentive, the highest in all of Spain, combined with a diversity of landscapes unmatched anywhere else in Europe.

If your production plans to film in the Canary Islands, Sunrise Films offers the local infrastructure you need: a technical team with tax residency in the islands, rental of equipment eligible for the incentive, location management with permits from Canary Islands Film, and comprehensive production coordination from start to finish.

Film equipment rental in the Canary Islands

Film cameras, prime and zoom lenses, LED and tungsten lighting systems adapted to the high light levels of the Canary Islands, professional sound equipment, steadicams, drones certified for protected natural areas, and accessories. All the equipment your production needs, available in the islands with delivery anywhere in the archipelago.

Technical equipment for filming in the Canary Islands

Network of local technicians with tax residency in the islands: directors of photography, camera operators, sound technicians, electricians, grips, script supervisors, and assistants with experience in national and international productions. Their fees are deductible as local expenses for the purposes of the 50% tax incentive.

Location management in the Canary Islands with permits

Scouting on the islands, negotiating with private landowners and public administrations, processing permits with Canary Islands Film, Island Councils, and National Parks, and providing technical support on location. We know Mount Teide, the Maspalomas dunes, the cliffs of La Palma, the laurel forests of La Gomera, and the lunar landscapes of Lanzarote.

Integrated production and line producing in the Canary Islands

Complete local production management: budgeting tailored to island costs, script breakdown, shooting schedule, departmental coordination, inter-island transport and accommodation logistics, and on-set supervision. Your local line producer in the Canary Islands for projects of any scale.

Fixer in the Canary Islands for international productions

Is this your first time filming in the Canary Islands? Our fixer service covers everything you need: contacts with Canary Islands Film, permits in National Parks, translation and interpretation, inter-island transport, handling of unforeseen events on set, and logistical coordination between islands.

Casting of actors and extras in the Canary Islands

Database of actors, models, and extras residing in the islands for any type of production: film, advertising, series, or corporate content. Their fees are eligible for the 50% tax incentive. In-person or remote casting adapted to your production schedule.

Notable filming locations in the Canary Islands

The Canary Islands offer a compact archipelago with all kinds of landscapes that other production teams have to search for across continents: desert, rainforest, lunar landscape, Atlantic cliffs, pristine beaches, and modern cities. More than 300 days of sunshine a year and a stable climate make the islands one of the most efficient filming destinations in Europe.

Local production in the Canary Islands for global projects

At Sunrise Films, we have been coordinating film shoots in the Canary Islands for over 15 years for international production companies, streaming platforms, and major brands that choose the Canary Islands for their landscapes, light, and 50% tax incentive.

Lockerbie

María Magdalena

Geordie Stories

Queen Cleopatra

La Reina Cleopatra | Servicios de producción Sunrise Films

The Other Side of the Window

POSTEN “Virgin Birth”

Alexander

Yara Knowledge Grows

Why do international productions choose the Canary Islands?

No other European territory combines what the islands offer: landscapes that evoke five different continents, the most stable and predictable 50% tax incentive in Spain, and a local technical infrastructure consolidated by decades of international film productions. Sunrise Films manages both: the locations and the incentive.

Spain's highest tax incentive

The 50% tax deduction in the Canary Islands is not dependent on an annual call for proposals or a limited budget. It is a structural, stable system applicable to international co-producers with local spending in the archipelago. It is the highest in all of Spain.

Five continents on seven islands

Saharan desert, tropical rainforest, volcanic lunar landscape, Atlantic cliffs, and a colonial city all within a flight radius of less than an hour. The Canary Islands are the only European territory where a single film shoot can traverse landscapes from five continents without leaving Spain.

Frictionless inter-island logistics

Direct flights between islands every hour, ports with capacity for large-volume equipment, and a network of local suppliers on each island. We coordinate simultaneous shoots on multiple islands with a single production contact and without the logistical problems of filming abroad.

Make the Canary Islands the setting for your next production

Tell us about your project and we’ll explain how to make the most of the 50% Canary Islands tax deduction.

We adapt to any filming scale and manage everything from permits to the technical team, with coordinated solutions across all seven islands.

Frequently asked questions about audiovisual production in the Canary Islands

Are the Canary Islands part of the European Union for the purposes of audiovisual production?

Yes. The Canary Islands are Spanish territory and therefore part of the European Union, which greatly simplifies customs procedures, the hiring of European personnel, and access to co-productions through the Creative Europe program. Unlike filming in Morocco or South America, there are no customs barriers for technical equipment or visa restrictions for EU citizens.

Are there any limitations on filming with drones in the Canary Islands?

Yes, and they are important. National Parks like Teide or Garajonay have specific restrictions for drone flights. We handle all flight permits with AESA and the authorities of each National Park, including processing times, which can take several weeks. It’s essential to plan this during the pre-production phase.

How much advance notice do you need to organize a film shoot in the Canary Islands?

It depends on the complexity of the project. For a standard shoot with public locations, 4 to 6 weeks is sufficient. If the production requires permits in National Parks, special locations, or coordination between multiple islands, we recommend a minimum of 8 to 12 weeks’ notice to ensure all permits are obtained and the crew is available.

What happens if we need technical equipment that is not available on the islands?

We manage the transport of materials from the Iberian Peninsula or from anywhere in Europe. The Canary Islands have ports and airports with the capacity to handle large volumes of cargo, and the archipelago’s special customs regime facilitates the temporary import of equipment without additional tariffs for professional productions.

Is the 50% tax incentive compatible with other European or national aid?

In most cases, yes, but it depends on the financial structure of each production. The Canary Islands incentive is a tax deduction, not a direct subsidy, which generally makes it compatible with other aid as long as they do not exceed the accumulation limits established by European state aid regulations. We recommend consulting with a tax advisor specializing in international co-production for each specific case.

Can you work with international technical teams that the production brings in?

Yes. We integrate with the production’s technical team and provide the necessary local technicians to complete the team. This hybrid approach is common in international productions and allows us to maintain the production’s technical standards while maximizing local spending eligible for the tax incentive.

What insurance does an international production need to film in the Canary Islands?

Productions filming in Spain are required to have liability insurance for the shoot and, if they employ local staff, to comply with Spanish Social Security regulations. We manage the procurement of specific insurance policies for filming and advise you on the labor and tax obligations applicable to your production in the Canary Islands.