The Cabildo de La Palma, through the public company Sodepal, has launched the conference 'A decade of audiovisuals on the Isla Bonita - Keys to growth and lines of impulse for the audiovisual sector in La Palma', a meeting that highlights the work developed over the last ten years by the Island Corporation through the La Palma Film Commission project, funded by the Department of Tourism. The event brought together professionals, companies and institutions to analyse the progress made during this period and define the strategic priorities to consolidate the future growth of the sector.

The Councillor for Economic Promotion of the Cabildo de La Palma and CEO of Sodepal, Miriam Perestelo, highlighted the support of the Island Corporation for the audiovisual sector as a strategic sector capable of generating employment, economy and contributing to economic diversification.

Perestelo also stressed that the audiovisual industry "is more than culture, it is an economic, creative and strategic engine for the sustainable development of our island. Each filming contributes to placing La Palma on the international map and reinforces its image as a creative, sustainable and tourist destination".

For her part, Raquel Rebollo, head of Tourism on the island, highlighted the importance that the sector has gained in this decade and explained that "we have attended to 772 projects and facilitated 251 film shoots, generating a direct economic impact of more than 21.3 million euros. In the last two years, induced investment has exceeded 7 million, doubling activity and consolidating an increasingly professionalised local sector".

Rebollo highlighted "the capacity of audiovisuals to show a creative island with stories that transcend frontiers, something that positions the island of La Palma as the ideal place for the development of audiovisual projects of all kinds, from local initiatives to major international proposals".

The meeting was also attended by the director general of Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries of the Canary Islands Government, Cristóbal de la Rosa; the director of Canary Islands Film, Natacha Mora; the manager of the Canary Islands Audiovisual Cluster, Genoveva Ayala, and representatives of the sector.

Monday, 10 November, included two main activities: a session specialising in tax incentives, aimed at consultancies, management companies, professionals and investors, with the participation of representatives from Canary Islands Film, Clúster Audiovisual de Canarias and Écija Abogados; and the central meeting 'A decade of audiovisuals on the Isla Bonita', which included an institutional welcome, a commemorative screening, a round table discussion with representatives of the sector and a participative session to define joint strategic lines for the future.

The Cabildo, through the La Palma Film Commission, informed that it is working on the elaboration of a legal instrument with economic resources to encourage and promote local audiovisual production, a document that seeks to establish lines of support for the creation, development, production and dissemination of projects made on La Palma.

Today, Tuesday 11 November, the conference will continue with the talk 'Opportunities in the audiovisual sector', at 10:00 a.m., at the Manolo Blahnik School of Art, aimed at students to inspire new vocations and raise awareness of the employment and creative possibilities in the sector.

With this conference, the Cabildo reaffirms its commitment to promoting the audiovisual sector, consolidating policies that foster creativity, innovation and sustainable economic development.