Catalonia's Cinematic Surge: Cannes Prizes, Oscar Nods, and a Thriving Co-Production Hub

In the past few years, Catalonia has emerged as a powerhouse in the global film industry. Over the last 18 months, Catalan filmmakers and productions have taken the festival circuit by storm, with two Spanish movies securing a main competition berth at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival without being directed by Pedro Almodóvar.

This cinematic surge is backed by substantial public funding, with the Catalan government investing €60 million ($69 million) in the audiovisual sector in 2024 through its departments of culture and linguistic policy. This support has enabled a new generation of Catalan filmmakers, often women, to break through and create films that are grounded in a local sense of place but grapple with universal issues.

Catalonia's openness to international co-production has also been a key driver of its success. The region's minority co-production fund, launched in 2020, offers up to $300,000 to Catalan producers, positioning them as trusted partners. This has led to a flourishing of pan-regional collaborations within Spain and beyond, with nine of the 12 Spanish films shortlisted for the 2026 European Film Awards being Catalan productions.

As Catalonia continues to cement its status as a leading hub for international co-production, the region's audiovisual industry is poised for even greater success, with a diverse range of projects in the pipeline, from intimate dramas to flamenco musicals and thrillers.