History supports the slogan of Zaragoza Ciudad de Cine because here was filmed the first confirmed Spanish film. It was October 1896 when Eduardo Jimeno set up his camera in the heart of the city to record the Salida de misa de doce del Pilar de Zaragoza. That was 130 years ago, and since then, many other film productions have arrived in the Aragonese capital. Some featuring Hollywood stars, as was the case in the 1950s with the film Salomón y la reina de Saba, and others with recent and successful national projects, such as Las niñas or La Estrella Azul.
Not only films, but also TV series, commercials, documentaries, and all types of audiovisual productions choose locations in Zaragoza. Within the city, there are historical settings in the old town and in monuments like the Paraninfo or the Aljafería. There are also futuristic venues, such as the Expo site. Let’s not forget the versatility of natural environments, which can be either arid or lushly green. In short, there are settings for all kinds of storylines.
In recent years, the Zaragoza Film Office (ZFO), part of the Culture, Education, and Tourism Department of the Zaragoza City Council, has been responsible for promoting audiovisual productions in the city. This office is designed as a one-stop shop to meet the needs of companies and activities related to filmmaking and movie production in the municipality.
As Adriana Oliveros, president of the Aragon Audiovisual Cluster, explains, ZFO has recently facilitated the arrival of productions such as the American science fiction series Murderbot from Apple TV or the filming of Por cien millones, a miniseries from Movistar Plus+ directed by Nacho García Velilla. “We have received very positive feedback from them and other productions regarding the city’s conditions. They have also praised the online service offered by the Zaragoza Film Office, as various permits and municipal contacts, such as the police or parks and gardens, can be requested online, all of which is essential before starting any shoot. This is something new, and very few film commission offices offer this possibility.”
This innovation makes sense considering that the establishment of ZFO is relatively recent. In contrast, the Aragón Film Commission has a slightly longer history, sponsored by the Regional Government and covering the entire territory of the Community. Its director is David Lozano, and the work of this office is crucial for attracting more and more international productions to Aragón.
Lozano notes: “At Aragón Film Commission, we directly manage film shoots. For instance, in the last year and a half, we have intervened in approximately 40, while inquiries have exceeded a hundred. However, it’s important to clarify that these figures include both small projects and more ambitious film, television, and advertising productions.”
But the role of Aragón Film Commission goes beyond contacting audiovisual producers. “We also coordinate a valuable network of local film offices. This allows for a multiplier effect. The offices in Zaragoza, Teruel, and Monegros do invaluable work from their respective areas, and it is a luxury to be able to collaborate with them.”
This collaboration encompasses not only official agencies. A key part of this unique ecosystem includes the private companies that assist with these productions. In many cases, they contribute from a technical perspective, but primarily from a service standpoint. In this field, Rodar en Aragón has extensive experience, and its visible leader is entrepreneur Fernando Monzón.
Monzón has worked, for example, on the shoots of the British series Vampire Academy and has collaborated in Belchite with the producers of the famous Walking Dead. “As a local production company, we strive to service the large foreign film production companies. We provide everything from the essential tinted vehicles for stars to the catering they require, as well as personnel to manage traffic and extras. All of this is crucial for a shoot, and it’s what large productions seek the most, as they typically bring a vast artistic and technical cast of their own.”
Next September, the Distrito 7 project will begin, initiated by the General Directorate of Strategic Projects and External Projection, under the Mayor’s Office. Its management has been designated to the Area of Economy, Digital Transformation, and Transparency of the Zaragoza City Council.
Ángel Lorén, City Council President’s Advisor, describes the project: “The objective of Distrito 7 is to create an ecosystem of industrial specialization that unites the various activities of the audiovisual sector value chain: from training to exhibition, including research, entrepreneurship, business, and production; which will position the city of Zaragoza within the national and international audiovisual landscape.”
To achieve this, the first step has been to reclaim the abandoned property of the former Giesa factory located in the Montemolín neighborhood, which produced elevators until a few decades ago. Now, the entire site will be transformed into Distrito 7.
Alejandro Monzón has also placed hopes in this project: “We have wonderful locations. Now we can have literally film studios. All of this is very important for attracting large foreign productions, which leave behind a lot, a tremendous amount of money. But we also need to pay attention to a third very important part: the personnel. As for technical staff, we already have outstanding professionals and even better ones with proper training. But a key aspect is to have a good network of services to support the producers. That is, addressing not only accommodation or catering needs but also their transportation, team coordination, good tents for breaks during shoots, and countless service details that we local producers must handle. It might not be as glamorous as training screenwriters or excellent camera operators, but it is vital for the growth of the audiovisual sector in the city.”
The economic importance of audiovisual activity is well established. Sources from the Zaragoza City Council estimate that the impact of filming in the city over the last five years is approximately 6 million euros. This chain of activity extends to hotels, restaurants, transport, commerce, technical suppliers, and auxiliary services. Not to mention the reputational value of placing both the Aragonese capital and the entire Autonomous Community on the international map of audiovisual production.
