CIIF Market announces the 22 projects selected for its 2026 edition and reinforces its commitment to international co-production from the Canary Islands
The event, which will take place from October 26 to 30 , will bring together producers, creatives, distributors, TV networks, platforms, sales agents and financiers from the audiovisual industry in Santa Cruz de Tenerife for presentations , video pitchings, professional meetings and training and networking activities.
The 15 projects in the National and International section come from Spain, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Argentina, Panama, France, Cuba, Peru, Brazil, and Mexico, in addition to seven proposals from Focus Canarias. This selection fosters connections between different markets and promotes new partnerships for financing , co-production, and international distribution .
Santa Cruz de Tenerife, October 15, 2026. The 22nd edition of the Canary Islands International Film Market ( CIIF Market ), which will take place from October 26 to 30, 2026 at the Grand Mencey Hotel in Santa Cruz de Tenerife , was presented today at a press conference held in the García Sanabria Hall of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Hall.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife , José Manuel Bermúdez ; the Deputy Minister of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands and President of PROEXCA, Alfonso Cabello ; the Island Councillor for Culture and Museums of the Tenerife Island Council , José Carlos Acha ; the Councillor for Employment, Commerce and Tourism ( Development Corporation ), Carmen Pérez ; and the Director of CIIF Market , Guillermo Ríos . During the presentation, the selected projects, participating companies, and the main new features of this edition were announced.
The mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez , highlighted the special relationship between CIIF Market and the city. “For over 20 years, CIIF Market has been using Santa Cruz as its main venue for an event created to connect talent with those who can nurture it. Proof of its success lies in the numerous productions that have come to fruition thanks to its support, and of course, the fact that public administrations have also invested in this market is a testament to its effectiveness,” he added. The mayor concluded by emphasizing Santa Cruz’s support for the audiovisual industry, which, in the last year alone, has led to the creation of 5,000 jobs.
The Deputy Minister of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alfonso Cabello , explained that “22 years ago, when CIIF Market was created, the audiovisual sector didn’t exist in the Canary Islands. It wasn’t until 2009 that the Parliament of the Canary Islands declared it a strategic sector, and today we host almost 300 film shoots throughout the archipelago. Without a doubt, CIIF Market has played a significant role in this evolution of the sector. Today we can proudly say that we have highly skilled professionals, trained here and with a Canarian accent, working for major international audiovisual companies.”
Cabello pointed out that the Canary Islands have the best tax system in Europe and that every million euros invested in the islands generates a return of almost 600,000 euros. “We have abundant sunshine, skilled professionals, and the most competitive tax environment in Europe,” he added.
According to José Carlos Acha, the island councilor for Culture and Museums of the Tenerife Island Council, “From its inception, CIIF Market had a global vision, understanding that the audiovisual sector was much more than just filming, and creating a market where all sectors could come together. In these more than 20 years, the audiovisual sector has experienced tremendous growth and has become the most important cultural sector in the Canary Islands. The cultural sector contributes 3.8% to Tenerife’s GDP, and the audiovisual sector contributes around 70%. The audiovisual sector is a very important source of income and exemplifies how culture and art generate economic activity and improve society as a whole.”
The First Deputy Mayor and CEO of the Santa Cruz Development Corporation, Carmen Pérez , reported that “according to data from Social Security and OBECAN, between April and September 2016, Santa Cruz de Tenerife registered 9,682 contracts in the audiovisual sector, representing 53.9% of all contracts in the Canary Islands and 91.4% of those on the island of Tenerife.” She added that “98.9% of these contracts were directly linked to film, video, and television production.”
Pérez also emphasized that “regarding the sector’s labor structure, the capital ended the period with 2,145 active jobs contributing to social security in the municipality and 129 registered companies, which is equivalent to 60% of Tenerife’s audiovisual business fabric” and added that “furthermore, the contribution data reflects that the companies located in the municipality employ 2.5 professionals for every worker in the sector who resides in the city.”
For his part, the director of CIIF Market, Guillermo Ríos , expressed his satisfaction at reaching the 22nd edition of the market and the evolution it has experienced alongside the Canary Islands audiovisual sector. “Reaching this edition is a tremendous source of pride and reflects over two decades of work connecting talent with the industry and generating opportunities for new projects to find partners and funding. The trajectory of films that have passed through the market, such as ‘Lo carga el diablo’, ‘Me dicen el Panzer’, and ‘And Now the Light Falls Vertical’, demonstrates how CIIF Market fosters projects that transcend our borders and find their way to international production and distribution.”
Ríos also emphasized the importance of institutional support to consolidate this trajectory: “The support of the Tenerife Island Council, through its Department of Culture, Museums and Sports; the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, through the Development Corporation; and the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canary Islands Institute of Cultural Development, Canary Islands Film and PROEXCA, among other organizations, is fundamental to giving continuity to this project and continuing to strengthen an industry that generates employment, wealth and opportunities for local talent.”
Furthermore, he highlighted the role of CIIF Market in Tenerife as an international connection platform: “We continue to support Canarian talent, as reflected in the special screening at this edition of the feature film ‘Tal vez’ by Arima León, which began its journey at CIIF Market. Our goal is for the Canary Islands to remain a meeting point for international co-production and for participating projects to find real opportunities to advance their development and reach the screen.”
22 projects will participate in the 22nd edition of CIIF Market
CIIF Market has announced the 22 selected projects , a figure that matches the number of its edition, which brings together feature film and series proposals that contribute different genres, creative perspectives and production models, with a prominent presence of European and Latin American projects and a specific commitment to the audiovisual talent of the Canary Islands.
The National and International section features 15 projects from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Spain, France, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, Focus Canarias will showcase seven projects linked to the archipelago’s audiovisual industry, with stories ranging from fantasy comedy to historical drama, psychological thriller, and social narratives.
Beyond the selection process, CIIF Market is designed as a professional space to connect producers, directors, and creatives with companies, distributors, sales agents, television networks, platforms, financiers, and potential co-producers. During the market, participants will have the opportunity to present their creative proposals, funding needs, and production goals to industry professionals, as well as network with potential co-producers, financial partners, distributors, and other industry stakeholders interested in participating in the development of their projects.
Fifteen projects in the National and International section
The National and International section features projects aimed at reaching new audiences and finding strategic partners in different regions. The selection includes feature films and fiction series across a wide range of genres, from horror and thrillers to comedy, drama, romance, and historical narratives.
The selected projects are:
1615 (Spain). Folk horror feature film. Directed by Marina Lameiro Garayoa. Atlantika Films. Produced by Nano Arrieta and Claudia Ruiz.
AGUA BRAVA (Puerto Rico). Drama feature film. Directed by Glorimar Marrero Sánchez. Canica Films. Produced by Vanessa López Rodríguez.
I PROTECT YOU, BUT I DON’T FORGET (Spain). A Berlanga-esque comedy feature film. Directed by Anita Pico. Produced by Treboamedia. Produced by Alberto Domínguez and Paula Mariñas.
COLIVING (Colombia). Dramedy series. Directed by Euder Arce Quintero and Mauricio Quintana. Euder Arce Films. Produced by Euder Arce Quintero.
CRESPIN (Argentina). Feature film of comedy, drama and romance. Directed by Mariano Biasin and Federico Marcello. Tarea Fina. Produced by Juan Pablo Miller.
THE CROSSING OF SOULS (Panama). Feature film about migration drama. Directed by Arturo Montenegro. Produced by Q Films. Produced by Andry Barrientos.
EMMANUEL KLAUS, THE LADY HEARTBREAKER (France). Dark comedy series. Director: To be determined. TDCB Productions. Producer: Caroline Tracanelli.
I’VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME (Cuba). Comedy-drama feature film. Directed by Jeniffer Castañeda. Miranda Films. Produced by Ever Miranda Palacio.
THE WOMAN OF THE RIVER (Spain). Drama and Western feature film. Directed by Tamara García Iglesias. Produced by Laura Lizuma.
GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE (Argentina). Comedy feature film. Directed by Florencia Tundis. 80 Worlds. Produced by María Eugenia Lombardi.
THE HOLES OF THE MOON (Peru). Feature film combining neo-noir thriller, social drama, and dark comedy. Directed by Paula D’Angelo Schmid. Warmi Audiovisual. Produced by Norma Velásquez.
THE TERMINALS (Spain). Thriller series. Director: Federico Khaski. Nuevedoce Films. Producer: Gerardo Javier Khaski.
PERTO DE MIM, LONGE DE TUDO (Brazil). Drama feature film. Director: Diogo Leite. Lie Films. Producer: Paula Pripas.
STELLA MARIS (Spain). Feature film, fiction and drama, with dreamlike and poetic elements. Directed by Laura Muñoz Liaño. Produced by 24Violets. Produced by Laura Muñoz Liaño.
TRIM PAINTING (Mexico). Psycho-thriller feature film. Directed by Juan Carlos Guerra. Produced by Nativo Cine. Produced by Karina Blanco.
Focus Canarias: seven projects with international potential
The Focus Canarias section once again highlights the creative and entrepreneurial potential of the archipelago , with seven feature films that address issues related to identity, memory, migration, human relationships and social conflicts.
The selected projects are:
EMPATHY . Comedy and fantasy. Directed by Jorge Guimerá. Produced by Jorge Guimerá.
HARRAGA . Fiction of reality. Directed by: Mercedes Ortega. Produced by: Mercedes Ortega and Ana Sánchez Gijón.
THE CHOSEN ONES. Drama. Directed by Belén Macías. Naif Films. Producers: Yadira Ávalos Benítez, Juan Sola, Palmira Márquez, Belén Macías and David Naranjo.
CURSED DOG . Psychological drama and moral thriller. Directed by Roberto Chinet. Novilunio Music and Films. Produced by Minia Díaz.
BY A HEAD . Historical drama. Directed by Jeniffer Castañeda García. Nostrana Films. Produced by Carlota Bravo Reta.
WHO IS MARIA ? A family drama, magical realism, and poetic science fiction. Directed by Ana Sánchez-Gijón. La Mirada Producciones. Produced by Ana Sánchez-Gijón and Aline Rajan-Harjani.
I WON. Drama. Directed by Vasni J. Ramos. The Kung Fu Brothers. Produced by Vasni J. Ramos.
The section offers a platform to give visibility to Canary Island projects, facilitate their access to new industry partners and promote collaboration opportunities with national and international production companies.
Presentations, meetings, and professional activities
The CIIF Market program combines project presentations with an agenda of one-on-one business meetings , networking activities and other specialized activities aimed at boosting new opportunities for financing, co-production and distribution .
There will also be video pitching sessions, screenings and specialized sessions covering different areas of the audiovisual industry, with special attention to the potential of the Canary Islands as a production territory and meeting point for international collaboration .
Panels will be held on visual effects (VFX), audiovisual music, and financing , as well as activities designed to showcase the region’s potential, including a new familiarization trip that will allow participants to discover different locations and the possibilities Tenerife offers for hosting audiovisual productions . The program also includes film screenings open to the public, such as the short film *April, Today Is Not Winter * by Mabel Lozano , and the feature film *Maybe * by Arima León , a filmmaker from the Canary Islands. The closing ceremony and awards presentation will bring this edition of the market to a close.
Companies and professionals in the industry
CIIF Market brings together companies from different areas of the audiovisual value chain, with the aim of bringing projects closer to partners who can contribute to their development, financing, production and marketing.
Among the entities and experts that will advise the participating projects are A Contracorriente Films, Alplano Films, Bendita Film Sales, Blablabla Media, Bolero Films, Buendía Estudios Canarias, Dynamo, El Viaje Films, Entropía Studios | KFP, La Sarraz Pictures, Latido Films, Morena Films, Radio Televisión Canaria – RTVC, Secuoya Studios, Sego Creative, Silberfluss Films GmbH, Tita Productions and Warner Bros. Discovery .
The participation of these professionals allows selected projects to be connected with experts in production, content acquisition, international sales, distribution, and investment. The meetings are designed to identify specific collaboration opportunities, taking into account the needs and objectives of each project.
Alongside the participating companies, the market promotes contact with the Canary Islands’ audiovisual sector through the Tenerife Networking event, showcasing the archipelago’s production services, visual effects, locations, and technical capabilities.
CIIF Market Awards 2026
The selected projects will be eligible for CIIF Market awards, designed to support their development, improve their production resources and strengthen their presence in the audiovisual market, which include:
- CIIF Market Santa Cruz de Tenerife Award , endowed with 3,000 euros for the best project in the market.
- Tenerife Island Council Award , aimed at the best Canary Islands project, with accreditation to attend a film and/or audiovisual market of their choice.
- The Music Library & SFX Award will grant a professional music license to one European and one Latin American project to use content from its catalog.
- The MAFIZ Award will recognize the European and Latin American projects with the greatest potential for co-production through their participation in the industry area of the Malaga Festival 2027.
- The Blurr Stories Award will offer post-production and delivery services for one European and one Latin American feature film.
- The Vector of Ideas Award will offer a recording session with a solo musician and a complimentary music license from their specialized catalog.
- The Con Un Pack International Sales Award will recognize one European and one Latin American project, granting both international support and representation.
- The CINEXIS Award , through which three film projects (European, Latin American and Canary Islands) will receive a guaranteed commercial exhibition window once the film is completed, as well as strategic support and advice on development, production, financing and market strategy.
- The PELIP Award will distinguish the best Spanish project and the best Canary Islands project, with a six-month subscription to the Producer Plan of its AI-powered audiovisual pre-production platform, which will provide tools to prepare breakdowns, shooting and financing plans, budgets and presentation dossiers.
This edition will also feature other special recognitions such as mentorship and guidance from expert industry professionals. These awards reinforce the practical dimension of the market and aim to ensure that participation in CIIF Market translates into concrete tools for advancing the financing, development, and production of the selected projects.
CIIF Market Lab 2026
As a prelude to CIIF Market 2026, CIIF Market Lab will be held, an online training program for delegates of participating projects, with the aim of strengthening their financing and co-production strategies and preparing them for the market. The initiative includes three specialized workshops , focusing on co-production between Spanish autonomous communities, international co-production with Europe and Latin America, and projects with budgets of two million euros or more.
The sessions will cover funding opportunities , grants and tax incentives , presenting projects to potential partners and investors, and preparing for professional meetings. The program will be led by Luis Ángel Ramírez , executive producer and expert in audiovisual development and financing , and coordinated by Alex Ojeda Baute , a specialist in film markets and co-production and coordinator of MAFF (Málaga Festival Fund & Co-Production Event).
Institutional support for the market
CIIF Market is organized by Festeam, Comunicación y Eventos, S. L. , and is sponsored by the Tenerife Island Council , through its Department of Culture, Museums and Sports ; the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council , through the Development Society ; and the Government of the Canary Islands , through the Canary Islands Institute of Cultural Development , Canary Islands Film and PROEXCA .
Among the collaborating entities are Turismo de Tenerife , through the Tenerife Film Commission ; the Canary Islands Audiovisual Cluster ; Macaronesia Films , the Canary Islands Special Zone Consortium (ZEC) , and the Spanish Media Office Cultural Foundation , in addition to Bankinter , Cinexis INC and the collaborating companies linked to the development of professional activities and the market awards.
The support of these institutions and companies helps to strengthen the position of the Canary Islands as a territory for audiovisual production , facilitating contact with professionals, knowledge of available incentives and services, and the generation of new business alliances.
The Canary Islands as a meeting point for international co-production
With more than two decades of experience, CIIF Market reaffirms its role as a benchmark event for the audiovisual industry , maintaining its commitment to promoting new projects, creative talent and strengthening professional relationships between different markets.
In its 22nd edition , Santa Cruz de Tenerife will once again become a meeting point for industry professionals, fostering the exchange of experiences and the generation of business opportunities. This new event supports and amplifies the creative potential of the Canary Islands , its capacity to attract productions, and its growing prominence on the international audiovisual scene.
