Markets

The 22nd edition of the Canary Islands International Film Market (CIIF Market) will take place from October 26 to 30, 2026, at the Hotel Grand Mencey in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, bringing together producers, broadcasters, distributors, sales agents, platforms and investors to explore new opportunities in audiovisual financing, co-production and international distribution.The upcoming edition was officially presented during a press conference at Santa Cruz City Hall, attended by Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez, Alfonso Cabello, Deputy Minister of the Presidency of the Canary Islands Government and President of PROEXCA, José Carlos Acha, Tenerife's Councillor for Culture and Museums, Carmen Pérez, representing the Santa Cruz Development Agency, and CIIF Market Director Guillermo Ríos.

During the presentation, organisers announced the 22 projects selected for the 2026 edition, reflecting the market's growing international reach and its commitment to connecting European and Latin American audiovisual industries.
The National and International section will feature 15 projects from Spain, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Argentina, Panama, France, Cuba, Peru, Brazil and Mexico. The selection includes feature films and television series covering a wide range of genres, including psychological thrillers, historical dramas, romantic comedies and socially driven narratives. Among the selected television projects are Coliving, a Colombian dramedy series produced by Euder Arce Films; Emmanuel Klaus, The Lady Heartbreaker, a French dark comedy from TDCB Productions; and Los Terminales, a Spanish thriller series from Nuevedoce Films.

The Focus Canarias section will showcase seven local feature-film projects, including Empatía, a fantasy comedy directed by Jorge Guimerá; Perro Maldito, a psychological thriller directed by Roberto Chinet; and Quién es María, a family drama combining magical realism and science fiction, directed by Ana Sánchez-Gijón.

CIIF Market will offer five days of project presentations, video pitching sessions, one-to-one business meetings and networking activities designed to connect creative talent with potential production and financing partners.

Among the companies and industry players participating are Warner Bros. Discovery, Secuoya Studios, Buendía Estudios Canarias, Dynamo, Latido Films, Morena Films, A Contracorriente Films, Bendita Film Sales, Blablabla Media and Radio Televisión Canaria (RTVC).
The professional programme will also feature panels dedicated to visual effects, audiovisual music and financing, alongside the Tenerife Networking initiative, highlighting the archipelago's production services, technical expertise and filming locations.

Ahead of the event, CIIF Market Lab 2026 will provide online training sessions focusing on co-production agreements between Spanish regions, international partnerships with Europe and Latin America, and financing strategies for projects with budgets approaching or exceeding €2 million.
Selected projects will compete for several prizes designed to support their development and international market positioning.

The CIIF Market Santa Cruz de Tenerife Award will offer €3,000 to the market's best project, while the Cabildo de Tenerife Award will recognise the best Canarian project with accreditation to an audiovisual market of its choice.
Other prizes include participation in the industry programme of the Málaga Film Festival 2027 through the MAFIZ Award, international sales representation through Con Un Pack International Sales, and post-production services provided by Blurr Stories.

The programme will also include public screenings of Abril, hoy no es invierno, a short film by Mabel Lozano, and Tal vez, directed by Canarian filmmaker Arima León, whose project previously participated in CIIF Market.

During the presentation, institutional representatives highlighted the rapid expansion of the audiovisual industry in the Canary Islands.
According to Alfonso Cabello, the archipelago now hosts almost 300 audiovisual shoots, supported by competitive tax incentives, an established network of production professionals and a growing international reputation.
Carmen Pérez also reported that Santa Cruz de Tenerife registered 9,682 employment contracts in the audiovisual sector between April and September 2026, representing 53.9% of all such contracts across the Canary Islands during that period.
CIIF Market Director Guillermo Ríos emphasised the event's contribution to developing projects and creating opportunities for international collaboration over the past two decades. With its emphasis on new talent, financing opportunities and cross-border partnerships, CIIF Market 2026 aims to reinforce the Canary Islands' role as a strategic meeting point for European and Latin American audiovisual production.

More information