The Balearic Islands will receive 371,381 euros for the digitisation of cinemas

The Minister of European Funds, Universities and Culture, Miquel Company, and the director of the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), Beatriz Navas, explained today that the Institute of Cultural Industries of the Balearic Islands has published the grants of 371,381 euros for the digitisation and sustainability of cinemas in the Balearic Islands. Territorialised by the Ministry of Culture and Sport, they form part of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan of the European funds.

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“The support for cinemas is in addition to the aid for music and performing arts venues to promote the digital transformation of the cultural sector of the Balearic Islands. This line of action confirms the importance of the entire audiovisual chain, in this case, film exhibition,” explained Company. Navas, for his part, defended “the window of the cinema” as “essential for the promotion and visibility of works”. “Profound changes are taking place in audiovisual consumption habits, but the best place to see an audiovisual work is a cinema. We must accompany them in the evolution of the sector so that they continue to be a cultural space of reference”, he added.

The publication of the call coincides with the celebration yesterday and today at Ca n’Oleo of the Interterritorial Commission of Cinematography and Audiovisuals (COMICA), co-organised by the ICAA and the Directorate General of Culture of the Government of the Balearic Islands, within the framework of the Atlántida Mallorca Film Fest (AMFF). In addition, the Government and the ICAA have offered today at the Teatre Mar i Terra the professional forum and workshop Emergente.

Digital transformation

In the case of the grants published by the ICIB, cinemas will be able to obtain subsidies for digital transformation projects, updating ticket management systems, modernisation of digital projection, audio and connectivity systems, as well as those linked to people with special needs or the application of artificial intelligence and massive data. The call also includes aid for sustainable development measures such as the implementation of management models based on the circular economy, investments to increase energy efficiency with renewable sources, self-consumption or improvement of recycling systems. It also includes funding for audience loyalty and attracting audiences, as well as for innovation in the programming and circulation of European productions and productions in official Spanish languages.

Cooperation in COMICA

The director of the ICAA, for her part, stressed that the holding of the COMICA sessions in Palma has served to “reinforce cooperation in the construction of a common audiovisual space”. Navas thanked the Government of the Balearic Islands for proposing to host the event and stressed the “fruitful” results of the meetings, which “continue with the exchange of ideas and perspectives on how to promote a strategic sector such as the audiovisual sector, so that the Law on Cinema and audiovisual culture can act as a stimulus to develop its social, cultural and economic potential”. The participants were also able to discuss the creation of working groups to implement “best practices” in the sector.

Emerging Workshop

In the actions aimed at the audiovisual sector, the Emerging workshop today brought together producers, public television managers, heads of public funds for production and representatives of professional associations in the sector from Cantabria, Castilla La Mancha, Asturias, Navarre and the Balearic Islands to strengthen and boost co-production between regions of the country and tackle more ambitious projects. “With this workshop, we show our commitment to the audiovisual sector, create synergies and promote contacts between professionals. We are thinking in the long term with our commitment to the creation of an Audiovisual Hub, which we are working on in order to present it to calls for European funds,” said Company.