Research on Spanish Fictional Audiovisual Production

Industrial, Artistic, and Communicative Perspectives

Authors

  • Mario Rajas Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, España
  • Antonio Baraybar Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, España
  • Sandro Arrufat Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, España

Keywords:

producción audiovisual, cine español, plataformas de streaming, transformación digital, industria del entretenimiento, innovación tecnológica

Abstract

The FlixOlé-URJC Chair of Spanish Cinema coordinates this issue of the Prisma Social Journal, focusing on research into Spanish fiction production in film and television. The Spanish audiovisual industry is undergoing a transformation driven by digitalization, the rise of streaming platforms, evolving business models, and changing consumer habits.

Production growth has been remarkable in recent years: production companies increased from 381 in 2019 to 553 in 2023 (+45.14%), and feature films from 670 to 931 (+38.95%), despite the impact of the pandemic. Distribution and exhibition have also changed, with a slight rise in distributors (+13.65%) and a minimal decline in theaters (-2.35%), though box office revenues dropped by 10.84%.

Fiction series have shown signs of stabilization, with 53 productions in 2023. Spain, alongside the UK, leads content production for streaming platforms in Europe, being Netflix’s top EU supplier with 21 original productions in 2023. Additionally, employment in the audiovisual sector has grown by over 93% in three years, mainly due to international film shoots.

Three key factors explain this growth: technological advancements and the consolidation of streaming, Spain’s attractiveness for international productions due to diverse locations and tax incentives, and the high-level training of industry professionals. However, challenges persist, including potential overproduction, global competition, declining theater attendance, job precariousness, and the rise of artificial intelligence.

This monographic issue compiles research addressing fiction production from a multidisciplinary perspective, exploring technological innovations, narrative trends, sustainability, market dynamics, and regulation. It provides a comprehensive view of the industry and its future challenges.

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References

Álvarez-Monzoncillo, J. M. (2024). La competitividad del ecosistema audiovisual español. McGraw Hill.

Baraybar-Fernández, A., Arrufat-Martín, S., & Díaz-Díaz, B. (2025). The AI Revolution. How Technological Developments Affect the Audiovisual Sector. Springer.

GECA (2024). El ecosistema de la producción en ficción. https://webgeca.geca.es/informes-geca/

ICAA (2023). Estadística de Cinematografía: Producción, Exhibición, Distribución y Fomento. https://estadisticas.cultura.gob.es/CulturaDynPx/culturabase/index.htm?type=pcaxis&path=/t20/p20/a2005/&file=pcaxis

Ministerio para la Transformación Digital y de la Función Pública (MTDFP) (2023). Informe del Sector Audiovisual. https://digital.gob.es/dam/es/portalmtdfp/comunicacion/notas-de-prensa/comunicacion_SETID/202406014_NdP_Informe_Audiovisual.pdf

Rajas, M. & Paz Gil, I. (2023). Consumo de cine español en plataformas de streaming. En J. Sierra Sánchez y J. Medina Contreras, Encrucijada del audiovisual en la era de lo virtual. McGraw-Hill, pp. 355-368.

Schneeberger, A. & Fontaine, G. (2022). Audiovisual fiction production in Europe 2022 - Figures. European Audiovisual Observatory. https://www.oficinamediaespana.eu/noticias/item/4082-observatorio-europeo-del-audiovisual-nuevo-informe-sobre-produccion-audiovisual-de-ficcion-en-europa

Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal (SEPE) (2024). El mercado de trabajo del sector audiovisual en España. https://www.sepe.es/HomeSepe/es/que-es-el-sepe/comunicacion-institucional/noticias/detalle-noticia?folder=/SEPE/2025/Enero/&detail=crecimiento-del-sector-audiovisual-en-espana

Spain Hub Audiovisual (2024). Informe 2024. https://spainaudiovisualhub.mineco.gob.es/es/actualidad/2--informe-sobre-el-sector-audiovisual-2023-de-spain-audiovisual

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Published

2025-01-31

How to Cite

Rajas, M., Baraybar, A., & Arrufat , S. (2025). Research on Spanish Fictional Audiovisual Production: Industrial, Artistic, and Communicative Perspectives. Prisma Social Journal, (48), 1–5. Retrieved from https://revistaprismasocial.es/ps/article/view/5751

Issue

No. 48 (2025): Investigaciones sobre la producción audiovisual española de ficción: perspectivas industriales, artísticas y comunicativas

Section

Editorial

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