This past October, I had the pleasure of attending Iberseries Platino Industria (IPI) in Madrid, a yearly film & television market, organized by EGEDA & Secuoya Studios, where the Spanish and Latin American audiovisual industries come together to collaborate and shape the future of content creation in Spanish, international co-production, and local production incentives.

Over the years, in my capacities as consultant for Freeway Entertainment, owner of Zannoni Media, delegate of CANACINE Quintana Roo, and of course, international liaison for Stage 32, I’ve built strong relationships with film & television producers, broadcasters, streamers, and film commissions, associations, and chambers across Spain and Latin America.

At Iberseries, I had some exciting and inspiring conversations about training and education with representatives from several key organizations, including Film Madrid, the Spanish Assocation of Audiovisual Production Professionals (APPA), my friends and colleagues from CANACINE, and the Baja Film Commission.

These conversations centered on the powerful mission to train emerging and experienced filmmakers alike for today’s global production landscape, with booming tax and production incentives and co-production opportunities, and consequently, the rising need for internationally qualified and certified crews.

Increasingly, film commissions acknowledge the huge potential of Stage 32’s infrastructure and its digital platform with 1.3 million members worldwide, to serve as a powerful vehicle for promoting film destinations. Countries such as Spain, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic are now recognized as top international destinations for film and television production, and many other countries and regions within Spain and Latin America are aspiring to join this group.

Partnering for Growth and Training

Stage 32’s mission is to democratize access to education, mentorship, and opportunity for creatives everywhere, and to make top-level education affordable and available regardless of location and background.

Stage 32’s Certification has the ambition to become a cornerstone for top-level training in the vibrant Spanish-speaking audiovisual world. By partnering with film commissions, associations, chambers, and film schools, Stage 32 is setting up customized certification programs that train filmmakers and crews to international standards, ensuring that local talent is ready to meet the growing demand from international productions coming to shoot locally.

As mentioned, countries like Spain, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic have become some of the most attractive destinations for international film and television thanks to their competitive tax incentives, solid production infrastructure, stunning locations, and skilled workforce. This boom creates enormous opportunity, but it also increases the need for well-trained, production-ready crews.

With Stage 32 certification, we have immediate solutions for these challenges. Master certification tracks like line producing, production accounting, and location management are designed to teach the universal skills and ensure that crews are ready in no time to work on local and international productions.

Expanding Stage 32’s Footprint in the Spanish-Speaking World

Stage 32’s presence in the Spanish-speaking film world is expanding rapidly. We now have strategic partnerships with APPA in Spain, CANACINE in Mexico, and DGCINE in the Dominican Republic, and many more will follow.

I would like to highlight our alliance with DGCINE, which has been especially impactful, generating national attention and recognition in the Dominican Republic for its focus on professional training and international collaboration. (Read more here, El Nuevo Diario, El Día)

It is exciting to explore similar initiatives with other film commissions and associations from Spain and Latin America. The common goal is to make training, certification, and international collaboration accessible to every creative professional in the Spanish and Latin American film communities.

Looking Ahead

Attending IPI was a reminder of how much potential there is when we work together across borders and languages. The Spanish-speaking film world is thriving, and Stage 32 is proud to be part of its growth by supporting filmmakers, producers, and crews through training, networking, and global exposure.

I’m deeply grateful to all the film commissions, associations, friends, and colleagues who shared their time and vision in Madrid. The future of our industry is collaborative and global, and together, we’re building it.

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