Andalusia is building film and TV industry heft, backed by pubcaster RTVA, the main growth driver for the Spanish region’s feature film and TV productions.

RTVA’s TV channel Canal Sur inked last November with Andalusia’s production lobbies AEPAA-APRIA and PECAAon a framework accord for the period 2009- 2010 to invest Euros8.6 million ($11.2 million) in program acquisitions and co-productions.

Canal Sur’s commitment with local industry will grow in the near future, if only because of the effects of Spain’s new General Audiovisual Law, which stresses regional pubcasters’ leading role in film and TV production financing.

Approved March, the Law increases Spain’s nationwide and regional pubcasters’ film and TV investment obligations from 5% to 6% of their annual revenues.

Like other public broadcasters,RTVA must dedicate 75% of that investment to feature films, and the rest to TV movies, TV series or miniseries.

“It’s clear that we have extra responsibility,” said Mario Lopez, programming head at RTVA’s Canal Sur.

After April’s digital switch-on in Spain, which goosed audience fragmentation turning it into a market phenomenon, Canal Sur maintains high inhouse and commissioning levels, accounting for over 80% of its total TV programming.

This helps Andalusia play host to over 300 film and TV companies, generating around 5,000 jobs.

“If the Law is applied generously, Canal Sur will definitively became the driving force behind the region’s film and TV sector,” says Alvaro Alonso, co-founder of Seville-based shingle Jaleo Films.

“Canal Sur’s financial support, together with the sector’s talent, makes possible a reasonably encouraging future for our industry,” Lopez adds.

Through July 2010, as part of the framework accord, Canal Sur had already invested $5.3 million in broadcast and/or co-production rights. $2.6 million went to finance nine feature films, $1.7 million to six TVmovies, $117,000 to one animated TV series and $950,713 to 20 documentaries.

Movies’ highlights include Carlos Saura and d.p.Vittorio Storaro’s $5.5 million music and dance pic Flamenco, produced by Seville-based General de Producciones y Diseno; Antonio Banderas’ Green Moon-produced actioner Broken Day; animated pic The Heart of the Oak, co-produced by Spain’s Dibulitoon and Milimetros, and Alejandro Brugues’ pioneering Cuban zombie film Juan of the Dead, where Seville’s La Zanfona Prods teamed with Havana’s 5ta Avenida to coproduce.

Teapot Studio’s environment-friendly toon TV series Jara & Nestor received $117,000 for broadcasting TVrights while $91,000 went to Malaga-based MLK’s historical documentary Shulten’s Tartessos, helmed by Antonio Lobos.

“In the last 10 years, several Andalusian production companies have consolidated and are among the strongest in Spain,”PECAA general director Jose Antonio Hergueta says.

“At this point it’s not necessary to stress Andalusia’s wealth of locations, our contents’ universality and creativity in order to attract projects from outside,” Hergueta adds.

At the San Sebastian fest, RTVA and entities AEPAA-APRIA and PECAAwill organize a Meeting with the Andalusian Producers to promote in Spain and abroad its film and TV industry.

Event takes place Sunday, Sept. 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Kursaal Press Club.

E.D.P