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Date Published: 13/09/2022

ARCHIVED - Hollywood returns to Alicante: filming finally allowed to resume at the Ciudad de Luz

ARCHIVED ARTICLE

The Valencia Government once again has complete control of the 'City of Light' film studios in Alicante

<span style='color:#780948'>ARCHIVED</span> - Hollywood returns to Alicante: filming finally allowed to resume at the Ciudad de Luz

It's all action once again at Alicante city's Ciudad de Luz which has been closed as a film studio for 10 years after Pinewood Studios in Britain complained to the European Commission that the subsidies from the regional government to help fund the 'City of Light' constituted unfair competition.

The complaint was upheld in 2012 and the studios were closed for filming for what should have been 15 years, although it remained the Generalitat's property and was adapted as a vaccination centre during the pandemic and a centre for Ukrainian refugees following Russia's invasion in February, who will be relocated by the end of the year.

However, in excellent news for the city and province as a whole, the European Commission this week informed the Valencia Government that the sanction is no longer in effect and that it once again has full control of the studios, having "complied with the restrictions".

The restrictions were actually lifted in March this year, when Brussels ruled the complex could resume cinemagraphic activities from July 1, five years earlier than the original ruling. And on September 12, Valencia President, Ximo Puig received formal notification from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition that the case was closed.

Also read: Alicante in talks with major shipping companies to position the province as a benchmark for cruise tourism

"This brings to an end a nightmare that has lasted too long," said Puig on Tuesday, adding: "Fortunately we have been able to free ourselves from all the restrictions placed on Ciudad de la Luz and begin a period of optimism, lifting a burden that cost the Valencian society more than 400 million euros."

Puig, who on Monday September 19 plans to present the full potential of Ciudad de la Luz at the San Sebastian Film Festival, said that the film sets at the City of Light are "a useful instrument for generating employment, culture and future".

According to the Generalitat, more than 200 productions are set to be filmed at Ciudad de la Luz over the next five years, generating 850 million euros in the Valencia region. In addition to the financial benefits, the projects will provide around 4,900 permanent jobs and a further 22,000 service contracts.

The government plans to invest 2.4 million to "get the studios back into operation", "much smaller" than the returns expected.

"Over the next five years the reopening of the complex will result in at least 1.5 million overnight stays in the province of Alicante", a major boost to the hospitality sector, added Puig.

In other news: Chinese drug gang jailed for running cannabis farm in Aicante, Spain and exporting to the UK

Image: Ciudad de Luz Facebook

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