The Balearic Islands: a vast natural film set committed to sustainable filming

You only need to watch the end credits of any film or TV series to grasp the scale of a production. Names upon names scroll by for minutes on end, reflecting a reality that is often invisible: behind every scene, there are hundreds of people working simultaneously. Actors, directors, sound technicians, lighting technicians, make-up artists, drivers, production staff… a human ecosystem that moves around, eats, consumes energy and temporarily transforms the spaces where it works.

In the Balearic Islands, this ecosystem has become a natural part of a region that serves as a vast open-air film set. Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera offer, within a few kilometres, a diversity of landscapes that is hard to match: coastline, mountains, rural settings, historical heritage, and areas of outstanding natural beauty. This versatility has made the islands a popular destination for productions of all kinds, from major international projects to advertising campaigns and documentaries.

But filming does not come without its challenges. Lighting scenes requires generators—traditionally diesel-powered—capable of meeting high energy demands. Transporting equipment and staff involves a great deal of movement. Catering services generate waste, particularly during long-running productions. And all of this takes place, in many cases, in sensitive natural environments that form part of the archipelago’s main tourist appeal.

In this context, the challenge is no longer simply to attract film shoots, but to do so responsibly. Sustainability has gone from being an option to becoming a prerequisite for maintaining the destination’s competitiveness. Europe is moving towards more environmentally sustainable audiovisual models, and the Balearic Islands have decided to align themselves with this trend through a clear strategy: promoting what is known as Green Film Shooting.

This approach takes the form of a series of public grants aimed at transforming the way films are shot. One of the main funding streams is aimed at reducing the environmental impact of production, promoting the energy transition and the use of more efficient technologies, as well as sustainable electricity supply models. The idea is clear: to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and move towards cleaner energy systems.

In addition to this scheme, there are other specific calls for proposals that address particular aspects of film production. For example, funding aimed at reducing waste generated by food and beverage services, one of the key issues in any audiovisual production. Programmes have also been launched to promote sustainable mobility on film sets, encouraging the use of less polluting vehicles and reducing transport-related emissions.

All these initiatives form part of a broader framework linked to the European Next Generation funds and the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which aims to transform Mallorca—and by extension the Balearic Islands—into a competitive and sustainable audiovisual destination. A model that not only reinforces the islands’ image as a film set, but also protects the territory that makes this industry possible.

Because, ultimately, the true value of the Balearic Islands as a filming location lies precisely in their natural surroundings. In their landscapes, their light, their identity. And preserving all of this is not just an environmental issue, but also a strategic commitment to the future of the audiovisual sector on the islands.