New aid for the Asturian audiovisual industry with European funds.

The Government of the Principality of Asturias has approved the regulatory bases for subsidies aimed at professionals and companies in the film and audiovisual industry, which may be co-financed within the framework of the programme of the Just Transition Fund for Spain 2021-2027. The resolution, signed on 4 August 2026 by the Minister for Culture, Language Policy and Sport, Ana Vanesa Gutiérrez González, is published in the Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias (BOPA) number 157, of 14 August 2026, with code 2026-06659.

The regulation establishes a competitive grant award procedure to support the pre-production, production, filming, post-production or dissemination of audiovisual projects located or developed in Asturian territory. It falls within the Strategic Subsidies Plan of the Department of Culture, Language Policy and Sport 2026-2028, approved on 4 February 2026, and within the exclusive regional competence in culture recognised by Article 10.1.20 of the Statute of Autonomy of the Principality of Asturias.

The Just Transition Fund, an instrument of the 2021-2027 European cohesion policy created by Regulation (EU) 2021/1056, seeks to mitigate the effects of the climate transition in the most affected territories, with particular impact on the Asturian mining districts. The operation falls under Priority 1 (Asturias) of the Spanish programme, action type 3.02, with European co-financing of up to 70%.

Purpose and beneficiaries

• The following may apply for the aid: natural persons registered as self-employed and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the cultural, film and audiovisual sector, with projects developed in the Principality of Asturias.
• Eligible projects include fiction, non-fiction or animation film projects (feature films, medium-length films or short films, standalone or series), immersive and virtual reality narratives, narrative digital content, and laboratories and incubators for audiovisual projects.
• Excluded are communities of property, civil companies, associations and foundations, as well as the organisation of festivals, gatherings, conferences or screenings.
• Each applicant may submit a maximum of two projects, and the aid shall be subject to the de minimis regime of Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, with a limit of 300,000 euros over three years.

Amounts and eligible expenses

An evaluation committee chaired by the Directorate General responsible for culture will score, out of 100 points (minimum 50 to obtain aid), the following criteria: artistic quality and innovation, gender equality, technical and economic viability, the use of Asturian or Eonaviego, the adaptation of Asturian literary works and the locations in the region.

• The contribution from the Department may not exceed 70% of the project budget, without exceeding the maximum amount set by each call for applications.
• Eligible expenses include script and music costs, artistic and technical staff, set design, shooting studios, machinery, post-production, insurance, dubbing and subtitling, travel, and legal and financial advisory, plus up to 7% for indirect costs; copies and advertising, up to 20% of the production cost.
• Equipment or investment, per diems, meals, debt interest, and recoverable taxes are not financed, in accordance with Order HFP/1414/2023.

Priority municipalities and deadlines

Priority will be given to projects based in the municipalities most affected by the coal transition:

• Suroccidente: Allande, Cangas del Narcea, Degaña, Ibias, Salas and Tineo.
• Valle del Nalón: Bimenes, Caso, Langreo, Laviana, Piloña, San Martín del Rey Aurelio and Sobrescobio.
• Valle del Caudal-Aboño: Aller, Ribera de Arriba, Lena, Mieres, Morcín, Quirós, Riosa, Teverga, Carreño, Corvera, Gijón, Gozón, Llanera and Villaviciosa.

The deadline for submitting applications will be set in each call, between 10 and 20 business days, and the decision must be issued within a maximum of six months. Eligible expenses may be charged between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2029, and the rules will enter into force the day after their publication in the BOPA.

With this line, Asturias turns the audiovisual industry into a vector of economic diversification for the territories that depended on coal, betting on local employment, Asturian culture and the attraction of European funds. Production companies, creators and technicians from the mining basins will have a new funding opportunity to develop their projects in the region.

Source: Official Gazette of the Principality of Asturias (BOPA), No. 157, of August 14, 2026, Section I. Principality of Asturias (Other Provisions), pp. 1-22 (official reference: Code 2026-06659).