Labhouse’s Location Spotlight: Summer in Spain

Founded by Flora Fernandez Marengo, since 2011, Labhouse has operated as one of the leading audio-visual services production companies in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile and Spain – for both the international and domestic markets – servicing the most important production companies from North America and Europe.

Its portfolio of work includes Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated documentary ‘The Betrayal’, the fiction film ‘M’, selected at the SXSW International Film Festival, the feature film ’Finde’, and the comedy series ‘Cualca!’.

Labhouse Spain executive producer Nati Mussolana recently sat down with LBB to chat about hidden gems in Barcelona, Madrid and why more production companies should consider filming in the region…

Why Shoot Here?

Nati> Spain is a fantastic location for filming. It offers a wide variety of cities and landscapes within short distances, a diverse talent pool, experienced crew, excellent facilities, and often, very competitive production costs.

Most crew members speak English, which makes Spain a strong choice for international productions.

We chose to open an office here for all of those reasons, and because Spain has an opposite summer season to our South American offices. We also believe it's valuable to bring more competition to the market and offer competitive rates. Spain is not as expensive as people often think, and we want to make a difference here.

Labhouse is not only a production service company; we also produced directly for directors like Juan Cabral, Nick Ball, Ellen Kuras, among others. Our producers have hands-on experience in the creative process, which allows us to approach each project with a more personalised touch. We define ourselves more as a boutique company than a large corporation.

Top Locations in the Region

Nati> As we all know, Spain's two major cities – Madrid and Barcelona - are the main hubs for filming.

Madrid offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere with predominantly European architecture, but also includes lots of locations that resemble American cities. It’s full of history, rich textures, and modern elegance.

Barcelona offers a compact city with beaches, mountains, desert-like areas, and great roads. Perfect for car commercials.

Both cities have world-class football stadiums and extensive experience working with high-profile talent, choreographers, wardrobe teams, etc.

Valencia is a very production-friendly city, offering a mix of modern and historical settings and excellent road infrastructure.

Beaches can be found all over Spain. The northern coast, like Cantabria, tends to have more flexibility when it comes to permits.

The north of Spain is lush and green, full of mountains, picturesque villages, and incredible food.

And while we're talking about regional highlights – Almería, in the south, has a fully built western set where most westerns are shot. It’s a go-to location for desert-style productions.

The Canary Islands deserve special mention: moon-like deserts, green forests, and vast beaches. Logistics can be a bit tricky if shooting across multiple islands, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.

Additionally, the Canary Islands (as well as mainland Spain) offer strong tax rebate incentives for feature films – not for advertising, but for cinema. This has attracted a steady stream of international productions, turning the region into a constantly evolving industry with improving infrastructure, logistics, and local crew capacity.

Mallorca is becoming increasingly popular, offering hotel resorts, beaches, and a charming city to shoot in.

Most Popular Location

Nati> I'd say Barcelona and Madrid remain the most popular filming locations.

Climate and Best/Worst Times to Shoot

Nati> Summer (June to August) offers long daylight hours – sunrise is around 6:30am, and sunset is between 9:15 and 9:30pm., with plenty of sunny days.

Spring and fall are less hot, and the light is beautiful for filming.

Winter is milder than in many other countries, and you can find excellent snow locations as well.

Production Infrastructure

Nati> Spain has a long-standing film industry – not just in advertising but especially in cinema. That’s why the crews are so experienced, and the equipment options are top-tier. The country offers outstanding studios, including virtual production and water tank studios (like the one used in The Truman Show’s final scene).

Being located in Europe is also a major advantage, it makes it easier to bring in lenses from Germany or any other European country, talent from all over the continent, or niche suppliers and specialists. That said, Spain is quite self-sufficient, and in most cases, you’ll find everything you need right here.

Number OneTip

Nati> Make time to enjoy Spanish culture! Tapas, wine, beer. There’s a vibrant bar scene. It’s often hard to get a table on a terrace because locals and tourists both love them, but you can always find a table!

Insider Recommendations

Nati> Accommodation depends on where you're filming. Madrid and Barcelona have great infrastructure, but so do cities like Valencia, Bilbao, Santander, and Sevilla for example.

In Madrid, I love Hotel Urso – a stylish boutique hotel with an amazing breakfast. I only wish it had an outdoor pool for those hot summer days.

In Barcelona, Sir Victor Hotel in Eixample is sophisticated and welcoming.

There are so many good options it’s hard to pick just a few!

Bars & Restaurants – Hidden Gems

Nati> So many!

In Madrid, I never miss El Cisne Azul, a small mushroom-focused restaurant. Go to the original one – it’s been around for years.

In Barcelona, I love Quimet & Quimet, a family-run tavern known for its high-quality preserved foods and montaditos (small toasts with creative toppings). Try the salmon with yogurt and truffled honey. It’s not a place for a full dinner – you eat standing up with a vermouth and move on so others can enjoy it too.

If you're lucky enough to shoot in Asturias or Galicia, you’ll find some of the best seafood, cider (sidra), and even meat. The sea there is rougher and colder, which gives the seafood an amazing flavour. Small towns and tiny restaurants – it’s a dream.

Tourist Recommendations

Nati> In Barcelona: Visit all the Gaudí sites (yes, even with the crowds), enjoy tapas in the Gothic or Borne neighbourhoods, and explore the Costa Brava beaches and coves.

In Madrid: Visit the Reina Sofía Museum to see the Guernica, walk around Lavapiés and La Latina, and eat a classic bocadillo de calamares at El Brillante near Atocha Station.
In the Balearic Islands: Combine stunning beaches with charming towns.

Want to keep partying? Go to Ibiza.

In the north: Rent a car and explore the lush mountains, green valleys, and untouched villages.

In Cádiz: Wide beaches, white villages, blazing sun – eat in the lively street markets.
Just come to Spain – you won’t regret it!