Markab adds coin unit

Co. to offer integrated prod'n services for o'seas prod'ns

By JOHN HOPEWELL

HUELVA, Spain -- In a rare departure for the Spanish film industry, prodco Markab Creativos has created a new division to find international and local financing for the Spanish film and TV industries.

Markab also will offer integrated production services for foreign shoots in Spain, CEO Vicente Mora announced at the Huelva Ibero-American Co-Production Forum, which wrapped Tuesday.

Mora has established priority collaboration agreements with well-regarded local companies, including prodco Oasis ("Carnages"), screenwriting duo Vicente Pozuelo and Curro Rayo ("Utopia"), law firm MGL Abogados, post-production house Molinare, studio Palma Pictures and L.A.-based toon producer R&R Communications.

Markab is in talks with risk capital and investment funds in and outside Spain, and has closed some financing deals. It also aims to exploit local tax breaks, which range from 5% and 20%.

"These exist in Spain, but they're rarely used by the film and TV industries," Mora told Daily Variety.

Markab is also expanding production. Among the projects it is moving are live-action/puppet series "Bandesvan," docuseries "The Other Franco," adult animation series "Hatman," and TV crime series "Code Mallorca."