25/06/2025
𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹!
Hosted at the Mad Collective, a creative hub founded by Christine Inden to support film, photography, and the arts, the event brought together around 70 passionate individuals to explore the future of filmmaking in Madeira.
We gathered in the Collective’s traditional portrait studio, part of our headquarters, where guests can experience timeless photo sessions in classic Madeiran attire. This space is just one part of the Mad Collective, which also includes the Madeira Productions office, two flexible studios, and the Luz & Lente School. It proved to be the perfect setting for relaxed conversation, creative exchange, and meaningful new connections.
Our panel tackled the current state of Madeira’s film and photography industries, highlighting both challenges and opportunities. Some key takeaways included:
🎬 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗠 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀:
Rafael from AFTM outlined plans to create production and location guides that promote sustainable, environmentally conscious (green) shooting on the island. He also announced a collaboration with Madeira E-Games Lab to digitise local landscapes for use in virtual production, gaming, and emerging media. Rafael encouraged filmmakers to join AFTM and take advantage of its support, especially given the lack of structured government backing, and emphasised their ongoing work to streamline and support filming in Madeira.
🌍 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹:
Despite high-profile productions like Star Wars and Bollywood films, follow-up opportunities have been limited due to a lack of promotion. Local professionals have gained valuable experience, but an underdeveloped international production scene has left many without chances to apply their skills.
📉 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀:
Most local production companies cater only to regional clients, with limited access to gear and studio space. International shoots often rely on crew and equipment from the mainland, underlining the need for investment in local infrastructure and rental houses.
Excitingly, Madeira Productions is working alongside Miguel de Nobrega to bring in new gear, with the first shipment, including lighting, grip gear, a dolly, and a crane, arriving shortly, marking a significant step forward for the island’s production capabilities.
🎓 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁:
There was a strong call for improved education and training, including internships, apprenticeships, and private programs, to help develop the next generation of filmmakers and meet industry demands.
Madeira Productions has opened a school, Luz e Lente, to tackle this issue and will be working closely with local and international players to provide the necessary human resources, fostering a robust talent pipeline for the future.
📍 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 & 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀:
Attendees highlighted the absence of a centralised location database and the inconsistent permit process as barriers to growth. Greater collaboration with the Film Commission and municipalities could help streamline access and introduce incentives for international productions.
🤝 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆:
There was overwhelming support for the creation of an independent body to represent Madeira’s film and photography sector, working alongside government and industry players to push the island forward as a global creative destination.
The energy in the room was electric, full of honest conversations, fresh ideas, and shared enthusiasm for what Madeira’s creative future could look like. While no formal structure for the proposed community body was finalised, the drive to collaborate was unmistakable.
🎬
The standout takeaway from the evening was the vibrant awareness of Madeira’s incredible potential as a premier destination for film and photographic productions. The collective recognition of both the island’s strengths and areas for growth ignited an inspiring optimism, showcasing that Madeira is already on the path to becoming a leading light in the film world. This makes it an ideal location for companies planning their next campaigns or producers seeking the perfect setting for their upcoming film projects.
We also captured 📸 some great moments during the event - keep an eye on our Instagram . Feel free to tag yourselves and stay connected as we continue building this community together.
To keep the conversation going 💬, we’ve created a WhatsApp group for industry professionals based on the island. It’s a space to share opportunities, updates, and stay connected between events. If you’d like to join or know someone who should be part of it, just reach out as everyone working in film, photography, or related creative fields is welcome.
Let’s keep growing Madeira into a thriving, sustainable hub for film and photography, where creativity has no limits.
Um evento de networking destinado a profissionais da área do audiovisual decorreu esta tarde no Funchal, na sede da empresa Madeira Film Productions, ...
