Balearic cinemas face €189,732.14 funding loss
Cinemas in the Balearic Islands could miss out on €189,732.14 in state support after officials changed how they apply the funding rules. The Federación de Cines de España (FECE), Spain’s cinema federation, called on the Culture Ministry to fix the problem on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. Six regions face losing a combined €3.541.666,67 meant for cinema venues.
Rule changed after calls opened
FECE says the Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA) told regional governments in 2025 that they only needed to publish their grant calls that year, even if decisions came in 2026. The Balearic Islands followed that guidance, along with Andalusia, the Valencian Community, Castile-La Mancha, the Canary Islands and Navarre.
But the Culture Ministry’s delegated audit body ruled in August that the calls had to be both published and decided in 2025. The ICAA then asked the six regions to return the money, according to FECE.
Funds miss 280 cinema venues
The federation says €3.541.666,67 will now fail to reach 280 cinema venues across the six regions. That is 41.7 per cent of the state funding due to be shared between regional governments in 2026.
FECE says cinema businesses planned and carried out projects in 2026 relying on the announced support. It has requested documents and an explanation for the change through the Transparency Portal, and says it will consider further action once it receives the information.
The Culture Ministry says its decision followed objections from its audit body that were upheld by the General Intervention, which answers to the Finance Ministry. It says the cinema support scheme remains in place for 2026 with €8.5 million and will continue in future calls.
Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com