Colombia’s audiovisual sector continues to thrive, recently achieving a notable milestone: the 2025 Audiovisual Investment Certificate (CINA) quota was fully allocated by mid-September for the first time ever. This emphasizes the country‘s rising prominence in film and television production, fueled by attractive incentives and growing international interest, with Zack Snyder Colombia filming among the high-profile projects benefiting from this surge.
The CINA program offers a 35% transferable tax credit designed to attract audiovisual investments, launched in 2012 alongside the Colombia Film Fund. This incentive has progressively drawn more productions to the country, particularly from streaming giants like Netflix, which is expanding its Spanish-language content footprint in Latin America. Among the most ambitious undertakings was the series adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s acclaimed novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, which premiered last year. The second and final season is currently in post-production and scheduled for release next year.
Growing Studio Infrastructure and International Productions in Colombia
To meet the increasing production demand, Colombia’s top studios—RCN, Caracol, and TIS Studios—have been opening their soundstages to foreign projects. Paramount owns a 75% stake in TIS Studios, which recently hosted Todd S. Yellin’s feature film 52nd State. These facilities provide critical infrastructure catering to international filmmakers who are discovering Colombia’s expanding capabilities.
Zack Snyder, known for directing major films like 300, Man of Steel, and Justice League, completed filming his passion project, The Last Photograph, in Colombia this October. Shooting in locations such as Bogotá, Chingaza National Park, and the Amazon, Snyder impressed many with his rapid shooting style and reliance on local crews. Serving as his own director of photography and camera operator, Snyder averaged 40 setups daily. Besides a small core team, the production heavily relied on local hires coordinated by Jaguar Bite, a production services company. Almost all equipment was rented locally, except for Snyder’s personal Arri Alexa 265 camera.
Expert Talent and Positive Experiences from Industry Leaders
Snyder emphasized the intense workload despite the film’s more intimate scale. His behind-the-scenes Instagram account quickly attracted over 250,000 followers, showcasing the production’s pace and talent. Actor Kiefer Sutherland, who starred in Justin Chadwick’s Sierra Madre filmed in Colombia last year, praised the country’s artistic resources.
“My experience working in Colombia was a really positive one. The main takeaway for me, though, was how extraordinary I found the talent. The actors — both male and female — that I had the opportunity to work with from Colombia were truly exceptional,”
Kiefer Sutherland, actor.
Colombian Film Commissioner Silvia Echeverri highlighted increasing studio interest in producing large-scale projects domestically, which is fueling infrastructure development.
“The studios have recognized the capacity of our production service companies and our technical and artistic teams to carry out projects that, in the past, were only produced in Mexico and Brazil,”
Silvia Echeverri, Colombian Film Commissioner.
Despite this growth, Juan Pablo Solana, VP of Jaguar Bite’s production, notes that Colombia could benefit from extending above-the-line incentives to attract even bigger productions, as some projects have chosen countries like Australia for this reason, despite the cost and distance.
“Working with filmmakers of such high caliber, has helped us up our game,”
Juan Pablo Solana, Jaguar Bite VP of Production.
Daniel Hernández Bocanegra, director general of Secuoya Latin America, also stressed the high quality of Colombia’s production talent and its growing confidence in the incentives offered.
“We can now be proud that we have excellent cinematographers, art directors, costume designers and makeup artists who are on par with the best talent in Europe and the U.S. And that’s something that foreign productions immediately notice when they come to the country — the quality of the local resources we have,”
Daniel Hernández Bocanegra, Secuoya Latin America director general.
He added,
“There’s a lot of confidence in the incentives, and production costs in Colombia are naturally lower compared to Europe, the United States and even Mexico. And the talent has gained experience that inspires trust and places us on the same level as any other production hub in the world,”
Daniel Hernández Bocanegra, Secuoya Latin America director general.
Market Growth Reflected in New Company Expansions and Investments
Highlighting Colombia’s emergence as a regional production center, Cimarrón recently launched its Colombian branch. The company provided production services for the Oscar-nominated film Society of the Snow and is part of the Mediapro Studio’s strategy to expand in Latin America. The increased activity is reflected in CINA’s 2025 approvals, which included 32 new projects worth around $188 million. Since opening, CINA has generated $861 million in investment and created over 130,000 direct jobs.
Streaming platforms have taken notice too. According to research firm Omdia, in late 2024, Netflix’s Spanish-language content logged 2.59 billion hours watched, with Colombia leading Latin America at 24.6%, coming second only to Spain’s 38.7%.
The audiovisual sector’s growth has also provided significant economic benefits across Colombia, with over 570,000 hotel nights and 30,000 airline tickets linked to film-related travel, supporting local tourism and services. Incentivized productions now reach 24 departments and 153 municipalities, demonstrating wide-reaching regional influence.
Notable Feature Films and Series Filmed in Colombia
Colombia’s expanding film industry has attracted a range of productions, with numerous projects supported by local production companies and international collaborators. Below is a list of selected feature films and series filmed in Colombia, along with their directors and production companies:
Feature Films
Atrápelo quien pueda
Director: Alfonso Pineda Ulloa
Producers: Mediapro/Cimarron Cine Mexico, Telemundo Studios, Cinépolis
52nd State
Director: Todd S. Yellin
Producers: Jaguar Bite, Pura Vida Films
Coyotes
Director: Colin Minihan
Producers: Jaguar Bite, Capstone Studios, Gramercy Park Media
La celda de los milagros
Director: Ana Lorena Pérez Ríos
Producers: Secuoya Studios, Black Sheep Prods. (in production)
La Corona
Producers: Secuoya Studios, Black Sheep Prods., Startling, Infinity Hill (in development)
Lost in the Jungle
Directors: Jimmy Chin, Juan Camilo Cruz, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Producers: Jaguar Bite, Lightbox, Pacha
Sierra Madre
Director: Justin Chadwick
Producers: Jaguar Bite, Highland Film Group, Aligns
Susana and Elvira
Director: María Gamboa
Producers: Púlsar Studios, Netflix
The Last Photograph
Director: Zack Snyder
Producers: Jaguar Bite, No Flags Attached
White
Director: Monto Bassi
Producers: Jaguar Bite, Peacecraft Picture
Series
Betty, la fea: The Story Continues, Season 3
Producers: RCN, Amazon Prime
En qué lío me metí
Director: Rodrigo Triana
Producer: Caracol TV
Eva Lasting
Directors: Mónica Botero, Laura Tatiana Bohórquez
Producers: Caracol, Netflix
Fake Profile, Season 3
Producers: Klitch López, Camilo Vega, TIS Studios, Netflix
Fugue State 1986
Directors: Carlos Moreno, Claudia Pedraza
Producers: AG Studios, Netflix
James Rodríguez
Director: Simon Brand
Producers: Clover Studios, Netflix
Just Alice
Directors: Rafael Martínez, Catalina Hernández
Producers: RCN Studios, Netflix
Medusa, Season 2
Directors: Felipe Cano, Liliana Bocanegra
Producers: TIS Studios, Netflix
One Hundred Years of Solitude, Season 2
Directors: Laura Mora, Carlos Moreno
Producers: Dynamo, Netflix
Palace
Directors: Jayro Bustamante, Edgar Nito, Samir Olivares
Producers: Dynamo, Netflix
Pelayo. Más allá del límite
Director: David Miralles
Producers: Jaguar Bite, Buendia Estudios
Señoras mal
Directors: Ronaldo Ocampo Henao, Pepe Castro, Magaby García
Producers: Teleset, Sony Pictures
The 39
Directors: Max Lemcke, Jorge Saavedra
Producer: Secuoya Studios
The Guest
Directors: Klitch López, Israel Sánchez
Producers: CMO, Netflix
The Winds Blow in December
Directors: Claudia Pedraza, Rafael Martínez
Producers: Dynamo, Netflix
Implications of Colombia’s Growing Film Industry and What Lies Ahead
Colombia’s audiovisual expansion, highlighted by the involvement of globally recognized figures such as Zack Snyder and Kiefer Sutherland, signals a new era for the country as a competitive production hub in Latin America. The fully earned 2025 CINA quota, rising investments, and increased employment reflect significant economic and cultural benefits.
The development of robust local infrastructure and skilled talent pools is reshaping Colombia’s image in the global film market. As productions increasingly choose the country for both cost efficiency and creative quality, future growth hinges on continued government support, especially regarding incentives covering above-the-line costs. The presence of high-profile projects validates Colombia’s capacity to deliver complex shoots, attracting further international collaborations and elevating the industry to new levels.
With projects like the concluding season of One Hundred Years of Solitude approaching release and multiple productions underway, Colombia’s audiovisual ecosystem is poised for sustained momentum, potentially transforming the region’s film production landscape.
