Supporting creation: an overview of residencies and laboratories in Spain

Sara Hernández Askasibar is the coordinator of the Film and Audiovisual Laboratory at Tabakalera, the International Center for Contemporary Culture. She joined Tabakalera in 2017. There, she promotes programs that support project development and audiovisual training, helping to establish Tabakalera as a leading space for creativity. Hernández has a postgraduate degree in film curating from Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, and she has worked as a producer and film critic.

Inés Enciso coordinates the Film Academy's Development Department. The department aims to promote the creation of new audiovisual projects backed by the institution and foster a community of filmmakers linked to it that generates new professional opportunities. The Film Academy organizes the Residencies, Rueda, and Summer Campus programs under the slogan "Contar con tiempo" (Counting on time). Through these programs, the academy supports the development of 34 new projects each year.

Rafa Alberola is the head of ECAM Industria, an ecosystem of projects that supports the creative journey of the next generation of audiovisual professionals. It seeks to build bridges between the European audiovisual industry and schools, and promote employability. Its initiatives include La Incubadora, AFTER, and ECAM Forum. Alberola is also a producer and filmmaker.

She has been the coordinator of the Catalan Film Academy's Script Residency since 2020, specializing in the development of audiovisual projects. Previously, she worked in audiovisual production for television, documentary, and fiction production companies, gaining experience in all kinds of processes, from development and production strategy to distribution, exhibition, and festivals. She was also linked to the PROA federation of audiovisual production companies as a coordinator.

Juan Zavala is a journalist who has worked as a screenwriter, producer, and director on several documentaries. Currently, he is the Head of Content at DAMA, a copyright management entity, where he coordinates project development programs such as DAMA Ayuda.

Maialen Franco Dávila oversees the training programs at the San Sebastian Film Festival. These programs combine the search for, support of, and development of new talent with the transmission of film knowledge. These programs are brought to life through initiatives such as Nest, an international short film section for film students; Kabia, which brings together professionals and emerging filmmakers; and Ikusmira Berriak, a residency program in collaboration with Tabakalera and Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola.