News
Canary Islands set for movie tourism boost
22 August 2008
The Canary Islands can look forward to a future increase in tourism following the production of a new Hollywood movie in the region.
American film producers chose the Spanish archipelago as the location for a remake of Papillon, the critically acclaimed 1973 movie starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
The story of Papillon focuses on Henri Charriere – a man who was wrongly accused of a crime and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island off French Guiana – and his numerous escape attempts.
As an indication of its eagerness for the movie to be filmed around the Canary Islands, the regional government contributed to the production's $90m (£48m) budget.
Producer Branko Lustig said: 'The authorities here are not doing this because they like films but because they like money.
'We will film their streets, their people and export the image of the Canaries. Making films is the best way to make money.'
The makers of the forthcoming movie are not the first to realise the potential of the archipelago as a film location, with Spanish director Pedro Almodovar recently completing production of a new film starring Penelope Cruz on Lanzarote.
Opodo cheap flights, hotels and car hire - let the journey begin!
American film producers chose the Spanish archipelago as the location for a remake of Papillon, the critically acclaimed 1973 movie starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
The story of Papillon focuses on Henri Charriere – a man who was wrongly accused of a crime and sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island off French Guiana – and his numerous escape attempts.
As an indication of its eagerness for the movie to be filmed around the Canary Islands, the regional government contributed to the production's $90m (£48m) budget.
Producer Branko Lustig said: 'The authorities here are not doing this because they like films but because they like money.
'We will film their streets, their people and export the image of the Canaries. Making films is the best way to make money.'
The makers of the forthcoming movie are not the first to realise the potential of the archipelago as a film location, with Spanish director Pedro Almodovar recently completing production of a new film starring Penelope Cruz on Lanzarote.
Opodo cheap flights, hotels and car hire - let the journey begin!
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