Cien Años de Soledad, in addition to generating significant figures for the Colombian economy, has benefited from the country's tax incentives
Cien Años de Soledad, besides generating significant figures for Colombia’s economy, has benefited from the country’s tax incentives.
The series, which premiered on Netflix on December 11 with the support of Proimágenes, reaffirmed Colombia as a competitive destination for international productions.
The project has generated over US$52 million (225 billion Colombian pesos) for the national economy, thanks to both the production’s direct spending and its impact on the supply chain, according to Netflix data.
Due to the series’ investment in Colombia, Cien Años de Soledad was approved in 2021 to receive the CINA (Audiovisual Investment Certificate), a tax tool under Law 1556. This program provides a transferable tax credit of 35% on total expenditures within Colombia for qualifying international productions.
The production will benefit from around $11 million (47 billion Colombian pesos), marking the largest amount ever awarded through this incentive in the country’s audiovisual history.
“This project’s scale demonstrates that Colombia has reached a level of development capable of delivering high-profile productions with robust teams. It also confirms the trust that a major platform like Netflix places in our audiovisual sector and institutions, particularly Proimágenes Colombia, which manages the country’s incentive program,” stated Claudia Triana, General Director of Proimágenes.
The series was produced by Dynamo with a team of over 900 people, most of whom were Colombian. Disciplines such as cinematography, costume design, makeup, props, and lighting came together to shape the narrative and stimulate the local economy.
Cien Años de Soledad was entirely filmed in 22 Colombian municipalities. In Alvarado, Tolima, Netflix’s Macondo was built on a 540,000 m² site chosen for its natural beauty and logistical accessibility.
The construction involved 150 artisans and more than 850 local suppliers. The filming accounted for over 100,000 hotel stays in Ibagué.
The soundtrack featured over 100 Colombian and international musicians. National artists like Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, the drummer from Totó La Momposina, Carmelo Torres, and Víctor Navarro contributed to the project.
For costume design, approximately 40,000 garments were created, with 97% made from Colombian textiles.
Cien años de Soledad by Netflix with support from Proimágenes.
Projects like Cien Años de Soledad showcase Proimágenes as a strategic ally. The Colombia Film Commission assists international producers in leveraging the country’s tax incentives while bolstering the national audiovisual industry’s skills and expertise.
“Our cast and technical crews are highly qualified and offer competitive production costs. We have numerous production service companies and state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment rental houses,” noted Silvia Echeverri, Director of the Colombia Film Commission at Proimágenes Colombia.
In 2024, productions such as Secuestro del Vuelo 601, Betty la Fea, La Historia Continúa, the second season of La Primera Vez, Manes, Del Otro Lado del Jardín, and Pimpinero: Sangre y Gasolina, among others, have benefited from Colombia’s tax incentives.
“With the incentives, talent, an enormous variety of locations, and diverse stories to tell, Colombia has it all to attract international producers. We are positioning ourselves successfully in the region: over 130 international projects have been approved for the CINA incentive, and 47 through the Colombia Film Fund,” Echeverri concluded.
