The feature film ‘The Hive’, shot this summer in Tenerife and co-produced by Volcano Films and augenschein Filmproduktion, brought together team made up largely of Canarian professionals. The involvement of Canarian talent is essential to transforming the local industry into a creative force with its own distinct voice in global cinema.
Tenerife takes another step forward in positioning itself as an international benchmark for audiovisual production. The filming of the feature film ‘The Hive’, an action thriller directed by Spanish filmmaker Martín Rosete, was executive produced by Sebastián Álvarez of Volcano Films, Maximilian Leo and Jonas Katzenstein of the renowned German production company augenschein Filmproduktion. In this project, filmed between July and August 2025, the Canarian production company has taken on a role that goes far beyond providing services in the territory, reinforcing the role of the Canary Islands as an active player in the development of film projects on an international scale.
One of the project’s distinguishing features is its technical and creative team, composed mainly of Spanish professionals, with many hailing from Tenerife and other Canary Islands. This reunion between Volcano Films and director Martín Rosete, a filmmaker with whom the production company has already worked on previous projects, reaffirms their mutual trust and professional commitment. The presence of team leaders such as Iombi García in charge of cinematography, Orlando Harris in art direction, Nuria Machado as head of styling, and Poppy Ramos and Alfredro Aguirre in charge of make-up and hair, highlights the careers of emerging Canarian talent, which is not only gaining visibility but also underpinning its technical capabilities.
The delegation of executive production to a local production company such as Volcano Films is a further step in the maturity of the audiovisual sector in the Islands. This decision reflects deep involvement in the project’s design and creative execution, going beyond the usual service role. It is a strategic move that reinforces the Canary Islands’ role not only as a natural film set, but also as an active player in international film development.
‘This demonstration of experience, commitment and creative leadership from the Canary Islands redefines the role of local production companies and promotes the structuring of the sector in a more organic and comprehensive way from the Canary Islands,’ says Sebastián Álvarez, executive producer at Volcano Films. ‘With The Hive, we are making a major leap forward: it’s no longer just about attracting film shoots with incentives but about consolidating our own industry and giving it true international reach,’ he adds.
Historically, the fiscal attractiveness of the Canary Islands has boosted the arrival of international film shoots through the service model, whereby local production companies provide highly qualified technical personnel. However, it is rare for this technical layer to be transcended and for trust to be extended to creative profiles. Volcano Films, together with other Canary Islands-based production companies, seeks to break with this inertia, support and showcase local talent, further strengthening the foundations of the sector, while creating opportunities for emerging profiles and projecting the Canary Islands audiovisual industry towards new horizons of international co-production.
The film will feature an international cast starring German actress and director Franka Potente (“Run Lola Run”, 1998) and British actress Sophie Cookson (“Kingsman: The Secret Service”, 2014), alongside a strong supporting cast from the Canary Islands. The plot follows María, an Interpol agent who infiltrates La Colmena, an elite team with the mission of stopping an attack on the UN Secretary-General during a summit held in Tenerife. The story raises moral dilemmas in a context of fast-paced action full of unexpected twists and turns.
The locations in Tenerife play a central role in the narrative, with settings ranging from the metropolitan area of Santa Cruz, the Faculty of Fine Arts in La Laguna, the natural landscape of La Esperanza and sequences in the old Tabacalera building in Santa Cruz, which becomes the centre of operations. After filming on the island, the production moved to Cologne (Germany) to complete filming.
Martín Rosete, director of the project, has a solid international track record. Nominated for a Goya in 2013 and winner of the Méliès d’Or in Sitges for his short film Voice Over, he has worked in New York for more than a decade, directing films and commercials with actors of the calibre of Bruce Dern and Brian Cox. His major works include “Remember Me” (2019), “Money” (2016) and “Voice Over” (2013).
‘The Hive’ is his latest feature film with international appeal, featuring a global cast and scheduled for distribution in English-speaking markets. The film is currently in post-production and the release date is pending.
