Malaga, Spain will play host this week to the first-ever European Encounter on Film Commissions (Dec 18).

The day-long meeting, organised by the Spain Film Commission, invites representatives of film commissions from around Europe to debate The European Film Commission Experience and Film Commissions: Instruments of Support for the Audiovisual Industry.

As laid out in the previously-drafted Malaga Declaration to be presented at the event, the aim is to promote a coordinated support network of film offices across Europe - where roughly 40% of the world's film commissions are located - for sharing training opportunities and exchanging information.

The president of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI), Pat Kauffman, will also attend.