The large filming grants given to director Woody Allen to shoot his new movie in Barcelona has angered the Spanish public. Officials in the city have allocated $1.36 million (£680,000) to help fund the film, as well as provide police escorts for one of the stars, Scarlett Johansson - meaning around 10 per cent of The Barcelona Project is being paid for by local taxpayers. Local paper El Periodico says, "He must think we're pretty stupid," while politician Alberto Fernandez slammed the lack of funding for local moviemakers. He says, "They spend money on this film, but seem to find it difficult to give money to Spanish or Catalan films." However, the film's Spanish producers insist the project has received the same public grants as Spanish movies - despite the unique investment from the city hall, which will see the local government recoup costs in line with the film's profits.The triple Oscar winner rarely shoots his movies outside of America, and home city New York except for his 2005 movie Match Point, which was filmed in UK.However Allen claims that his new movie will highlight his love for the city. Allen says it is a 'love letter to Barcelona, and from Barcelona to the world.'

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