Spanish cinema began in the late 19th century with the first film exhibition in Barcelona in 1895 and the first Spanish film released in 1897. By 1914, Madrid had become the capital of Spain's silent film industry. The Spanish Civil War in the 1930s destroyed around 90% of films produced before 1939 and censorship was widely used for propaganda purposes under Franco's dictatorship. After Franco's death in 1975 and the end of censorship, Spain's film industry began to recover and diversify as Spanish filmmakers living abroad returned home. Contemporary Spanish cinema has gained international recognition for its creative and technical excellence, with some Spanish language films finding commercial success globally.