Written by new-contact on Dec 17, 2013. Posted in Incentive News

Clint Eastwood and Darren Aronofsky support Icelandic Film Fund as cuts beckon

Clint Eastwood and Darren Aronofsky are among the high-profile filmmakers voicing their support for the Icelandic Film Fund as the industry faces major cuts in 2014. Iceland’s production industry has been booming but the government is under pressure to reduce spending.

Eastwood shot scenes locally for his World War II epic Flags of Our Fathers, while Aronofsky filmed on location in southern Iceland for his upcoming biblical epic Noah.

Other notable supporters of the Icelandic Film Fund include the producers of productions such as Game of Thrones, Oblivion and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (left), directed by and starring Ben Stiller.

“We, the undersigned, have had the great pleasure of working on one or more film projects in Iceland,” the letter of support reads: “In our view, the Icelandic film professionals we've worked with are of the highest standard. The expertise that they bring to the table – not only as filmmakers but as invaluable advisors on Icelandic practices, customs and locations – has brought immeasurable benefits to the work that we do.

“We stand with them, and with the entire film community in Iceland, in their efforts to maintain the current levels of government support for filmmaking, and thus we urge the Icelandic government to reconsider their current plans to cut the budget of the Icelandic Film Fund.”

Iceland currently offers a 20% filming incentive for international productions. This is separate from the Icelandic Film Fund, which is tasked with boosting and promoting domestic production. Marvel has been among the recent international visitors to Iceland, having spent a week filming scenes for superhero sequel Thor: The Dark World.

“Shooting in Iceland ranks high up there in my lifetime great experiences as a cinematographer,” said the film’s cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau.

(The Secret Life of Walter Mitty photo: Twentieth Century Fox)