Film London and the Ile de France Film Commission have renewed their partnership agreement. The two organisations have pledged to work together for a fifth year and continue the city-to-city co-operation between London and Paris.
Abu Dhabi has been officially confirmed as the first filming location for Star Wars: Episode VII. Lucasfilm is working locally with twofour54, the commercial arm of Abu Dhabi’s Media Zone Authority. The city offers a 30% filming incentive, which has helped boost its international appeal.
Dubai Film and TV Commission has launched a production guide with information on how to shoot in the city. The Film Dubai Production Guide covers all facets of local shooting, including permitting and licence rules, as well as details about hiring local freelancers and technicians.
Bollywood star Salman Khan is filming his new movie Kick on location in Warsaw, central Poland. Khan is scheduled to film in the city throughout April and the movie will also shoot on location in Mumbai.
Tunisia plans to boost regional film tourism by preserving a desert set built for the Star Wars prequels in the late 90s. The seventh Star Wars film is rumoured to feature a return to the desert world of Tatooine, a key location in the Star Wars universe.
Superhero sequel The Avengers: Age of Ultron is filming on location in the town of Aosta in northern Italy. Second-unit work has already taken place in Johannesburg, South Africa, and filming is also scheduled for the Korean capital Seoul.
The European Commission has approved the UK government’s plan to boost its filming incentive programme, Chancellor George Osborne revealed in his 2014 Budget. From 1 April this year the tax credit will be easier to use and more accessible, while the cultural test will be modernised.
Lucasfilm and parent company Disney have confirmed that filming for Star Wars: Episode VII will start at Pinewood Studios in the UK in May this year. The UK was first confirmed as the main filming location in May 2013.