Filmmakers have long been attracted to Italy and the country has hosted some of the industry’s most renowned features as well as memorable commercials. But it has often proved a challenging region for cash-strapped or lower budget productions, due to a lack of accessible financial incentives.
Earlier today, Iceland's government voted to increase its Reimbursement of Film Making in Iceland programme from 14% to 20%. This means that 20% of all production costs incurred during film and television production is now refundable.
The world's press has made much of Iceland's economic collapse, but it's financial problems have resulted in a booming film and television industry. As Einar Tómasson, the Film in Iceland Agency's Film Commissioner, points out: "When Clint Eastwood shot Flags of Our Fathers in Iceland in 2005, one American dollar was worth 62 Icelandic Krona. Today, a dollar is worth about 114 Krona. This means that Iceland is more competitive than ever."
The US feature film Leap Year has been green lit to go into production in Ireland at the end of this month. The project was confirmed for Ireland after improvements to the Irish tax incentive for film and television, Section 481, were introduced late last year by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen and production has been green lit after the legislation was ratified by the European Commission this week.
Argentinean production company Landia has opened an office in Madrid. The office will be headed up by Managing Director Ivo Van Vollenhoven and Senior Producer Assaf Eldar.
Information for New Zealand's Screen Production Incentive Fund Grant has been added to our Benefits & Incentives site today.
Hoping to attract more filmmakers to Utah, a senate committee approved a bill last week that would allow production companies to receive up to 20% of their costs back if they shoot in the state. The current cap is 15%.