As part of the UK production hub and with its own unique locations on offer, Northern Ireland is now a highly desired country for filming. Acting as a film office for the region, Northern Ireland Screen is the first port of call for Location Managers so we sat down with the head of the organisation, Andrew Reid to get to grips with his role in the industry.
The new BBC series The Secret Agent, which aired its first episode on Sunday, was filmed on location in the streets of Edinburgh. Adapted from Joseph Conrad’s novel of the same name, the show stars Toby Jones (Dad’s Army) as Verloc, the owner of a 19th century sex shop who soon becomes embroiled in a plot of political espionage between Britain and Russia.
After a fierce lobbying campaign in the nation’s Government over the last year, Finland may finally be getting a film incentive programme of its own. In the event of numerous suggestions being submitted in late 2015, the Minister of Education and Culture, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen established a task force to construct a single proposal for the incentive to be considered for the state budget.
The Malaga-based Production Service Company, Fresco Film is returning as a sponsor for The Location Guide’s Cannes Soirée at the 2016 Cannes Lion Festival. Fresco Films specialises in service production throughout Spain and Portugal, having catered to a number of high profile productions including seasons five and six of HBO’s Game of Thrones, and the upcoming series Emerald City.
In a bid to compete with other major locations and secure large scale international productions, New South Wales have introduced a USD20 million film fund. Made in NSW will aim to expand the film industry within the Australian territory by doubling the existing fund to an incredible USD40 million over the next two years.
Despite previous reports that Minnesota’s ‘Snowbate’ incentive programme was to be defunded, the state Governor Mark Dayton has signed a bill to supply the scheme with an extra USD4.5 million. Under the new bill, the Snowbate programme will now have an overall fund of USD6 million to distribute amongst productions that film on location in Minnesota.
RVK Studios is fast becoming one of the largest production houses in Iceland, having produced feature films like The Deep, Jar City, Virgin Mountain, 101 Reykjavik and Everest. TV series include: Trapped, Iceland Got Talent and The Mayor, a comedy starring Jon Gnarr, the former Mayor of Reykjavik.
Iceland could see an improved film incentive programme if a government proposal proves successful. The proposal in question seeks to increase the current 20% rebate to 25%, making the incentive far more competitive on the global filming market. To be put into law, the proposal will have to be approved at two separate debates but has already been successful in the first round.