Switzerland has launched a new film incentive programme for co-productions that shoot on location in the country. Entitled the Switzerland Film Investment Refund (PICS), the scheme allows co-productions to claim back between 20% and 40% on all eligible local expenditures, with a per-project cap of CHF600,000.
Uruguay has launched a new sector to cater for the country's entertainment industry. Entitled Uruguay Audiovisual, it will offer an expansive service that brings together the expertise of multiple businesses.
A new report to be submitted to Liverpool’s Culture and Tourism select committee in August will show an incredible 50% increase in the number of films shooting on location in the Northern City throughout 2015. The statistics show a presence of 257 productions during the year that equated to 1,067 filming days, injecting GBP11.5 million into the local economy.
Principal photography has begun on the third instalment of Marvel Studios’ Thor series. Chris Hemsworth will reprise his role as the titular demigod alongside Mark Ruffalo, whose portrayal of Bruce Banner will play a prominent role in the film.
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.
London based Production Company/Advertising Agency Just So have shot their latest commercial for Audermans Piguet on the Coral Gables golf course in Miami. The commercial brings together a number of high-profile Golfers including Darren Clark and Ian Poulter to create the ultimate dream team, as they showcase their skills on an empty golf course after hours.
The British Virgin Islands may seem to many like a fantastic holiday destination, but behind the sunny skies and idyllic beaches lies a sophisticated infrastructure to assist all types of productions in filming on location. We spoke to Film Commissioner Clive McCoy to get the inside scoop on BVI’s film industry and what it has to offer.