AUSTRALIA
Update: Australia’s 12.5% tax offset, a rebate for film producers, was extended to include TV series in 2005. TNT’s “Nightmares and Dreamscapes” was one of the first international productions to use it.
Facilities: Central City Studios, with six sound stages, opened in Melbourne at the end of 2004, with the goal of bringing international productions to the city.
CANADA
Update: The government introduced a documentary film fund of C$1.5 million ($1.3 million) in 2005. The city of Toronto established a Film Board and Ontario increased its tax credit on labor to 18%, up from 11%. In addition, the Canadian dollar was pegged at 78¢, in order to stabilize costs of incoming productions.
Facilities: Plans are under way for construction of a new film studio, Filmport, in Toronto. The $100 million, 14-soundstage complex will boast a mega soundstage of approximately one acre in area and will be Canada’s largest film and media production complex. The first six stages are to be completed by early 2007.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Update: Barrandov Studio has begun construction on a new workshop. The studio expects to open an additional three-soundstage complex in 2006, which would double capacity.
Post house UPP has added HD Telecine and DI, extending services to international films shooting in Prague.
FRANCE
Update: The Brittany Film Commission opened in this fall, directed especially at importing British production. Also in 2005, France increased the maximum tax credit for film production to
1 million ($1.2 million).
Facilities: Digital Factory, a new sound post-production house located in Normandy, opened in 2005.
GERMANY
Update: Tax incentives were discontinued in November. The newly installed government is reworking its tax incentives and film support for 2006.
Facilities: Babelsberg doubled its studio space in the first half of 2005, and now has capacity for two major productions working simultaneously while Bavaria Studio bowed a set-building structure in 2005, which is used primarily to facilitate set construction for TV. Film 20 is integrating and expanding sound and visual post-production in its Munich facility.
HUNGARY
Update: In July, the government announced the liquidation of animation house Varga Studio and the Hungarian Development Bank launched film financing loans in late summer.
Facilities: Stern Film Studio plans to open in the first quarter of 2006. It will become the largest film studio in Hungary, with two soundstages as well as set construction, workshop, catering and office facilities.
INDIA
Update: England introduced a government-sponsored investment incentive, known as the Bollywood Initiative, a film co-production agreement.
Facilities: Yash Raj opened a film studio with three soundstages and a 2,000 acre backlot in October. New and upgraded post-production houses include Prime Focus, Universal and Crest, which specializes in animation and special effects.
IRELAND
Update: In 2005, the cap on the level of investment was raised to $18 million. Tax incentives for films have been extended to 2008. In 2005, Ireland introduced regional support funds aimed at bringing Irish co-productions to regions outside Dublin by making available loans of up to $148,000. The Ken Loach film “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” made use of this plan.
The Louth Newry Mourne Film Commission, launched in March, encourages film production in three counties northeast of Dublin by providing cross-border support.
Film Dublin, set up by the Irish Film Board in 2005, offers services including help with location filming permits.
MALTA
Update: Malta launched an incentives package in January that includes a 20% cash rebate on all expenditures while filming in the country. In 2006, the government will introduce a tax credit package for companies investing in production facilities, technical supplies and other services that contribute to the expansion of the biz in Malta. Applications will be accepted through 2008, with tax credits lasting through 2013.
ROMANIA
Update: Media Pro opened two additional soundstages in 2005. When expansion is completed, the studio will have 12 soundstages and three water tanks.
SOUTH AFRICA
Update: South Africa launched a 15% rebate, with a cap of $1.5 million in 2005.
Capetown launched a 50% location fee discount for off-season (April-September) shoots. For films employing the Capetown Effect (filming Capetown as itself), most location fees are waived. The city plans to abolish location fees in 2006.
Facilities: Dreamworld Film Studio should be opened by the end of 2006.
U.K.
Update: London Plus, a consortium of studios, film agencies and post houses located in the city and the southeast, launched in 2005 to provided all-encompassing services and information for productions.
Facilities:
Pinewood Shepperton unveiled an underwater stage in early 2005 and 3 Mills recently upgraded studios, dressing rooms and workshops
