Written by on Aug 19, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

Miner drama The 33 first international movie to get Colombian filming incentive

True-life feature The 33 has become the first international movie to get a payment from Colombia’s new filming incentive programme. The movie recounts the story of 33 miners who were trapped down a mine shaft in Chile for 69 days in 2010.

Two separate mines near the Colombian capital Bogota were used as filming locations, with servicing from Dynamo. These locations fit the production budget and could safely accommodate up to two hundred crew members.

“The support we received on this production was incredible,” said producer Robert Katz: “Working with Proimágenes Colombia and the film commission could not have been easier or more efficient, and the vast array of production resources available to us was a tremendous asset to our movie. The attractive cost of mounting The 33 in Colombia enhanced by the rebate made Colombia an ideal place to produce the film we intended to make.”

Exterior shots of the mines were filmed on location in Chile’s Atacama Desert, with servicing from Fabula Films.

The support we received on this production was incredible. Working with Proimágenes Colombia and the film commission could not have been easier or more efficient.

Robert Katz, Producer

Colombia launched its Law 1556 filming incentive early last year through the Colombian Film Commission. The programme offers a cash rebate of up to 40%, with a per-production cap of USD 600,000, and a separate rebate of 20% is available for certain locally-incurred costs.

“To me this is a story about the triumph of the human spirit,” said producer Mike Medavoy when the production wrapped earlier this year: “It is also a story about courage for those who did not give up during the 69-day ordeal, ultimately emerging as heroes. I’ve had long ties to the Chilean people which is the reason I found this to be a compelling story to bring to the screen.”

(Images: Colombo Films)