Written by on May 28, 2012. Posted in Incentive News

EU criticised for planning lower filming incentives for non-European films

European Union (EU) plans to lower the filming incentives that can be paid to non-European projects have been criticised. The European Film Agency Directors (EFADs) has called for clarity as changes to the EU Cinema Communications law would impact filming incentives across Europe.

EFADs is an informal collective made up of the heads of the national public film bodies of nearly 30 EU member states, as well as several outside the EU. Under the proposed changes to the cinema law, a USD50 million Hollywood production would be entitled to less than half the subsidy payments of a similarly-budgeted European project.

The proposed regressive scale for non-European films would have a negative impact on Europe as a production hub and thereby seriously threaten the international competitiveness of Europe.

European Film Agency Directors

EFAD states: “The proposed regressive scale for non-European films would have a negative impact on Europe as a production hub and thereby seriously threaten the international competitiveness of Europe. It would also lead to an adverse effect on the infrastructure of member states' film industries.”

With member states throughout the EU doing their best to attract big-budget productions from outside the continent, any laws that could alienate non-European projects or jeopardise co-productions are likely to be scrutinised.