Written by Tom Deehan on Aug 10, 2016. Posted in General Interest

Uruguay launches new Audiovisual sector

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. The entity has been produced by Uruguay's Audiovisual Chamber, the Association of Filmmakers and Producers of Uruguay, the Ministry of Tourism, the Institute Uruguay XXI (Investing and Export Promotion Agency) and ICAU, National Film and Audiovisual Direction.

This new entity will embrace all aspects of the audiovisual industry from film to TV, web series to commercials, bringing Uruguay in line with other leading production hubs worldwide.

Carlos Pereyra of ICAU explains: “the Uruguay Audiovisual sector brand was born from the need to join efforts to position our country abroad as an export hub in the audiovisual field and integrate under one umbrella a cultural, economic and industrial activity that has proven to be the most dynamic and fastest growing industry in the country."

He continues: “the Uruguayan authorities and the private sector are working together on a bill that is currently in Parliament to create a Free Trade Audiovisual Zone, which will attract films and advertising productions, both domestically and abroad with numerous tax advantages, plus extraordinary infrastructure resources. This will enable productions from around the world to use Uruguay's impressive natural locations and skilled professionals for filming on location."

Co-productions filming in Uruguay can already benefit from exemption of the country's 22% VAT rate. If approved, the installation of a free trade zone could go a long way to enticing more productions from abroad.

In recent years, Uruguay has seen fewer international productions but a steady flow of projects from Latin America including the HBO series El Hipnotizador and feature film Mr. Kaplan (pictured).

A promotional video (below) has been produced to accompany the announcement, detailing the best locations that Uruguay has to offer.