Destination Vietnam, a Hollywood expo organised by Indochina Productions at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, put the south east Asian country at centre stage. Highlighting Vietnam’s rich location variety and untapped cinematic potential, the event welcomed some respected names in production such as Netflix’s A Tourist Guide to Love producer Joel Rice and renowned location scout Lori Balton.
The Independent Film Tax Credit (IFTC) has officially passed into law, confirmed by UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy as the BFI London Film Festival starts its run today. First time production with budgets of up to GBP 15 million which have started principal photography on or after 1 April 2024 will be eligible for the 53% tax relief. The new incentive will be available from 30 October 2024.
Location Collective, UK provider of film location and production space, have been appointed filming partner for the restored Battersea Power Station in London. Following an eight year restoration, the power station will return to providing its facilities for the filming world which have been featured in projects such as The Dark Knight and The Kings Speech.
Today marks the start of CICLOPE Festival 2024. The festival centred around craft across commercial, music videos and short films, will take place from 8-10 October in Berlin. This year’s festival will welcome a slate of esteemed speakers including Stink president Daniel Bergman, Barking Owl’s managing director Carol Dunn, writer, actor, producer and director Sharon Horgan, and many more. The three day event will conclude with the announcement of the CICLOPE Awards on 10 October.
Malcolm Washington directs the newest August Wilson adaptation The Piano Lesson. The Netflix production is a true Washington family affair, with Malcolm also serving as screenwriter for the project with Virgil Williams, his brother John David starring in the film, sister Katia executive producing, and award-winning father producing for the project. The Piano Lesson will make its BFI London Film Festival premiere on Saturday 12 October at the Southbank Centre, Royal Festival Hall.
Last week the fourth edition of Iberseries & Platino Industria (I&PI) took place in Madrid. The event, sponsored by Madrid Film Office, the audiovisual office of the Madrid City Council, once again turned the city into the global epicentre of Spanish and Portuguese speaking film and audiovisual production. More than 980 companies and 2,000 professionals from nearly 50 Ibero-American countries have met to promote synergies between different industries and stimulate the development of new projects and co-productions of series and films.
Film London’s Production Finance Market (PFM) will return this year for a two day event at The Thistle in London’s Marble Arch, welcoming 117 producers and filmmakers and 68 financiers. Taking place from 8-9 October, PFM will once again offer much needed guidance for emerging filmmakers on what they need to gain production finance, access to international sales and distribution, as well as the opportunity to meet new financiers in the international marketplace.
Madrid is not only the heart of Spain but also a thriving hub for international film and television production. With its vast array of diverse locations, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and highly skilled workforce, the region has become a magnet for filmmakers. Recent productions, from blockbuster movies to cutting-edge TV series’, have leveraged Madrid's versatility and stunning landscapes to bring their stories to life.