• Pic Portugal to emphasize the country’s appeal as a filming location, spotlighting its historic locales to lagoons with the #CantSkipFilmingInPortugal campaign
• Portugal’s new cash rebate is one of the most competitive systems in Europe
Pic Portugal, the brand responsible for the international promotion of Portugal as a filming location launched by the country’s national film agency ICA – Instituto do Cinema e Audiovisual (Film and Audiovisual Institute), has unveiled plans to present and highlight one of the most competitive film cash rebate systems in Europe to attract global filmmakers and productions at FOCUS 2018, Meeting Place for International Production, taking place at the Business Design Centre, London on the 4th-5th December.
Funded by the Portugal Tourism Board, the new filming incentive is in line with Portugal’s wider tourism strategy to drive investment and tourism towards the country. The film strategy complements Portugal’s recent booming tourism industry, business incentives and a roster of high-profile events such as the Web Summit.
The rebate applies to film, television and VOD productions with the minimum Qualified Portuguese Production Expenses (QPPE) of €500,000.00 (around £436,373.00) for fiction and animation and €250,000.00 (around $218,171.00) for documentaries and post-production. The rebate rate is also determined by a cultural test that focuses on the project’s characteristics. In addition, film productions will have no shortage of access to skilled multi-lingual professionals with experience from both film and television, studio facilities and equipment in Lisbon and Porto, courtesy location scouting and co-production treaties with more than 50 countries including all Portuguese speaking countries.
Now in its fourth year, FOCUS 2018 brings together industry professionals from across the creative industries including film, TV, advertising, animation and interactive. Attendees from over 60 countries will attend the two-day trade event which gives industry makers the chance to interact with content makers, film commissions, production services, and location providers. The event represents a key calendar event for location scouts and providers, presenting an opportunity for new inspiration for filming locations.
At FOCUS, Pic Portugal seeks to emphasize Portugal’s appeal for productions as a filming location with the #CantSkipFilmingInPortugal campaign. Long hours of sunlight and 300 days of sunshine, a variety of locales ranging from the dramatic grandeur of the historic castles, cathedrals, and churches to the shimmering glass of modern buildings, and the natural wonder of the country’s mountains, forests, lagoons are some of the reasons film productions come to Portugal. Films shot in Portugal include the coproduction fantasy/drama, “The Man Who Killed Don Quixote”, Bollywood film “Jab Harry Met Sejal”, the American historical drama starring Academy Award winner Christian Bale “The Promise” and the upcoming American-French drama “A Family Vacation.”
To highlight the advantages of filming in Portugal, Pic Portugal will be on the FOCUS exhibition floor with a standout booth. Attendees and delegates can also expect to discover the benefits of Portugal’s accessible locations and affordable cost of living. Pic Portugal will be hosting a Happy Hour event, which will showcase Portugal’s highlights as a filming destination and introduce the country’s newly announced incentive system. The rebate is set to be fully unveiled at a 3 pm session at FOCUS 2018, on the 4th December.
Speaking about Portugal’s appeal as a filming location, Maria Mineiro, ICA’s Vice-President said, “We are delighted to be bringing Portugal to FOCUS 2018. Portugal has a world of opportunities and locations to offer filmmakers from around the world and we hope that more people will see that in greater detail at our booth.
Our cash rebate system is one of the most attractive and competitive across Europe and we look forward to be the first port of call for producers in the future.”
Visit the Portugal Booth at the Business Design Centre, London on the 4th-5th December