As filming for Ridley Scott\u2019s Napoleon drama, starring Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby, gets underway in several locations across the island, the Maltese film industry ramps up to offer the star-studded production the best it can offer in terms of location, service, and top-notch facilities.\u00a0 The Malta Film Commission further supports the film industry through various financial incentives.<\/p>\n
Upon satisfying a cultural test, film productions that are all or partially produced in Malta can benefit from a rebate up to 40% of eligible expenditure, which may include location fees, catering services, property, and animals. Qualifying productions are required to present a provisional application to the Malta Film Commission, including a detailed projection of the Malta budget for the production, and the rebate is granted on receipt of the audit report and upon final review by the Commissioner once filming is completed. This cash rebate is open to feature films, television films or television series or mini-series, animation, creative documentary, transmedia and cross-media productions.<\/p>\n
The Malta Enterprise Act also provides for investment aid for audio-visual facilities and the aid is offered in the form of tax credits vis-\u00e0-vis qualifying expenditure as part of an initial investment project.\u00a0 In this regard, tax credits are computed as a percentage of either the value of capital investment or the value of wages for 24 months, covering new jobs created through an investment project.\u00a0 For a production to be eligible for this investment aid, the qualifying enterprise must be engaged solely in activities, which are deemed as \u2018eligible\u2019 by the Incentive Guidelines.\u00a0 These activities include:<\/p>\n
The Co-Production Fund was set up by the Malta Film Commission to specifically encourage collaboration between Maltese and overseas production companies to produce feature films, television films or television series or mini-series, animation, creative documentaries, transmedia and cross-media productions intended primarily for cinema release and suitable for international distribution.\u00a0 The Malta Co-Production Fund allocates a budget of \u20ac1 million per annum to assist overseas companies as well as provide an injection of funds to the homegrown film industry.\u00a0 In turn, this provides a boost to the Maltese economy as co-producing entities must tap into Maltese talent and invest in productions, which are filmed primarily in Malta.\u00a0 From a financial perspective, this fund allows partner countries to share the risks and costs of screen production while reaping cultural and economic benefits.\u00a0 The Malta Film Commission emphasizes that productions that have been approved as official co-productions are treated as \u2018national\u2019 productions in each partner country.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, film and television products that choose to film in Malta depicting \u2018Malta\u2019 directly, are eligible for further financial assistance provided by the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).\u00a0 The MTA will carry out an evaluation of a production\u2019s suitability to the country\u2019s marketing and eligible productions will benefit from financial assistance to cover certain expenditure related to the production costs.\u00a0 Such fees usually include flights to and from Malta, transportation of cargo, as well as locations fees in areas administered by the Government of Malta of local councils, amongst others.\u00a0 While each application for assistance is considered on a case-by-case basis, the following is a list of requirements for production companies to qualify for consideration for financial assistance:<\/p>\n
Our dedicated team can help you understand how you can benefit from the financial incentives relevant to the Malta film industry and assist with the application process.\u00a0 Our specialists can also provide tailor made advisory and legal services for:<\/p>\n