Norway's Culture Minister, Thorhild Widvey, said the incentives available to national and international film and TV dramas would consist of direct reimbursement of 20 to 25% of part of the productions costs incurred in Norway, with a cap to the refunds, not yet defined. Producers won’t be able to tap both into the new incentives and NFI production support, however combining them with grants from regional funds will be permitted. The new film incentives –to be introduced in 2016-will be managed from Bergen by a new branch of the Norwegian film Institute and are expected to boost regional filmmaking activity.
The existing Norwegian Film Commission –administered so far by the NFI- will be scrapped and responsibility for attracting foreign and national productions into the regions will fall entirely into the hands of the existing three regional film commissions.
Reacting to the Culture Minister’s announcement, Truls Kontny, head of the Norwegian Film Commission said: “We are pleased that the government has finally agreed to introduce film incentives. However putting a cap on reimbursement will make refunding procedures quite unpredictable and might deter foreign producers from coming to Norway. “
In Iceland where a 20% reimbursement of production costs incurred in the country has boosted foreign film and TV activities, no such cap on reimbursement is in place.
Details of the new Norwegian film incentives will be announced in the autumn.
For further information on the Norwegian Film White Paper, CLICK HERE.