The expansion of the cash rebate program, which theoretically ends this year, is considered a given, as the production companies that choose Greece to shoot films and series are growing at a steady pace, improving our country’s position on the world map of audiovisual producers.
The financial tool rebate, financed by the Public Investment program, is a huge success in attracting investment and its expansion after 2022 has already been announced, note to Capital.gr executives of the National Center for Audiovisual Media and Communication (EKOME), which is and the competent body of the Ministry of Digital Government.
According to EKOME data, in almost three years, from April 2019 to February 2022, a total of 204 projects have been subject to the cash rebate investment incentive. The investment in our country is estimated at approximately 316 million euros.
The 112 projects are domestic productions and 92 projects are international productions, ie cross-border co-productions between Greek and production companies from Europe, the USA, Asia, Canada and Australia. From the shootings that take place in more than 140 locations across the country, about 49,201 jobs have been created.
It is also worth noting that in addition to fiction films, TV series and documentaries, two applications for digital games and the feature-length animated film “The Adventure of Space” have been invested.
Larger productions
Apart from the number of producers, through the cash rebate but also the measure of tax relief 30% (tax relief), the budget of the producers who return to our country also increases. That is, more expensive productions come from abroad, while Greek productions are also made with a higher budget.
It is indicative that in 2020 the highest expenditures recorded in our country for a foreign film reached 3.5 million euros, while in 2021 productions of 10-20 million euros were shot such as RISE, the film about the life of John Antisokunbo for DISNEY +, The Enforcer and Consumables 4 for Millennium, GO (sequel to Knives Out) for Netflix, Jack Ryan’s third season for Amazon and Tehran’s second season, a Cosmote co-production TV shown on the Apple TV platform.
“After a record year for audiovisual productions in Greece, 2022 started very dynamically, with shooting in Thessaloniki for the film The Bricklayer, in Athens for the Greek Salad series as well as shooting of many domestic producers”, he states in Capital.gr , o Panos Kouanis, president and CEO of EKOME.
The filming of “The Bricklayer” for Millennium Media in collaboration with Nu Boyana Film Studios takes place with the participation of Greek actors and professionals who had been trained in the previous two productions of the company in Thessaloniki.The Greek Salad is an eight-episode TV series , with a total production cost of approximately 8 million euros that will be shot entirely in Athens on behalf of Amazon.
At the same time, the cash rebate benefits the Greek series that are shown in our country such as Sasmos, Komanda and Drakoi, Eteros Ego, Lost Souls, Wild Bees, Sympetheri from Tirana, etc.
Film Offices and Studio
In order to serve the producers, EKOME undertook the implementation of the National Network of Film Offices Facility Offices. The Film Offices, located in 13 regions and the Municipalities of Athens and Thessaloniki, strengthen the brand name of each region, provide free information on practical issues such as finding required permits as well as professional and business potential, connecting local communities, professionals and individuals with production companies.
The big bet, of course, remains the creation of permanent studios for the production of films and series in our country. Steps in this direction have already been taken in Thessaloniki, while the Antenna group intends to create studios and infrastructures of international standards after joining the MBC Group, the largest media group in the Middle East and North Africa based in Dubai, through a share capital increase of 225 million euros.
International promotion
Through incentives and subsidies, but also through the specialization acquired by the country’s human resources, Greece is taking steady steps to emerge as an international destination for audiovisual producers.
“Allies” in this effort, in addition to the natural beauty of our country but also the financial tools are the expansion of digital video streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney + and HBO Max that are forced by the Commission to turn in the EU 30% of the producers in Europe.
Of course the competition is fierce, as other countries inside and outside the EU offer similar incentives. “We continue the international promotion of Greece with the participation of EKOME in international markets – such as DubaiExpo at the end of March – and we place special emphasis on supporting Greek animation and videogames, with the aim of creating a strong audiovisual ecosystem that will flourish. will create jobs “, notes Mr. Kouanis.
Source: Capital
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