Panama Forges New Plans to Grow Film Industry and Lure More Location Shoots
variety.comAnna Marie de la Fuente Big changes are afoot in Panama’s film industry as a young, dynamic (and mostly female) team backed by its newish President José Raúl Mulino is spearheading new initiatives.
Leading the charge is Vice Minister of Culture Arianne Benedetti, a filmmaker and former film commissioner for Panama who helped push for the country’s 2012 film law. “We’re focusing on improving incentives across the board – better incentives for infrastructure, labor, and even cash-back incentives,” said Benedetti.
They are also working on a new incentive to attract more gaming producers to the country. Aside from proposing an increase in the current cash back rebate of 25% to 30% or 35%, they are also advocating for an increase in coin for the Panamanian Film Fund that supports local productions as well as reviving its co-production forum MEET later this year. “We’re taking producers and projects to key festivals, with Panama as the country focus at the Malaga Film Festival next year.
We’ll also have a delegation at Ventana Sur and in Spain in September, helping producers connect with international industry professionals.
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