Shoot in Malaysia, get 30 per cent cash rebate

With a slogan named "Shoot Asia in Malaysia", Creative Content Association Malaysia (CCAM) has encouraged more foreign film producers to carry out their projects in Malaysia.

"Those who spend at least RM1.5 million (US$468,000) on post production activities in Malaysia, as well as a minimum of RM385,000 (US$120,000) per hour on TV series will also be entitled to enjoy the 30 per cent cash rebate," said its chief executive officer Datuk Mahyidin Mustakim.

The 30 per cent cash rebate on all Qualifying Malaysian Production Expenditure (QMPE), which is also known as Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), was introduced by the government in 2013 to provide an additional financial incentive for creative content development, specifically for films, television and other screen productions.

Following the introduction of FIMI, this year, Malaysia has attracted investments worth an estimated RM363 million (US$110 million) from 10 international film production companies, compared with RM149 million (US$45 million) spent by six foreign companies in 2013, Mahyidin said.

"This included three animation projects from the United Kingdom, Finland and the United States; movie projects from Bollywood and the US, drama series from UK, and the upcoming US' Netflix TV series -- Marco Polo," he told Bernama on Tuesday.

Mahyidin was attending a two-day Asean Cultural Week 2014: Asean- China Film & TV Co-production and Tourism Forum here, beginning today.

Themed "Emerging Creativity: Celebrating Asean Diversity Through Films", the forum is organised by the embassy of Malaysia in Beijing and co-organised by nine other Asean countries.

Also present were Malaysian ambassador to China Datuk Iskandar Sarudin, Asean Cultural Week Organising chairperson Jasmine Kho and prominent Chinese film industry players.

Mahyidin anticipates some 20 new foreign productions worth at least RM150 million to be carried out in Malaysia, next year.

"We have so much to offer, for example, if you want to shoot some old buildings, we have many historical buildings from the British Colonial era in Penang and Ipoh.

"We have beautiful islands and tropical rain forest as well as city view available in Kuala Lumpur," he said, adding that there were many talented animation artists in Malaysia, including a local film production studio Rhythm and Hues Malaysia which helped Oscar-winning director Ang Lee's "Life of Pi" to win the Best Visual Effects award.

Mahyidin said China was the first leg for CCAM to promote FIMI and the team would be heading to Singapore (December), Berlin (February 2015), Hong Kong (March) and Cannes (April) to promote the incentive provided by the government.

Local producers can also enjoy the 30 per cent cash rebate under FIMI with a minimum spending of RM2.5 million for production, including post of production activities in Malaysia; or spend at least RM500,000 for post production activity, or spend a minimum of RM193,000 per hour for TV series production in Malaysia.