Fiscal and other incentives for the film industry

Abstract

Film-making is a complicated process which brings together the input of a number of creative individuals. With the organisational issues of budgets, financing and personnel considerations it is also a highly complex business. Some governments have traditionally seen their domestic film and television industry as an important cultural resource and have used their domestic tax systems to encourage international film production and investment. The film industry should be viewed as a potential contributor to the overall economic well-being of the country, not to mention job opportunities, investment and other economical spin-offs and the assistance in promoting Malta as a cultural, economical, social and tourist entity. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the various fiscal, financial and other incentive programmes since these play an important role in the business-side of this industry. I will then discuss which fiscal and other incentives should be incorporated into Maltese law. In this thesis I will also attempt to indicate which steps the Maltese government should take in order to establish Malta as an international centre for audiovisual productions.