“Booster for the film industry”
Roth wants tax incentives for film productions
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth wants to advance the German film industry. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
While other countries are attracting large film productions, the market in Germany is collapsing. That should change.
Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth wants more again with a tax model Attract film productions to Germany. In contrast to many other countries with tax incentives for filmmakers, Germany is somewhat left behind, the Green politician said on Tuesday in Berlin about the planned film funding. “We have massive location disadvantages.” For example, Edward Berger’s Oscar-winning production “Nothing New in the West” was moved to the Czech Republic for tax reasons.
According to the draft, filmmakers would be able to deduct up to 30 percent of their production costs from taxes in the future. Countries like Italy and Spain have had “extremely positive experiences” with such tax incentives, said Roth. The entire economic infrastructure, such as restaurants or hotels, also benefits from this. More jobs would also be created. According to the calculations, every public euro invested in film production generated around six times as much revenue.
Competition between countries is huge
In consultation with the federal states, such as the major film locations Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, Berlin and Hamburg, they agreed that something had to be done. The competition is huge. According to the information, film productions in Germany have recently fallen by around a fifth.
The draft bill is also intended to introduce an investment obligation. In the future, at least 20 percent of the income in Germany must flow back into local productions. Roth wants to secure Germany as a production location in the long term.
Producers: “Booster for the film industry”
Björn Böhning, board spokesman for the producers’ alliance, described the planned reform as “a milestone”. “This is the booster that the German film and television industry needs,” said Böhning in an initial reaction. It is particularly important to the producers that rights remain in Germany and with the producers. Roth has also provided new regulations for this.