Mechanism to attract investment in film and TV products, voted in First Reading
foto: parlament.md
The state will establish a mechanism to attract investment in film and other audiovisual works. The draft new law on the establishment of the Investment Scheme for film and other audiovisual works has been examined today at the plenary session and approved at first reading.
The project regulates the conditions and procedures for granting financial support under the Investment Scheme, as well as recording and reporting the use of budget allocations in the field of film productions and other audiovisual works.
The value of financial support for film and other audiovisual works accounts for 25% of the total eligible expenditure incurred on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to which 5% may be added subject to the thematic promotion of the geographical area, the locality or the Republic of Moldova in the productions. At the same time, the new regulations provide for a list of expenditures that can not be considered eligible.
Beneficiaries of budgetary allocations for film productions and other audiovisual works may be producers, co-producers or film production agencies, which are natural or legal persons registered in the Republic of Moldova, who have a collaboration agreement signed with a producer or production house in abroad. At the same time, the beneficiaries of the Investment Scheme are obliged to ensure a minimum investment, depending on the category of production.
The following categories of productions can be supported: long and short feature film, long and short animated film, series, documentary films, advertising spots, music clips, TV shows /reality shows.
The project includes a transparent administrative scheme for receiving, evaluating and adopting the decision on the beneficiaries' files. Thus, the authority that will have attributions to attract foreign investments in the field of film productions and other audiovisual works realized on the territory of the Republic of Moldova will be the Investment Agency, a subordinate institution of the Government.
Production of film or audiovisual works must begin no later than 12 months after the issue of the Qualification Certificate for the granting of financial support. Production of film or audiovisual work shall not exceed 3 years. The new law is due to enter into force on 1 September 2018.
According to the authors, the adoption and implementation of the new project will help attract foreign investments in film production and other audiovisual works, increase the film and TV industry, promote national cultural identity, etc. Such funding mechanisms and investment attraction exist in about 40 countries.
The project was developed within the Working Group on Better Media Legislation, which is a platform for communication and a mechanism for permanent cooperation between Parliament and representatives of media institutions, international institutions and media NGOs. The group was created in June 2017 at the initiative of the Andrian Candu Parliament Speaker, with the support of the Joint Project of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Promoting Media Freedom and Pluralism in the Republic of Moldova". Technical assistance is provided to members of the Group by Freedom House, Internews and the US Embassy in the Republic of Moldova.
On the platform of the Working Group, which adjusts the national audiovisual legislation to the European legislation, the National Media Development Concept in the Republic of Moldova, the draft Audiovisual Media Services Code, the draft on advertising were elaborated.
The draft law on the establishment of the Investment Scheme for film and other audiovisual works is to be voted on in final reading.
The project regulates the conditions and procedures for granting financial support under the Investment Scheme, as well as recording and reporting the use of budget allocations in the field of film productions and other audiovisual works.
The value of financial support for film and other audiovisual works accounts for 25% of the total eligible expenditure incurred on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to which 5% may be added subject to the thematic promotion of the geographical area, the locality or the Republic of Moldova in the productions. At the same time, the new regulations provide for a list of expenditures that can not be considered eligible.
Beneficiaries of budgetary allocations for film productions and other audiovisual works may be producers, co-producers or film production agencies, which are natural or legal persons registered in the Republic of Moldova, who have a collaboration agreement signed with a producer or production house in abroad. At the same time, the beneficiaries of the Investment Scheme are obliged to ensure a minimum investment, depending on the category of production.
The following categories of productions can be supported: long and short feature film, long and short animated film, series, documentary films, advertising spots, music clips, TV shows /reality shows.
The project includes a transparent administrative scheme for receiving, evaluating and adopting the decision on the beneficiaries' files. Thus, the authority that will have attributions to attract foreign investments in the field of film productions and other audiovisual works realized on the territory of the Republic of Moldova will be the Investment Agency, a subordinate institution of the Government.
Production of film or audiovisual works must begin no later than 12 months after the issue of the Qualification Certificate for the granting of financial support. Production of film or audiovisual work shall not exceed 3 years. The new law is due to enter into force on 1 September 2018.
According to the authors, the adoption and implementation of the new project will help attract foreign investments in film production and other audiovisual works, increase the film and TV industry, promote national cultural identity, etc. Such funding mechanisms and investment attraction exist in about 40 countries.
The project was developed within the Working Group on Better Media Legislation, which is a platform for communication and a mechanism for permanent cooperation between Parliament and representatives of media institutions, international institutions and media NGOs. The group was created in June 2017 at the initiative of the Andrian Candu Parliament Speaker, with the support of the Joint Project of the European Union and the Council of Europe "Promoting Media Freedom and Pluralism in the Republic of Moldova". Technical assistance is provided to members of the Group by Freedom House, Internews and the US Embassy in the Republic of Moldova.
On the platform of the Working Group, which adjusts the national audiovisual legislation to the European legislation, the National Media Development Concept in the Republic of Moldova, the draft Audiovisual Media Services Code, the draft on advertising were elaborated.
The draft law on the establishment of the Investment Scheme for film and other audiovisual works is to be voted on in final reading.