International Production Incentives: Maximising Value with Strategic Planning and Expert Guidance

As seen in IF.

Incentives are a fundamental part of every film finance plan—from low-budget independent productions to major studio blockbusters. Navigating the complex international landscape of production incentives is no easy feat, particularly in today’s competitive climate.

Incentive offerings are changing rapidly as countries and states the world over vie to attract production business to their locations. How do producers optimise these financial offerings while maintaining creative vision? Through strategic planning and partnership with experts who can guide them through every step of the process. 

Harness the Power of Multi-Regional Production Planning

Thanks to its multi-faceted incentive offerings, Australia has become an increasingly attractive destination for international productions. This appeal is driven by a combination of generous federal incentives, the Producer Offset, Location Offset, and Post, Digital and Visual Effects (PDV) Offset, and state-level incentives as well as a favorable exchange rate due to the relatively weak Australian dollar.

With over 120 incentives in operation globally today, it’s common for productions to leverage multiple incentive programs across different regions, based on the needs of the project and the cost benefits of each location. For example, a US studio film might shoot in Australia to benefit from the Location Offset and other local incentives, then move post-production to Canada to access additional support, such as the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC), especially if the director prefers to remain closer to home. 

Similarly, productions may choose specific locations for unique landscapes, like the rugged Outback or iconic urban scenery of Sydney, then transition to studio environments elsewhere. Visual effects (VFX) work, in particular, is often distributed across several countries. Co-productions frequently pursue international talent, equity financing, and distribution partnerships.

Given the vast array of attractive offerings, and the accompanying complexity of leveraging them, it has never been more important to maintain a comprehensive overview of a project’s financial structure. Ensuring that incentives are optimised and balanced—without compromising the creative vision—requires careful coordination and specalisedexpertise. 

Successfully Manage Finances for International Productions with EP’s Integrated Solutions

Budgeting and accounting play a central role in the financial health and overall success of every project. Entertainment Partners offers the expertise, technology and world-class services to support this critical integration, at every stage from prep to post. 

EP’s industry-leading budgeting solution, Movie Magic Budgeting, enables producers to plan multiple financial scenarios as they explore the best path to greenlight. Once the project is underway, SmartAccounting, translates the finalized budget and its incentive tagging into a dynamic cost reporting system. This allows for accurate tracking and forecasting of actual expenditures and estimates, ensuring financial control throughout the production lifecycle.

To service production incentives across the globe, Entertainment Partner’s international incentives team brings deep local knowledge and decades of experience to the table. We ensure timely and accurate submission of incentive applications in key production hubs, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In each of these regions, our local experts have a proven track record of successfully managing and administering incentives, ensuring clients maximise their budgets while experiencing the level of care and dedication they’ve come to expect no matter the location.

The international mobility of key crew and talent is also seamlessly handled by EP’s global payroll teams. Proper tracking of nationality and residency is essential, particularly when qualifying for state and labor-based incentives. With nearly 50 years of experience as the entertainment industry’s leading payroll provider, no one knows more about entertainment payroll than EP. Clients can trust our specialised knowledge and leading technology to deliver every time.

Expertise You Can Trust

With a global perspective and local expertise, Entertainment Partners provides a unique combination of strategic oversight and detailed execution. This “helicopter view” paired with on-the-ground knowledge ensures that every production can maximize its financial potential while staying true to its creative goals.

Put Entertainment Partners’ international incentives team to work for you. Connect with us today for expert guidance on optimising your production’s incentive strategy in Australia or across the globe.