Malaysia Offers Up New Incentive for Local, Foreign Producers

CANNES: A new cash rebate for films and TV shows shot in Malaysia is the latest initiative in the country’s efforts to elevate its content sector and encourage co-productions, N. Balaraman, the director of planning and research at the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS), has told World Screen Newsflash.

The Film in Malaysia Production Incentive will be available to both local and international producers. It has been introduced "to make Malaysia a global filming destination and also a content hub in Asia," Balaram said. "The best thing about it is, it’s not only meant for feature films, but also documentaries, animation and television productions. Even post production work that comes from overseas would qualify."

International producers who are spending a minimum of $1.66 million producing locally would receive the 30 percent cash rebate, Balaram said. For local producers, the minimum production budget is $800,000.

Balaram noted that FINAS is particularly keen to raise the profile of Malaysian feature films, which have not traveled the way that animation and docs have. "By bringing in foreign production…there will naturally be a transfer of technology and skills" between international and local producers. "We are telling Malay producers, raise your standards."

The greatest challenge facing local producers in their efforts to export content is that "we have excellent stories but very poor storytelling skills," Balaram said. "One of the best ways [to improve] is to bring in very good scriptwriters, script editors, to train Malaysian producers and screenwriters." In addition, Balaram said, "we are still not savvy enough when it comes to marketing and distributing internationally."

Balaram notes that Malaysia is close to signing its first co-production agreement. "Through co-production, we’ll be able to raise the standard of Malaysian producers and open up Malaysian prodctions to other places."