MIPCOM Spotlight: FINAS

CANNES: FINAS is leading a delegation of more than 30 companies to MIPCOM this year, delivering content across the documentary, animation and feature-film genres.

“As a result of the implementation of various government incentives and the development of the industry, FINAS will be bringing almost 200 new titles” to the market, says Mohd Naguib Razak, the director general of the government-backed organization. Discussing the gains made by the Malaysian content industry, Razak points to the development in the feature-film sector. “Incentives such as the recently announced Compulsory Screening Scheme, where cinema operators will now be obliged to run two Malaysian films in any given week, have provided a boost in Malay content in the past year.”

Razak is also encouraged by the Film in Malaysia scheme, intended to attract international producers with a 30-percent tax rebate. “This has brought a significant increase in foreign inquiries and interest in developing content with Malaysia and strategically positioned Malaysia as a global filming destination and a content hub of Asia.”