Big Ideas
Real Impact
Portugal has one of the most interesting Incentive programs in Europe with cash rebate rates from 25% up to 40%.
These incentives are divided in two programs:
CASH REBATE (destined for small and medium sized projects)
Minimum expenditure on eligible expenses in Portugal: €500.000 (fiction / animation) and €200.000 (documentaries and post-production projects).
Eligible Productions: Feature Films, TV (film & series), Animation, Documentaries; applicable to national productions, co-productions, and executive productions (using a local Service Production Company).
Rebate of 25% to 30% (depending on a Culture Test assessment).
Rebate of 40% on all expenses incurred in low-intensity territories (interior) and on the islands of the Azores and Madeira.
Maximum Incentive per project: €1.5 million.
Payment in stages.
Two application periods: first call around April and second call around October (both calls have a one month open period to accept applications)
Program budget allocation: €15 million / year.
CASH REBATE (destined for big productions)
Minimum expenditure on eligible expenses in Portugal: €2.5 million.
Eligible Productions: Feature Films, TV (film & series), Animation, Documentaries; applicable to national productions, co-productions, and executive productions (using a local Service Production Company).
Rebate of 30% on the first €2 million and up to 25% on the remainder (depending on a Culture Test assessment).
Rebate of 40% on all expenses incurred in low-intensity territories (inland) and on the islands of the Azores and Madeira.
Maximum incentive per project: €6 ,million.
Full payment made in the year following completion of the work and after definitive audit / certification of project closing accounts.
Applications can be submitted throughout the year until the annual budget of this incentive is exhausted.
Program budget allocation: €35 million / year.
NOTES
Both programs require a Cultural Test assessment focusing on the projects details such as: locations, local heads of departments, promoting Portugal and its values, distribution plan...
Financing plan of the projects must be proved upon apllication.
Elegible Expenses: all production expenses relating to personnel and services carried out in Portugal, supported by original invoices and tax receipts.
Non Elegible Expenses: foreign crew and cast; per diems / petty cash payed without any legal local invoice.
Eligible costs are incurred after application submission; however, development costs up to 12 months before application are accepted.