France is shaking up its tax rebate for international productions with a major overhaul, in an effort to lure big-budget Hollywood shoots back into the country. The changes, approved by the government and parliament, will allow for 30% of production costs to be rebated - a rate that rises to 40% for movies with over €2 million spent on French VFX work.
The new rules include non-European actors' salaries as eligible expenses, expanding the existing 30% tax rebate. The cap remains at €30 million per project. While final clearance from the European Commission is pending, the reforms are expected to take effect soon.
Industry insiders say France's goal is to compete with London, Prague, and Budapest for international productions, which has been a tough sell in recent years. With Hollywood facing a "weakened industry" and decreased global production volumes, France hopes to capitalize on this by offering more attractive incentives.
Gaëtan Bruel, president of the National Film Board (CNC), described the changes as "indispensable" for France's competitiveness. He cited the need to correct a loss of appeal with international producers, who were previously factoring in decisions on major projects. The number of productions approved under the TRIP scheme has decreased from 100 in 2022 to just 55 this year.
The French government has long been committed to supporting its film and TV industry, which has seen significant growth over the past decade thanks to investments like France 2030. Netflix and other streamers have played a key role in this resurgence, with high-profile series such as "Emily in Paris" and "Franklin" boosting production spending.
However, the sector now faces a period of turbulence due to global market contraction and increased competition from abroad. By expanding eligibility for actors' salaries, Bruel argues that France will not only attract big-budget shoots but also support its broader ecosystem and economy.
The reforms are seen as a response to pressure from industry leaders like Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, who have been vocal about the need for more competitive incentives. French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly backed the changes, realizing that modernizing the rebate was crucial for France's efforts under his "France 2030" plan.
With these updates, France is aiming to reclaim its position as a champion of hosting ambitious shoots and large-scale projects, generating significant economic benefits and jobs. The new tax rebate is expected to give the country another boost in its bid to attract international productions.
The new rules include non-European actors' salaries as eligible expenses, expanding the existing 30% tax rebate. The cap remains at €30 million per project. While final clearance from the European Commission is pending, the reforms are expected to take effect soon.
Industry insiders say France's goal is to compete with London, Prague, and Budapest for international productions, which has been a tough sell in recent years. With Hollywood facing a "weakened industry" and decreased global production volumes, France hopes to capitalize on this by offering more attractive incentives.
Gaëtan Bruel, president of the National Film Board (CNC), described the changes as "indispensable" for France's competitiveness. He cited the need to correct a loss of appeal with international producers, who were previously factoring in decisions on major projects. The number of productions approved under the TRIP scheme has decreased from 100 in 2022 to just 55 this year.
The French government has long been committed to supporting its film and TV industry, which has seen significant growth over the past decade thanks to investments like France 2030. Netflix and other streamers have played a key role in this resurgence, with high-profile series such as "Emily in Paris" and "Franklin" boosting production spending.
However, the sector now faces a period of turbulence due to global market contraction and increased competition from abroad. By expanding eligibility for actors' salaries, Bruel argues that France will not only attract big-budget shoots but also support its broader ecosystem and economy.
The reforms are seen as a response to pressure from industry leaders like Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, who have been vocal about the need for more competitive incentives. French President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly backed the changes, realizing that modernizing the rebate was crucial for France's efforts under his "France 2030" plan.
With these updates, France is aiming to reclaim its position as a champion of hosting ambitious shoots and large-scale projects, generating significant economic benefits and jobs. The new tax rebate is expected to give the country another boost in its bid to attract international productions.
and now it's gonna be way more attractive... I mean, 40% of production costs can be rebated if they're spending over €2 million on VFX work 
that's actually not bad. And get this - non-European actors' salaries are now eligible expenses 
. Industry insiders say France is trying to compete with London and other European cities for big-budget shoots, but I'm like... isn't it a bit late? The US has been doing film production for ages 
. Still, Gaëtan Bruel thinks this new rebate is "indispensable" for France's competitiveness 
. The French government has invested heavily in their film and TV industry, which has seen significant growth over the past decade 
. Now they just need to make it sustainable...
It's a classic case of "you can't have too much of a good thing" - if France is willing to loosen up on its tax rules, what's next? Are they gonna start offering free housing and meals too? 
It's all about competition, folks. The French government wants to make sure it's staying ahead of the game, just like how Elon Musk has been pushing for more relaxed regulations in space travel 
. But is this a step forward or backward for France? Only time will tell... 
especially with netflix playing a key role in boosting production spending 
. i hope it works out for france and that they can lure back some big productions 
like, what's wrong with europe? shouldn't they be competing with other european countries instead of london and prague? it's all about who can offer the best incentives right now and france is trying to keep up. but let's be real, the real question is how much money are we talking about here? €2 million for vfx work is a lot 
just thinkin', if france can get back some big-budget hollywood shoots, it'll not only create jobs but also bring in more money for the economy 
so yeah, i gotta give props to france for tryin' to level up their game 
. I mean, who wouldn't want 40% of their production costs back when shooting a major Hollywood movie? 
The new tax rebate for non-European actors' salaries is a game-changer. I'm curious to see if this will actually bring in more big-budget productions like London and Prague have been getting 
. We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out 
.
I think it's awesome that France is shaking things up for filmmakers 
. With Netflix and other streamers investing big time in French content, it's only natural that France would want to offer more incentives to attract those kinds of productions 
but fingers crossed they can pull this off and attract some big-budget shoots 
With Netflix and other streamers on board, there's definitely momentum behind these changes. Fingers crossed it pays off for the French film industry! 
. France needs this economic boost 
. The question is, will it work? Only time will tell 