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NZ Film Incentives Target India Market
23 Nov
Summary
- New Zealand enhances film rebates, lowering spend threshold to NZ$4 million.
- Incentive changes aim to attract larger Indian film productions.
- Co-production treaty usage minimal, with focus shifting to inbound productions.
New Zealand is significantly boosting its appeal to the Indian film industry by overhauling its screen production rebate program. Effective January 1, 2026, the minimum spend for feature films, television, and streaming content will drop from NZ$15 million to NZ$4 million, making the nation more accessible for independent productions.
Further adjustments include removing caps on above-the-line claims and reducing the threshold for an additional 5% uplift to NZ$20 million. The standalone post-production, digital, and visual effects (PDV) rebate will now also qualify for a 5% uplift, reaching 25%. These enhancements are part of a sustained outreach to India, including visits to the WAVES Film Bazaar.
The New Zealand Film Commission is actively promoting co-production opportunities under a treaty that has seen limited use. While the treaty offers substantial funding and rebates, the focus is also on inbound production, with recent Telugu-language films successfully filming in New Zealand without utilizing the treaty structure. Direct flights between India and New Zealand are anticipated by early 2027.
