Foreigners Will Not Shoot in Ukraine Without Rebates

At the moment, foreign producers show little interest in Ukraine as a shooting location. This opinion was expressed on September 20 at the conference-pitching of KIEV CoProduction Meetings at the 6th International Media Forum KYIV MEDIA WEEK by the general producer of the FILM.UA group Victor Mirskiy. According to him, foreign crews will not come to shoot in Ukraine until the state introduces a system of cash refunds to producers for the money they spent in the country (the so-called cash rebate system). Such incentive schemes for the development of the film industry have been introduced in most European countries and have been repeatedly proven to be effective and beneficial to the state.

The idea behind it is that if a foreign producer spends on production in Ukraine, say, $100, Ukraine as a state then returns him $20. But at the same time, in addition to the pure production budget, film crews spend money on bars, restaurants, hotels, tours, souvenirs, and so on. It means that the country’s economy gains profit even while returning the producers part of the funds spent on production.

Unfortunately, the bill for the introduction of this system in Ukraine has been “sitting” in the parliament for a year now, as the deputies cannot or would not vote for it. However, it is the lack of the rebate system that poses the last barrier confining the wave of genuine interest of foreigners to Ukraine as a shooting location. Indeed, Ukraine has professional creative and technical personnel, as well as technical possibilities for the organisation of any shooting, our country is rich in diverse landscapes and historical monuments. And most importantly, because of the current economic crisis, due to which the Ukrainian currency has been significantly devalued, the shooting process here will cost several times cheaper for European, American or Asian producers than in any other European country.

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