Costa Rica’s volcanoes, rainforests and beaches have long provided the draw for film and TV producers and now an enhanced package of tax incentives is drawing even more filmmakers to the shores of the Central American country.
“We are sure the package of incentives, including an 11.7% return on all budget lines invested in Costa Rica without a cap, will accelerate the growth of the audiovisual service industry in our country,” says Costa Rica film commissioner Jose Castro.
He points out Costa Rica has shown constant growth in the past five years even without an incentive. “Now it’s in place we are confident it can only increase the number of productions and grow our film and TV sector.”
Costa Rica offers a cash return of 11.7% on all the investment with a minimum spend of $500,000. The cash will be returned to the international production company within 60 days after the application is complete. There is no budget line restriction or cap. The only requirement is to spend that budget in Costa Rica.
The new incentives, regulations and procedures have been open to applications from May 2022. Actors, directors and producers working on an international production in Costa Rica are not subject to tax of any kind while employed in the country. The Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (Procomer) oversees support for Costa Rican companies with the film commission a part of it.
“The challenge is to change the mindset of producers, to make them think of Costa Rica not only as a tourist destination but a filmmaker’s destination,” says Procomer export executive Laura Alvarado Gutiérrez.
The country’s dramatic and varied scenery has long been popular with international broadcasters as have commercials for brands including Nissan and Corona beer. Filmmakers working on drama series and feature films who have made the journey include Manny Padilla, the Los Angeles-based production supervisor, location manager and co-producer of the sixth season of FX’s crime drama Snowfall, which shot in November 2022 in the Gulf of Golfito, Costa Rica’s southern- most port, standing in for 1980s’ Los Angeles.
“Costa Rican crews are very adaptable,” says Padilla. “Trust is a big thing when you’re working in another country because you are vulnerable financially when you are on location. Filming in Costa Rica delivered on budget and on time.”
Padilla is committed to shooting as sustainably as possible and Costa Rica is a pioneer in ecological shooting methods and sustainable power sources, including hydroelectric dams and solar and wind power plants.
When it comes to facilities, small private studios are available of up to around 10,000 square feet, and there is a variety of audio post-production facilities. But the jaw-dropping scenery cannot be missed. The country boasts myriad location options and diversity for its relatively small size. Bordered by Nicaragua to the north and Panama to the south, this country spanning around just 20,000 square miles boasts 6% of the world’s total biodiversity and wildlife.
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