Is James Bond returning to Norway?
Photo: In 2015, the James Bond film “Spectre” chose Austria instead of Norway as the film required mountain scenery. The incentive scheme there was more favorable.
Ministry of Culture and Equality (KUD) is today putting forward a proposal to amend the regulations in the incentive scheme for film and series productions.
– After Brexit, it has been unnecessarily difficult for British productions to qualify for the incentive scheme, now we are fixing that. With this change, the British will compete on an equal footing with others from the EEA, says the Minister for Culture and Equality Anette Trettebergstuen.
After the UK left the EU, British films and film workers no longer qualified in the same way as films and film workers from the EEA. The proposed change will help to lower the threshold for productions that are organized through British production companies, so that these are treated equally with productions from the EEA area when it comes to the qualification requirements in the incentive scheme, says a message from KUD.
The UK has a central position in the production of international films and drama series. Many large productions use British studios as a base and a large number of British film workers in their projects, therefore it is important to get them back into the incentive scheme on equal terms, says Trettebergstuen in the report.
– The British are really good at film and we want more of their film productions for Norway. It is good Norwegian advertising, good for local businesses and not least it adds knowledge and jobs to the Norwegian film industry, says Trettebergstuen
“The incentive scheme for film and series productions will contribute to increasing the total number of major international film and series productions in Norway in order to promote Norwegian culture, history and nature. The scheme will also contribute to increased experience and knowledge in the Norwegian film industry, stimulate growth, a sustainable Norwegian film industry, and increased international cooperation.”
The hearing deadline is set for 15 December.