The government restarts the state aid scheme for the film industry and establishes the Office of Film and Cultural Investments

The Government of Romania adopted on Wednesday, in the government meeting, the Emergency Ordinance regarding the establishment of the Office of Film and Cultural Investments, as well as for the establishment of institutional measures related to the management of the state aid scheme for supporting film culture and film production in Romania, reports News.ro.

The scheme represents an instrument for attracting investments in the field of audiovisual works production and refers to: the establishment of the Film and Cultural Investments Office, an institution subordinate to the Ministry of Culture, to the transfer of the state aid scheme for supporting the cinematographic industry established by GD no. 421/2018 from the administration of the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism in the administration of the Office of Film and Cultural Investments, as well as the extension of the application period of the current legislation of the state aid scheme until December 31, 2024.

“It was absolutely necessary to come to the support of the cinematographic industry and honor our promise to restart the engines of an essential cultural sector for Romania. I think the one we took today is a vital step, in the context where several countries in the region have functional and attractive schemes for producers. The state aid scheme has been, unfairly, in an administrative block since February 2021, and its restart and extension will once again put our country on the map of international production destinations, offering Romanian professionals the chance to return home”. transmitted the Minister of Culture, Lucian Romaşcanu.

Starting on September 30, 2023, the Office of Film and Cultural Investments will resume the analysis of the submitted projects, analyze the audit reports and settle the payment requests for the projects approved in the 2018-2020 sessions.

At the same time, the extension of the state aid scheme is expected to attract direct investments in the production of audiovisual works, but also in related cultural fields.

Editor : A.C.