Chile

Chile Film Incentive Overview

The Chile Film Incentive offers up to 30% cash rebates for international film, TV, and streaming projects. Designed to attract global investment, the Chile Film Incentive covers local crew, rentals, logistics, and travel within the country.

To take advantage of the Chile Film Incentive, producers must apply in advance, partner with a local company, and meet spending thresholds. The Chile Film Incentive is managed by the Chile Film Commission and includes bilingual support.

Thanks to the Chile Film Incentive, it’s easier than ever to capture the country’s wide-ranging landscapes – from deserts to fjords – on a tight budget. The Chile Film Incentive delivers cost-efficiency without sacrificing production quality.

The Chile Film Incentive is tailored to support both creative vision and economic feasibility for international teams.

Hoodlum Introduction

Hoodlum Film Fixers provides full-cycle service for the Chile Film Incentive, from project planning to rebate collection. We navigate the Chile Film Incentive process efficiently and help you meet all regulatory requirements.

Our goal is to make the Chile Film Incentive work for your production – no delays, no missteps, just results.

Incentives Offered

Chile’s film rebate program, FilmInChile, offers a cash rebate for productions that spend a significant portion of their budget on local services, labor, and equipment.

Key Incentives

• Cash Rebate Program: A cash rebate is provided for qualifying productions, making Chile a financially competitive option for international filmmakers.
• Location Scouting Assistance: FilmInChile helps filmmakers explore Chile’s diverse landscapes, from deserts and forests to beaches, mountains, and glaciers.
• Permitting and Logistical Support: The commission offers support in obtaining permits for filming in various regions across the country, ensuring a smooth production process.
• Crew and Vendor Directory: FilmInChile connects filmmakers with local production professionals, crew, and vendors, offering full production support.

Benefits of Filming in Chile

• Diverse Filming Locations: Including the Atacama Desert, Patagonia, coastal regions, forests, and the Andes Mountains.
• Growing Production Infrastructure: Facilities, studios, and experienced local crew for high-quality international productions.
• Competitive Incentives: FilmInChile’s rebate program enhances Chile’s appeal for international filmmakers.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for Chile’s film rebate program, productions typically need to meet the following criteria:

• Qualifying Productions:
  • Feature films
  • Series
  • Documentaries
  • Other audiovisual projects that meet specific requirements
• Minimum Spend:
  • Productions must spend a minimum amount in Chile, depending on the specific program.
• Local Expenditure:
  • A significant portion of the production budget must be spent on local services, labor, and equipment.
• Chilean Content Requirements (if applicable):
  • Shooting in Chile
  • Employing Chilean crew members
  • Showcasing Chilean culture or themes
• Application Process Requires Submission of:
  • Project budget
  • Production schedule
  • Script or treatment

Minimum QPE per Project

• Minimum QPE Not Publicly Available: Specific financial thresholds for the rebate are not fully disclosed on public platforms.
• 40% Cash Rebate: Chile’s incentive program offers a structured 40% cash rebate to attract international audiovisual productions.
• Program Goals:
  • Boost investment in Chile’s local film industry
  • Showcase Chile’s landscapes and cultural assets
• Recommendation: Contact FilmInChile or a local production expert for the most up-to-date information on:
  • Eligibility criteria
  • Application process
  • Financial thresholds

Accepted Categories of Production

The following categories are accepted for evaluation under the Chile Film Rebate Scheme:

• Feature Films: Narrative films with a minimum budget requirement
• Documentaries: Non-fiction works focusing on real events, people, or places
• Television Series: Scripted or unscripted shows, including dramas, comedies, and reality TV
• Telemovies or Single Episode Dramas: Individual made-for-TV films or standalone episodes
• Commercials and Advertising Features: Promotional or branded audiovisual content
• Episodes of Factual, Natural History, Lifestyle, or Magazine Programs: Informative and often educational or entertaining content

Qualifying Production Expenditures (QPE)

Qualifying expenditures include costs from pre-production, production, and post-production phases. These include:

Pre-Production Expenditures

• Story development
• Scriptwriting
• Location scouting
• Casting
• Budgeting

Production Expenditures

Cast and Crew Salaries and Professional Fees

• Payments to:
  • Actors
  • Directors
  • Producers
  • Screenwriters
  • Cinematographers
  • Editors
  • Sound designers
  • Visual effects artists
  • Other industry experts

Labour Costs

• Salaries and wages: For all cast and crew
• Benefits and Payroll Taxes:
  • Health insurance
  • Pension contributions
  • Payroll taxes
  • Other benefits

Equipment Rental Fees

• Camera and lighting equipment: Cameras, lenses, lights, grips
• Sound equipment: Microphones, mixers, boom kits
• Specialized equipment:
  • Cranes
  • Dollies
  • Steadicams
  • Aerial photography equipment

Location Fees

• Site rentals:
  • Outdoor areas (parks, streets)
  • Private locations (homes, offices)
  • Public facilities (museums, schools)
• Permits and licenses: Fees for filming authorization

Wardrobe and Costume Expenses

• Design and creation of costumes
• Rental fees for wardrobe items
• Alteration and maintenance during production

Set Design and Construction Costs

• Set design fees for art directors and designers
• Construction costs for building and dressing sets
• Props and materials rental or purchase

Special Effects and Stunts

• Visual Effects (VFX): CGI, motion graphics
• Practical Effects: Pyrotechnics, makeup, prosthetics
• Stunt coordination and performance
• Safety Equipment and Personnel

Catering, Craft, and On-Set Services

• Catering: Full meals
• Craft services: Snacks, drinks, and on-set refreshments
• Support services:
  • Transportation
  • Accommodations
  • Security

Specialized Services

• Animal wrangling
• Aerial filming (drones, helicopters)
• Cranes and camera systems
• Motion control
• Other services, such as:
  • Set medics
  • SFX supervisors
  • Stunt coordinators

Accommodation and Transportation

• Lodging: Hotels, rentals for cast and crew
• Transportation:
  • Airfare
  • Car rentals
  • Shuttles
  • Local travel

\Ready to maximize your film incentives?

Partner with Hoodlum Film Fixers to navigate rebate programs, streamline compliance, and connect with trusted local partners. Let us handle the logistics so you can focus on creating. Contact us today to get started.