8 July 2004

Film agreements with Singapore and Germany

Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark announced today that New Zealand is entering new bilateral film co-production agreements with Singapore and Germany.

New Zealand already has film co-production agreements with Australia, Canada, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Each agreement is jointly administered by the New Zealand Film Commission and an equivalent organisation in the other country.

“International film agreements give our screen industry better access to a wider pool of creative and financial resources, and they also reinforce New Zealand’s cultural and economic links with other countries,” Helen Clark said.

“Singapore and Germany both have strong film industries while the New Zealand industry is enjoying a wave of international interest. Co-productions would have both economic and cultural benefits for our countries.”

Co-production agreements enable approved film projects to access cultural funding and incentives available for ‘national films’ in each country. Governments also facilitate, within existing regulations, temporary immigration and importation of equipment for the reciprocal producer.

In its report to government in March 2003, the Screen Production Taskforce recommended that New Zealand makes wider use of co-production agreements.

“I am pleased to see that progress is being made to deliver these agreements and negotiations are currently underway for New Zealand to be signatory to more film co-production treaties. The challenge for the industry will be to utilise the opportunities which are now on offer,” Helen Clark said.

The agreement with Singapore will be signed by Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton and BG George Yeo, Singapore’s Minister of Trade, in Wellington on Tuesday ,13 July 2004. The agreement with Germany will be signed later this year.

ENDS

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