The Colombia Film Commission successfully participated in the American Film Market (AFM) 2023, from October 31 to November 5 in Los Angeles, California. Organized by the Independent Film & Television Alliance (IFTA), the AFM is the leading audiovisual market in North America, where projects are presented and film production and distribution agreements are closed.
The Commission had a stand that highlighted the campaign of Marca País and the National Government "Colombia, the country of beauty" to promote the incentives of Law 1556 for audiovisual production, locations, and the talent of local technical and artistic teams. Approximately 8,000 industry professionals attended the event, and the stand welcomed visitors from all over the world, who received informative material on the reasons for choosing Colombia as a filming destination.
During the event, the Commission had a business agenda, meeting with Los Angeles producers and companies such as Netflix, AMC, Apple Studios, Amazon, and Disney. All these companies expressed a positive image of Colombia as a place for content development, as several have made productions in the country and have been beneficiaries of Law 1556. They also stated that they consider Colombia an audiovisual leader in the region.
In addition, the Commission participated in a brunch led by Procolombia and the MinTIC with more than 40 foreign and national producers who attended the AFM with the aim of networking, presenting the country's audiovisual services companies, and showing the benefits of filming in Colombia.
It is worth noting that Colombia offers two incentives for audiovisual production:
· The Colombia Film Fund - FFC: a cash rebate equivalent to 40% of expenses in audiovisual services and 20% of expenses in logistical services hired with Colombian natural or legal persons.
· Audiovisual Investment Certificates - CINA: certificates with a value equivalent to 35% of the expenses of foreign audiovisual productions in audiovisual and logistic services contracted with Colombian individuals or legal entities. The CINAs are transferable to Colombian income tax filers and operate as an income tax discount.
The Commission's participation in the AFM is part of the strategy of the International Promotion Plan of Law 1556 to promote the development of the Colombian audiovisual industry through economic incentives, locations, and local talent.