UK and Morocco sign co-production treaty

The UK and Morocco have entered into a co-production treaty for the film industry. Under the new agreement, qualifying productions will be able to access the benefits of national status in each country.

By Alexandra Zeevalkink 2 Sep 2013

UK and Morocco sign co-production treaty

The UK and Morocco have entered into a co-production treaty for the film industry. Under the new agreement, qualifying productions will be able to access the benefits of national status in each country.

The signed accord will allow the two countries to strengthen ties within the industry, encourage the sharing of knowledge and ideas, and drive economic growth through film production. It is expected that the treaty will be extended in the near future to include TV production as well.

Benefits that productions could access include the Moroccan tax incentives, access to the UK’s Film Tax Relief and the BFI Film Fund, the UK’s largest body of its type.

The terms for the treaty were negotiated by the BFI and Centre Cinématographique Marocain (CCM), Morocco’s national cinema agency.

The UK’s culture minister Ed Vaizey said: “The treaty recognises the wonderful collaborative relationship that already exists between the creative industries of the UK and Morocco, as well as putting in place strong financial incentives to boost film production in both nations. It will help drive economic growth by further increasing the already huge contribution the creative industries make to the UK economy.”

Director general of the CCM, Nour-Eddine Sail said: “This treaty will help us create sustainable cultural partnerships between our two film industries and give filmmakers in both our countries access to new markets, new creative opportunities and financial advantages. Our intention is to expand this ambition into the area of TV production too so that content producers for high end television also gain the cultural exchange and financial benefits.”

The BFI’s chief executive, Amanda Nevill, added that there has long been an informal collaboration between filmmakers of the two countries with directors from David Lean through to Christopher Nolan, having long since looked to Morocco for its stunning landscapes and substantial production infrastructure.

Benefits that productions could access include the Moroccan tax incentives, access to the UK’s Film Tax Relief and the BFI Film Fund, the UK’s largest body of its type.

The terms for the treaty were negotiated by the BFI and Centre Cinématographique Marocain (CCM), Morocco’s national cinema agency.

The UK’s culture minister Ed Vaizey said: “The treaty recognises the wonderful collaborative relationship that already exists between the creative industries of the UK and Morocco, as well as putting in place strong financial incentives to boost film production in both nations. It will help drive economic growth by further increasing the already huge contribution the creative industries make to the UK economy.”

Director general of the CCM, Nour-Eddine Sail said: “This treaty will help us create sustainable cultural partnerships between our two film industries and give filmmakers in both our countries access to new markets, new creative opportunities and financial advantages. Our intention is to expand this ambition into the area of TV production too so that content producers for high end television also gain the cultural exchange and financial benefits.”

The BFI’s chief executive, Amanda Nevill, added that there has long been an informal collaboration between filmmakers of the two countries with directors from David Lean through to Christopher Nolan, having long since looked to Morocco for its stunning landscapes and substantial production infrastructure.

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