At the 41st edition of the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG), a panel discussion titled “Film Incentives in Mexico, Portugal, and Spain” was held, with the aim of providing accurate information about the various film incentives available in the three countries and how co-productions between them can be achieved.
The discussion was attended by Daniela Alatorre, director of the Mexican Institute of Cinematography (IMCINE); Luís Chaby, from the Portuguese Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual (ICA); Camilo Vázquez, deputy director general of Promotion and International Relations at the ICAA (Spain); and Alejandro Tavares, president of FILMA Jalisco.
Luís Chaby began the talk by detailing the various incentives available in Portugal, including national script funds—that is, cash rebates and cash refunds—as well as multilateral funds such as Ibermedia.
Camilo Vázquez continued the conversation by presenting similar incentive programs in Spain, emphasizing that they focus on the different stages of film production—from pre-production, production, and post-production to the festival circuit and distribution. He also mentioned how important it is for ICAA to support young female directors so that their projects can come to fruition.
However, one of the most notable points for the audience was IMCINE’s new Fiscal Incentive Program for Film and Audiovisual Production (EFICA), designed to strengthen Mexico’s audiovisual industry through an incentive that grants up to a 30% income tax credit for projects carried out within the country.
EFICA seeks to establish the country as a strategic hub for cultural and economic production by promoting the use of local suppliers, creating technical jobs, and attracting high-impact international investment.
Finally, Alejandro Tavares presented FILMA Jalisco’s Cash Rebate program and mentioned that there is a special fund to attract more foreign productions to the state.
Before the Q&A, moderator Carlos Gómez Iniesta asked, “Just to be clear, will we ever be able to film in Spain or Portugal thanks to your support?” The speakers replied that they would, noting that they are there to help filmmakers bring their projects to fruition.
During the discussion, there was a repeated emphasis on co-production as an organic tool for strengthening the narrative. The panelists agreed that, beyond investment percentages or nationality certificates, what truly matters is telling stories that connect cultures, using these partnerships to enhance the author’s creative vision.