Give your project a tropical backdrop or authentic Caribbean atmosphere
The island nations and tropical locales of Central America and the Caribbean offer lush, colorful backdrops for your project after just a short flight. Locations such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico allow a large cast and crew to establish a production without passports or needing to pass through international customs, while nations like Mexico and the Dominican Republic pair enticing tax incentives with locations that are impossible to replicate. From the pristine beaches of Trinidad & Tobago to the colonial missions of Puerto Rico, there is surely a location in Central America or the Caribbean for your perfect shot.
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Costa Rica Filming Incentives
With biodiverse ecosystems, sustainable production methods and historic sites, Costa Rica offers dramatic backdrops for a variety of projects. In December 2021, Costa Rica enacted the Film Investment Attraction law, which aims to promote investment in and development of international film productions, co-productions and activities.
Incentive Type: VAT Tax Refund
Incentive Amount: 90%
Minimum Spend: $500K
Bonus: Contact the film office at www.costaricafilmcommission.org/contact/ for more information.
Audit: Contact the film office.
Application: Contact the film office.
Sunset Date: Contact the film office.
Dominican Republic Film Production Benefits
Home to breathtaking beaches, verdant jungles and historic Spanish colonial landmarks like the Primada de America cathedral, the Dominican Republic can stand in for most Latin American environments and has proven it can handle large productions. In addition to the natural sites, film crews can utilize the Pinewood Dominican Republic Studios’ 43 acres of soundstages and access to tropical locations.
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Incentive Type: Transferable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 25%
Minimum Spend: $500K
Bonus: Contact the film office at https://dgcine.gob.do/en/contact/ for more information.
Audit: Yes
Application: The applicant producer must submit all supporting documents and CPA audited receipts. After an application is submitted, the Film Commission will evaluate the request and verify its compliance with the requirements established by Law 108-10.
Sunset Date: None
Hawaii Film Production Incentives
Home to 11 distinct tropical zones and a diverse topography that has stood in for Asia, South America and the Pacific, Hawaii offers colorful, natural beauty that is impossible to find in the continental United States. The Hawaii Film Office manages the state-owned Hawaii Film Studio complex, which houses 16,500 square feet of soundstage, production offices, storage facilities, and a large inventory of props.
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Incentive Type: Refundable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 22% – 27%
Minimum Spend: $100K
Bonus: Contact the film office at https://filmoffice.hawaii.gov/hawaii-film-office/ for more information.
Audit: No
Application: Contact the film office.
Sunset Date: December 31, 2032
Mexico Filming Benefits
Mexico is poised to become the next audiovisual production hub, offering attractive incentives in the form of cash rebates and tax credits. Mexico is growing in popularity among filmmakers, with a notable increase in production between 2010 and 2020, resulting in 39 international films being produced in the country. For perspective, only 14 international films have been produced in Mexico over the past 50 years.
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Incentive Type: VAT Tax Refund / Exemption
Incentive Amount: 16%
Minimum Spend: Contact the film office at www.filminmexico.com/contact-us/ for more information.
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: Yes
Application: Contact the film office.
Sunset Date: None
Panama Filming Benefits
With its unique blend of colonial structures and modern skyscrapers, Panama City is an eye-catching and underutilized location in Central America. Filmmakers can take advantage of Panama’s rainforests, beaches and resort towns, and recent productions include Quantum of Solace, Contraband and James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad.
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Incentive Type: Rebate
Incentive Amount: 25%
Minimum Spend: $500K
Bonus: Contact the film office at https://mici.gob.pa/contacto-3/ for more information.
Audit: Contact the film office.
Application: Productions must contact the Panama Film Commission before proceeding with the application materials.
Sunset Date: None
Puerto Rico Film Incentives
Offering beautiful Caribbean backdrops without a passport required for your American cast and crew, Puerto Rico can easily stand in for other Latin American locations and features visual charm all its own. The island, complete with lush rainforests and sugar-white beaches, has been featured in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, 2018’s Driven (doubling as San Diego), and standing in for Rio de Janeiro in 2011’s Fast Five.
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Incentive Type: Transferable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 20% – 40%
Minimum Spend: $25K (shorts & documentaries); $50K (films & TV series)
Bonus: Contact the film office at https://film-puerto-rico.webflow.io/contact-us for more information.
Audit: Yes
Application: Contact the film office.
Sunset Date: None
Trinidad & Tobago Filming Benefits
This West Indian nation, situated 11 kilometers off the coast of Venezuela, offers a competitive exchange rate and lower production costs compared to other island nations. If your team is filming a short or commercial that does not require a large crew, the Trinidad & Tobago Film Company (FilmTT) is a state agency that can provide local talent and location scouting services to production teams. Small-scale spaces are also available for limited digital and green-screen work.
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Incentive Type: Rebate
Incentive Amount: 12.5% – 55%
Minimum Spend: $100K (12.5%)
Bonus: Contact the film office at https://filmtt.co.tt/film-commission-services/ for more information.
Audit: Yes
Application: Apply for Provisional Certificate six months before the start of principal photography; submit final application within three months of film premiere.
Sunset Date: December 31, 2027
