Regulations on financial incentives for the production of films and series in norway (also called the incentive scheme).


Where
Norway
When
2020
Who
Norwegian ministry of culture
Website of the policy/measure
Read the full report

Description of the policy/measure

The scheme grants up to 25 % return on costs spent in norway to productions produced partly or entirely in norway that are intended for international distribution. the purpose of the incentive scheme is to increase the number of international films and series produced in norway to promote norwegian culture, history and nature. the scheme is also designed to improve the experience and skills of the norwegian film industry, stimulate growth, promote a sustainable norwegian film industry and support international cooperation.

Results achieved

The norwegian film institute allocated 226 mill. nok from the incentive scheme in the period 2016-2019.

Financial resources allocated to the policy

The norwegian film institute allocated 297,4 million nok from the incentive scheme in the period 2016-2020.

Evaluation of the policy/measure

Menon economics recently carried out an assignment, comissioned by the norwegian ministry of culture, concerning the puclic schemes for audiovisual production. the incentive scheme was part of this evaluation. furthermore, olsberg spi performed an early evaluation of the insentive scheme inn 2017, assigned by the norwegian film institute. menon economics concluded (2019) that the incentive scheme is not currently directly relevant for promoting domestic culture, history and nature. the scheme might have extended effects like increased purchases of goods and services in norway. however, such effects are not suffiently proved, especially concerning the gain for domestic audiovisual industry and related suppliers. menon economics argued for a growing need to support domestic productions that are internationally oriented, rather than supporting foreign productions in norway. on this ground, menon economics reccommended altering the scheme in a such a way that it should aim more at domestic productions that are internationally distributed. the early study by olsberg spi (2017) assessed the scheme based on grants given in 2016, and estimated that these (two) productions generated a total of 198 million nok in norway, employed 142 full time equivalents (fte) and 33,3 million nok tax revenues. olsberg spi concluded that an incentive scheme with a limited ammount of grants and a narrow application period most likely will lose in competition with automatic incentive scemes in comparable countries.