Cinema in Peru: producer asks to improve incentives for Hollywood to film in the country

In the world of cinema, the magic of stories unfolds through images, sounds and emotions, capturing the attention of audiences around the world. However, behind each film there is a complex web of financial, creative and logistical decisions that determine its final destiny. In the case of Peru, This complexity becomes evident in the paradox of being a recurring setting for cinematographic stories, but not a priority destination for filming.

The recent Marvel production, “Madame Web,” offers an illustrative example of this situation. Although the plot of the film takes place in Peruvian lands, the lack of tax incentives has led to most of the filming taking place on a set built to emulate the Amazon rainforest, instead of taking advantage of the natural settings that Peru offers. .

This phenomenon, according to Bruno Canale, executive producer of APU Producciones, finds its roots in budgetary issues. “When foreign cinema invests in Peru, their budgets are limited by the enormous expense that would mean making their films in national territory due to the lack of favorable fiscal or tax incentives,” Explain.

The case of “Paddington in Peru,” another production that chose to film in Colombia instead of its original setting, highlights the competition that Peru faces from neighboring countries that have implemented successful tax incentive policies. The lack of development of the Peruvian film industry and the lack of knowledge of its potential on the part of the international community are factors that aggravate this situation.

However, there is hope on the horizon. Experts suggest that following the example of countries such as Colombia, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic, which have implemented tax incentive policies for the film industry, could be the boost that Peru needs to become an attractive destination for international productions.

A study carried out by the School of Public Management of the Universidad del Pacífico highlights the positive economic impact that investment in audiovisual production can have in the country. For every 10 million dollars invested in this sector, thousands of jobs are generated and income increases in various sectors of the economy.

Cinema, beyond being a means of entertainment, is a powerful tool for cultural promotion, tourism and economic development. “Cinema has shown how it can benefit the country, particularly when a film is set in cities like Cusco, so these tax incentives would be a good way to continue supporting the development of the country”mentions Canale.

The paradox of Peruvian cinema as a setting for stories without being a main filming destination is a challenge that requires attention and action on the part of the authorities and the film community. Only through specific policies and measures that encourage investment and film production in the country will Peru be able to take advantage of its full potential as a relevant actor on the global cinema stage.