Film Productions Create Employment and New Business Opportunities

There were three feature films with wellknown actors and very large TV series from USA, Australia and Europe, according to Film Fiji

Movies shot in Fiji has generated $240 million in economic activity, according to Film-Fiji, the country’s film commission.

Fifty-six foreign productions have so far been made in Fiji.

They ranged from small television shows and documentaries to major shows, including three larger feature films.

According to Film-Fiji the productions have created employment and new business opportunities for Fijians.

“Every dollar a production spends in the Fijian economy, that dollar is multiplied 2.8 times by our economy generating a new activity and spending,” Film-Fiji chief executive officer Dallas Foon said.

“Additionally, it placed Fiji on the map as not only a film destination but a tourism destination.”

Film Fiji says all productions in the past three years collectively spent approximately $256 million directly into the Fijian economy, generating $716.8 million in economic activity for the country. There have already been several high-quality productions shot in Fiji this year. There were three feature films with well-known actors and very large TV series from USA, Australia and Europe, according to Film Fiji

Most of the films were shot in Viti Levu and the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands while other areas such as Savusavu and Kadavu were also used. “In 2015, Taveuni was also used as a location and Film Fiji is continuously marketing all parts of Fiji, based on the different offerings to encourage utilisation of different locations in order to spread the economic benefits,” Mr Foon said. The Fijian Government offers a film tax rebate of 47 per cent for a fully funded offshore productions.

This rebate is calculated on Qualifying Fiji Production Expenditure (QFPE) when it lodges its application at the end of the production. Productions that qualify for QFPE must include local spending and other special inclusions such as: The maximum allowable tax rebate is $28.2 million

The future for the film industry looks optimistic, with each year, the number of productions visiting Fiji is increasing.

This includes the money spent in Fiji and the development of the industry.

Film-Fiji is also working with several productions for the balance of this year.

Adrift was released on June 1, 2018. Principal photography on the film began in July 2017 in Fiji.

Party, an upcoming bollywood movie was entirely filmed in Fiji.