StudioCanal shows interest to shoot film in Malaysia

CANNES, France: StudioCanal, a film production and distributor in France, has expressed its interest in Malaysia as its filming destination.

Suraya Filem Production (M) Sdn Bhd director Shures.R said the matter was expressed by StudioCanal Head of Production Elsa Bonomi and Head of Sales and Distribution Mathilde Mourey during a discussion and luncheon session with Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa on Tuesday.

He said the company was also interested in the 30 per cent cash rebate offered through the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI) and an additional up to five per cent through the cultural test.

“All this while, we have made a lot of distributions and bought a lot of content. So now, why not bring forward the production to Malaysia? If the storyline of the film requires a Malaysian background, why not come to Malaysia, rather than Thailand or other countries? We can get a better rebate.

“They (StudioCanal) has decided to bring the head of their production team to Malaysia to check all the places they want for their next project.

“The conversation between StudioCanal and our Tan Sri Annuar Musa is like 99 per cent is on,” he said at the Malaysia Delegation Networking Reception in conjunction with the Marche Du Filme, here on Tuesday night.

Shures said Suraya Filem Production and StudioCanal had been cooperating for 20 years and it was an opportunity for him to promote the FIMI to the company where no other countries offer such an incentive.

“That is why we proposed StudioCanal and then they also very happy with the rebate and the welcoming of the minister for them to shoot in Malaysia,” he added.

He said promoting Malaysia as an international filming destination would give a good return to the country, especially in terms of the economy and create more job opportunities for the locals to work with international companies.

He added that his company had also planned to promote FIMI to other international companies including Lionsgate as well as production companies from Iran and India.

Marche Du Film is the film industry’s biggest gathering for producers, financiers, broadcasters, distributors, suppliers and buyers from around the world to meet, share ideas and make deals.

National Film Development Corporation (Finas) chief executive officer Prof Dr Md Nasir Ibrahim said apart from promoting and selling the country’s creative content products, Malaysia’s main purpose in the film market was to attract foreign investors to the country through the FIMI.

A total of 250 companies from 110 countries participate in the nine-day film market starting May 17.