Rolando Aedo Lissette Garcia Marco Giron Panel Miami Beach
In the aim to boost production in Miami, the panel Miami a Hotbed of Production Locations and Project Financing Incentives was held in the context of MIP Cancun 2023, with the presence of Lissette García, Tourism & Culture Director of City of Miami Beach; Marco Girón, Miami Dade Film Commissioner in the Miami-Dade County Film Commission, and Rolando Aedo, Chief Operating Officer at Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, who spoke about the offer and opportunities this city offers to the international audiovisual industry and the incentives they have to support production in this city.
“We are in a very abundant time in Miami County and we know that we must give more enthusiasm and attract more productions. Miami-Dade County is made up of 34 cities. Our office handles all the filming permits so that productions are easy. In addition to cinema, we also have the music industry and are the capital of Latina music, all the record companies are there, and two out of three music videos of the greatest artists are shot there. We are the shooting paradise, we have all the internal infrastructure to support productions” commented Girón.
Regarding incentives in favor of production in Miami, they highlighted the High Impact Film Fund Program, designed to attract large film and TV series projects, and they detailed that each year, this city will distribute up to nine grants for a sum of US$10 thousand each and will assign the remaining US$10 thousand of the support fund to be distributed to support local talent.
The grants may also be used for other projects related to the film and graphic industry, as recommended by the Miami Beach Production Industry Council or the City Manager, that will result in a significant impact on the community.
They added that they currently have an incentive in which for each million dollars spent on the county, they receive a reimbursement of US$100 thousand, a second form of support that consists in that for every US$500 thousand spent, they will receive US$50 thousand as reimbursement, and in January they will launch another incentive, now larger, in which, for every US$5 million, they will be given a reimbursement of 20%, in addition to small ones that are localized in each city, for smaller productions.
“The city has a history of over 30 years as the main location of large productions. We are renowned worldwide thanks to the audiovisual industry, hence the interest in supporting and encouraging production. We also support five festivals and have invested over US$700 thousand” added Rodriguez.
To access the Film Incentive Program, a local expense of US$25 thousand is required, a minimum of three shooting days in Miami Beach or a minimum of 70% of the cast and team based in Miami-Dade. It can be combined with Miami and Miami-Dade County incentive programs. They are granted quarterly and films, scripted TV shows and web series, commercials, music videos, and documentaries can be submitted.
