Finas continues to lead in attracting foreign film-makers: NTP Report

KUALA LUMPUR: The 'Film in Malaysia Incentive' (FIMI) offered by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) has succeeded in attracting foreign film and video producers to do their shooting in Malaysia, according to the National Transformation Programme (NTP) Annual Report for 2017.
In the report, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said it had succeeded in attracting the filming of foreign productions in Malaysia, as well as increased local productions, both for studio-based and location-based productions.
He said through the incentive, a 30% cash rebate was offered on all Qualifying Malaysian Production Expenditures (QMPE).
"Among the beneficiaries of this programme are Astro Shaw (Ola Bola), Animonsta Studios (BoboiBoy Season 3), KRU Studios (Cicakman 3D) and foreign productions such as the Hi-5 TV series, Prey and Asia's Got Talent," he added.
He said in terms of film and video production, Finas continued to lead efforts in attracting foreign investments in 2017 and it had also strategically partnered with Khazanah Nasional Bhd to promote Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios to attract international film-makers to the country.
On efforts to create an eco-system which accelerated the adoption of new communication technologies, Salleh said an initiative known as the Digital Mailbox was introduced in 2017.
He said the service, which was developed by Pos Malaysia Bhd (Pos Malaysia), was inline with the declining trend in the use of physical letters, as well as the increasing demand for mailing security.
"The Digital Mailbox has created a secure environment for the exchange of information through an online platform hosted on a Malaysian-based server.
"Only the registered users in the platform can communicate with one another and all senders and recipients are required to go through a one-off verification process which involves them identifying themselves at the post office, along with providing proof of identification," he said.
The Digital Mailbox will be launched to the public this year. — Bernama