Filmmaker's relief : a comparative study

Abstract

The South African film industry is the second oldest film industry in the world. Sadly though, the industry did not develop in the previous century to the same extent film industries developed in specifically North America and Europe. Film tax relief is an incentive incorporated in tax legislations worldwide and is used as a catalyst for economic growth in film industries. South Africa has had specific tax legislation in this regard for decades and it is currently regulated in terms of Section 24F of the Income Tax Act. Two further incentives, the „Foreign Investment Grant‟ and the „Strategic Industrial Projects Grant‟ are also available from the Department of Trade and Industry. Legislation is constantly reviewed and revised to achieve the objectives they intend to have. This study reviews current South African legislation in this regard, compares it with the current available film industry relief in India and Australia and concludes on film relief effectiveness in general.