One of the country’s hottest film locations is heating up even more, but it has nothing to do with its 3,000 hours of annual sunshine and year-round average temperatures of 77 degrees. The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced a cash rebate for qualified production expenditure up to $150,000 for film and TV projects. These incentives are in addition to the Florida Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment’s tax credit for film and entertainment projects conducted in the Sunshine State.
The rebate, to be revealed at the 2012 International Emmy World Television Festival, joins low production costs, state tax breaks providing up to 30% transferable tax credit for TV projects – a maximum saving of $8 million – and a host of additional incentives as a major draw for productions choosing Greater Fort Lauderdale as their top filming location.
“You can film pretty much anything in the destination and make it look like you have traveled all over the world – from beaches to swamps, western towns to art deco cities, ranches to industry, and sports complexes to art galleries,” said Noelle Stevenson, Film Commissioner, Broward Office of Film & Entertainment. “As a film office, our role is to make sure the experience is seamless from pre-production, through filming and post production, and everything in between.”
“The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau’s Broward Office of Film & Entertainment was created to increase the appeal of film locations,” said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “In the past two years alone, we hosted more than 800 film and television productions, including the highly anticipated “Iron Man 3,” with Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow, and the recently announced law enforcement drama, “Graceland,” to debut for USA Network in 2013.”
Some of the benefits of filming in Greater Fort Lauderdale include no permit fees, dedicated film-friendly hotels, professional studio and production offices, and the Preferred Production Pass (P3) which provides added values to each crew and cast member when filming in town.
This is the second year Greater Fort Lauderdale has partnered with the International Emmy® World Television Festival, where more than 1,000 international decision makers from all sectors of the media and entertainment convene to celebrate excellence in television produced outside the U.S. This year’s event will take place on November 17-18 at the Sofitel Hotel, New York, with Greater Fort Lauderdale hosting the traditional Sunday Board and Members Breakfast.
“We are delighted that the Broward Office of Film & Entertainment has chosen our festival as a platform to promote their tax incentive program to the global television community,” said Bruce Paisner, President and CEO of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
About Greater Fort Lauderdale
From the seagrass to the sawgrass, Greater Fort Lauderdale boasts more than 34,000 lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts, and Superior Small Lodgings reflecting a “beach chic” vibe. Visitors enjoy 23 miles of Blue Wave certified beaches, discover 300+ miles of inland waterways that run from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Everglades, dine at thousands of restaurants and eateries, get immersed in a thriving arts and culture scene and indulge in top shopping. For more info, contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 22-SUNNY or visit www.sunny.org.
