UK-Palestine co-production treaty comes into being

by Naman Ramachandran

16/04/2012 - The UK’s co-production treaty with Palestine is officially ratified and has now come into force. The treaty looks to strengthen the relationship between the film industries in the two countries, by encouraging British and Palestinian producers to make films together that reflect the creativity and diverse culture and heritage of both territories.

Benefits include temporary import and export, free of import or export duties and taxes, of any equipment necessary for the production of an Approved Co-production. Personnel employed in the making or promotion of an Approved Co-production can enter and remain in the UK and Palestine, as the case may be, during the making or promotion of the film.

Qualifying as a British film is an eligibility requirement for UK Film Tax Relief and for the BFI Film Fund. Films made as official co-productions qualify as British. Approved co-productions cane benefit from these funds and also any funds from Palestine.

The UK has eight more bi-lateral treaties operating, with Australia, Canada, France, Jamaica, Israel, India, New Zealand and South Africa. The UK is also a signatory to the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production. In addition, the UK has signed a treaty with Morocco, and once constitutional procedures are completed this will also be ratified and come into force.