Ana Marques
The Portugal Film Commission was created under the authority of the government official responsible for Culture and Tourism, following the establishment of the Tourism and Cinema Support Fund in 2018. In mid-2023, it was formally integrated into the Portuguese Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual (ICA), becoming a dedicated department within the institution. “Our mission remains unchanged: to promote Portugal as a prime filming destination,” said Ana Marques, Executive Director of the Portugal Film Commission. Beyond international promotion, the Commission actively supports the film and audiovisual industry by offering tailored guidance, connecting international and local professionals, and facilitating partnerships to ensure successful productions across the country.
The main objectives of the Portugal Film Commission include promoting synergies between the creative industries and tourism, and increasing the visibility of Portugal as a film destination. “Portugal has several advantages for international producers who want to shoot in the country,” asserted Marques. She highlighted the nearly 300 days of sunshine per year and low precipitation levels; the diversity of scenery, including beaches, castles, monuments, modern architecture, churches, forests, etc.; the accessibility of locations, with less than five hours needed to travel from north to south by car; and the availability of facilities, studios, equipment, and professional crews. “Portugal is also a safe country and cheaper than other European countries,” she added.
NEW FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
Through the Tourism and Cinema Support Fund, Portugal has created one of the most competitive financial incentive systems in Europe – the PIC Portugal – Cash Rebate Incentive. In 2025, the first application phase for PIC Portugal – Cash Rebate Incentive opened on March 31 and will remain open until April 30. This fund applies to cinema, audiovisual, and VOD productions: domestic, foreign (executive/services), and/or official and de facto co-productions. The minimum expenditure in Portugal is €500,000 for fiction or animation projects, and €200,000 for documentaries or post-production projects. The support rate is 25%, which may be increased to 30% on eligible expenditure. The incentive also offers highly competitive conditions for scouting missions, giving producers a distinct advantage when compared to other international incentive schemes.
“The government’s evaluation of the Cash Rebate incentive was truly positive in terms of its economic impact on the country. So they decided not only to maintain the Cash Rebate but also to create a new incentive: the Cash Refund,” said Marques. This new incentive, with an annual appropriation of up to €20 million, will complement the Cash Rebate from the Tourism and Cinema Support Fund and will be intended for productions with higher budget values, with eligible production expenditure within national territory equal to or greater than €2.5 million per project.
The PicPortugal Cash Refund is intended for cinematographic and audiovisual works—fiction, animation, and documentaries. Minimum eligible expenditure: €2,500,000; 30% reimbursement on the first €2,000,000 and up to 25% on the surplus. Support is capped at €6,000,000 for cinematographic and audiovisual works or €3,000,000 per episode. Annual budget: €20,000,000.
Marques also mentioned that in the Portuguese archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores, as well as in the interior regions of Portugal, the Cash Rebate could reach up to 40%. “We offer this higher rebate for productions shooting in these territories. This is really important for international producers,” she said. For instance, the "Star Wars: Acolyte" series was filmed in the Madeira Islands, and the Netflix series "Rabo de Peixe" was shot in the Azores and achieved very high viewership. “They’ve already shot the second and third seasons, which will be launched this year. So there’s a lot of interest from streamers due to these financial conditions,” she added.
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