The Japanese film industry has launched a subsidy scheme, specifically targeting international co-productions, in a bid to promote Japanese cinema abroad.

The selective scheme, which targets small and medium budget movies and foresees cash pay-outs of up to US$620,000, is accessible by a two-step process. The first requires the Japanese co-producer to obtain a certificate of eligibility from UniJapan, the country’s advocacy body for promoting Japanese cinema abroad. The second step is an application by a certificate-holding producer to Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Conditions of the scheme require a minimum qualifying expenditure of US$1.24 million on a project.  If approved, subsidy payments of up to 20% of expenditure can then be received with payments made to the Japanese producer rather than the project.

The new scheme represents a step forward for the Japanese industry, which currently has only a little-used co-production agreement with Canada in place.

Presentations to overseas producers to  raise awareness of the new scheme were recently held at Cannes festival and at the Annecy animation festival.

For more information on the scheme go to www.j-pitch.jp/english/

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