United Kingdom

[GB] Co-Production Treaty with the Palestinian Authority Comes Into Force

IRIS 2012-6:1/22

Tony Prosser

University of Bristol Law School

On 12 April 2012 the UK Government ratified a co-production treaty with the Palestinian Authority. The aim of the treaty is to strengthen the relationship between the film industries in the UK and the Palestinian Occupied Territories by encouraging British and Palestinian producers to make films together that reflect the creativity and diverse culture and heritage of both territories.

The Treaty provides a number of benefits for co-productions. These include temporary import and export - free of duties and taxes - of equipment necessary for making such productions. Personnel employed in the making or promotion of approved co-productions are permitted to enter the UK or the Palestinian Occupied Territories and to remain during the making and promotion of the film.

Films made as approved co-productions may also meet the eligibility conditions for UK Film Tax Relief (see IRIS 2012-5/24) and for support from the British Film Institute Film Fund through qualifying as British; they will also be eligible for any funds from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The Treaty joins eight other bi-lateral treaties 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. The UK has signed a treaty with Morocco that will come into effect when it has been ratified.