Q: FINAS has gone through some structural changes. How is FINAS different today as it was a year ago?
A: The objective of FINAS is still the same today. Number one is to promote as a regulator and number two to develop the industry. But lately, starting from this year, besides the Ministry of Information, Communication and Culture, there’s another unit called Film Negara which is now defunct, and has been absorbed and merged into FINAS. Also, the new parliament act allows FINAS to be a producer as well. So besides doing the job of regulating and development, now we are also producing our own content.
Q: Last year, FINAS announced the “Film in Malaysia” 30% rebate, meant to take effect in January 2013. Could you give us an update?
A: We launched it early this year and to date, we have not approved any applications that have come in. We need to scrutinise the applications and from there we will give them a conditional certificate for them to start their productions, whereby they will fall under this incentive scheme. This is the first time we are doing it and we will try to learn as far as possible.
Q: What criteria do you set in approving these applications?
A: For the time being, we welcome anybody from small productions to big productions with varying minimum budgets. The minimum spend requirement is RM5 million (foreign production) and if it’s a local production it’s RM2.5 million.
Q: How many applications have you received so far?
A: We’re unable to provide figures now but responses have been encouraging. We hope to start calling for interviews soon and get producers going on their production process.
Q: You’re attending the Cannes Film Festival. What will be your objectives there?
A: We will be at the Marché du Film, part of the Cannes Film Festival. We will be bringing a few companies involved in feature film production – more than 10 companies. But we are seriously trying to find a new approach towards coming to markets like these. We have to think hard and work hard to find a new way out. I think by just bringing the exhibitors, and just putting up posters and distributing flyers – this whole style of business – will have to be readdressed. Right now, 80% or 90% of our budget is being put into just attending trade shows. We may want to re-juggle the way we spend our money.
Q: Can you provide updates on the Kuala Lumpur Communications & Creative Industry Mart (KLCCIM) that has since been postponed?
A: I am sure everyone is aware of what our country is going through in this period – the elections. So once the new government comes into place, regardless of what FINAS is entrusted to do, we’ll put our paper to the new government and move onto the next new best direction. There will be no resubmission of proposals for the event – the template and original motive still stays.
Q: Any upcoming projects or initiatives that you will like the industry to know about?
A: We just recently concluded Asian Side of the Doc, which ran parallel to the Hong Kong FILMART. I think people in the creative content industry generally think that making movies and dramas is their bread and butter. We at FINAS and MDeC also believe that animation has been a very exciting genre, hence a lot of funding has been put into this area. Documentary is also exciting, so for the two-week event we spent quite a lot of money. With that kind of interest generated for our Malaysian documentary producers, we will be able to get them to be more excited to do bigger things. If you see the quality of the pitches by international producers, it was just fantastic. That is something we will showcase to our own producers and tell them it is something they should and can learn from.
