How do production incentives such as tax credits and cash rebates fit into the overall range of public support mechanisms? 
Are they a game changer? 

Production incentives such as tax credits and cash rebates to support the production of film and audiovisual works were first introduced in Europe over 30 years ago. They are now available in most European countries, with the amounts seemingly increasing over the years. However, schemes vary significantly between countries. And any producer shooting in Europe nowadays will keep a canny eye on the various tax credits or cash rebate percantages offered for expenditure in a given country. However it's important to understand how these powerful financing mechanisms fit into the overall range of financing sources available in Europe...

And so this year we're asking:

• What's the relationship between culture-oriented selective funding and industry-oriented tax incentives, and how do they complement or challenge one another?
• How does competition between European countries to attract film and audiovisual production via tax incentives shape the sector and what kinds of positive or negative impact might result from this dynamic?
• In what ways are production incentives and direct public support perceived and justified when it comes to mobilising more public resources for the sector?

The Observatory’s Deputy Head of the Legal Department, Sophie Valais, and Film Analyst, Elisa Joliveau-Breney, will provide traditional European scene setting information on this year’s theme.  As every year we’ll be bringing together a stellar panel of cinema industry professionals, producers, studio representatives, exhibitors representatives from public bodies such as film institutes.

Speakers for this conference are: Yohann Bénard, Public Policy Director Europe, Digital at Amazon, Marianne Furevold-Boland, Head of Drama, Entertainment & Fiction at Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Peter Dinges, CEO of the German Federal Film Board, Edith Sepp, CEO of the Estonian Film Institute, Alvaro Longoria, Co-founder and producer at Spanish production company, Morena Films and Filip Bobiňski, CEO of Prague based Dramedy Productions.

This expert panel will be moderated by Maja Cappelo and Martin Kanzler.

When: Saturday 16 May 2026 from 9.30 – 11.30 (CEST) 
Where: Main Stage (Riviera) conference

Register here

The event is open to all Marché du Film, Festival and Journalist accreditations.

The conference is a hybrid event and will also be live streamed on the Marché du Film platform and publicly on YouTube for anyone not taking part in the Marché.

Conference language is English.