Malaysia Offers Filmmakers Diversity, Beauty and 30% Rebate

For producers seeking something multicultural, multiethnic, exotic, subtropical, picturesque, super-modern and cosmopolitan, yet including regions inhabited by aboriginal tribes, Malaysia may be a good destination. The nation also offers a 30% rebate.

The nation, which includes both large Muslim and Chinese populations, includes 13 states on a peninsula jutting out from Southeast Asia. Off its tip sits the prosperous city-state of Singapore, which broke away from Malaysia some 50 years ago. Malaysia also includes three federal territories on the north side of the island of Borneo, separated from the Malaysian mainland by the South China Sea.

As a former British colony, Malaysia includes many English-speakers, especially among the educated sector – a factor that many producers take into consideration before selecting a shooting location.

But what makes the country especially attractive is the 30% rebate it offers on qualified spend.

Feature films are required to have a budget of at least $1.2 million in order to qualify, and TV shows must spend a minimum of $93,000 per hour of content. The incentive also covers post-production that spends at least $326,000 in Malaysia.

The compensation cap per project is $1.8 million, and at least 30% of the crew must consist of Malaysian citizens or permanent residents.

Projects that have recently shot in Malaysian include the features “Mechanic: Resurrection” (2016), “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation” (2015), and “Blackhat” (2015). Netflix series “Marco Polo,” which began in 2014, is still shooting there.