The Cabinet of Ministers meeting of 11 February this year approved a new programme of state support for foreign film shooting and the organisation of major events in Latvia. The announcement of the first selection round for support for foreign film shooting in Latvia is expected in the coming three weeks. It is expected that the new support programme could increase the total export volume in Latvia by EUR 72 million over the next three years, resulting in an economic impact of three times the public investment.
“A major step has been taken to attract around EUR 40 million in investment to Latvia. The film industry is a global industry worth billions, where Latvia has both historical experience and success. Each such project – whether a major event or a film – not only attracts investment but also works as an important advertisement for several related industries,” said Jurģis Miezainis, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Economics.
The support programme has been established as a permanent framework for co-financing the organisation of major events and the shooting of foreign films in Latvia. It will provide opportunities for various industries to attract major international events to Latvia, as well as to attract high-profile foreign film producers to Latvia, thereby boosting business, including export revenues, and strengthening the country’s international recognition.
State support for foreign film shooting and the organisation of major events in Latvia will be provided by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia; the amount of co-financing per project will be 30% of the total eligible costs of project implementation.
Within the framework of the support programme, a foreign film is understood as a completed audiovisual or cinematographic work, including a film, film series, part or season, consisting of a series of interconnected and motion pictures with or without a soundtrack, intended for public release, the costs of which are borne by a trader registered abroad. The total cost of the film project must also be at least EUR 711 436 for fiction and animation films and at least EUR 142 287 for documentaries.
A major event under the support programme is an event of an international scale, organised, delegated or in partnership with a global or European organisation, which has a significant impact on the Latvian economy, attracting at least 5000 foreign visitors and participants spending at least two nights in Latvian tourist accommodation or short-term rental accommodation, and which takes place no more than once every four years. At the same time, a major event that happened more recently may also qualify for state support if the new project is significantly different in scale from the previous one – the projected income and expenditure are at least three times higher than the previous one.
The support programme specifies Latvia as the location of the foreign film shooting and the location of the major event. However, this does not exclude the possibility that, for example, in the case of a major event, the Republic of Latvia is one of the locations of the major event (e.g., as a certain stage of a competition), in which case, the co-financing will not be granted for the entire major event but only for the part where the major event takes place in Latvia.
The funding to support both film shooting and the organisation of major events in Latvia amounts to EUR 7.5 million for 2025, EUR 7.9 million for 2026, and EUR 8.3 million for 2027.
The services provided by the film industry are an important stimulus for the development of the national economy and the image of the country abroad, ensuring growth in exports, productivity and the global competence of the Latvian film industry. The state co-financing also effectively promotes employment in various sectors of the economy (e.g., hospitality, catering, transport services), including those not directly related to the film industry.
Also, major events, depending on their type, contribute to public well-being, public health, the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage, public participation and involvement, etc. Public participation in events promotes social cohesion and a sense of community.
Ministry of Economics
Public Relations Department