THE MOST COMPETITIVE FILM INCENTIVES IN LATIN AMERICA
UP TO 40% CASH REBATE
Colombia offers the most attractive film incentives in the region, thanks to
Law 1556 of 2012, which promotes Colombia as a filming destination for feature films, TV series, music videos, advertising, and more.
These film incentives in Colombia make it one of the most efficient, affordable, and production-friendly countries for audiovisual projects in Latin America.
Two ways
INCENTIVES
FFC
COLOMBIA FILM FUND
CASH REBATE
40% of the audiovisual services expenses.
20% of the logistical services expenses (hotel, food, and transportation)
*Net average of approx. 30% of total local spent.
CINA
CERTIFICATES OF AUDIOVISUAL INVESTMENT
TAX REBATE
Equivalent to 35% of the expenses in audiovisual and logistical services (hotel, food, and transportation).
The CINA are transferable to Colombian income tax filers and function as an income tax discount. Could be sell at 31%.
Ready to unlock your incentive?
Follow the process — step by step — and discover how Colombia supports your production.
LAW 1556 OF 2012
LAW 1556 OF 2012
is part of the regulations for the promotion of the film and audiovisual industry in Colombia, established the incentives that promoteS Colombia as a destination and location for productions of:
✓ Film works
✓ TV Series
✓ Music Videos
✓ Advertising
THE PROCESS - KEY INFO INCENTIVES
THE PROCESS
key info
INCENTIVES
IMPORTANT
Trust Account
should managed
all resources
- Bid bond deposit in the amount of 40 SMLMV 11,759 USD
- The minimum expenditure required for FFC projects and for film works and series of the CINA must be equivalent to 1,800 SMLMV 529,142 USD
- The minimum expenditure required for music videos submitted to CINA must be equivalent to 200 SMLM 58,764 USD
- The minimum expenditure required for video games must be equivalent to 1,215 SMLMV357,020 USD
- The minimum expenditure required for audiovisual production for advertising must be equivalent to 400 SMLMV117,527 USD
SMMLV: Current legal monthly minimum wage in Colombia (2025) 1.300,000 COP
COP-USD EXCHANGE RATE 5 SEPT 2025 1 USD = 3,903 COP
1. APPLICATION
THE PROCESS
1. APPLICATION
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FROM THE PRODUCER
- Application form.
- ID of the legal representative.
- Certificate of incorporation and legal representation for the production company.
- Description of the applicant producer or company.
- Certification of non-application or participation in any other incentives mechanism for the audiovisual industry in Colombia.
- Certification that the producer is not a Colombian taxpayer.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FROM THE project
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Synopsis
- Script
- List of locations
- Technical sheet
- Total value
- Detailed schedule
- Monthly projection of expenses subject to CINA
**For films apply just General Requirements
SPECIFIC FOR FICTION, DOCUMENTARY AND ANIMATED SERIES
- Number of episodes
- Scripts of the first two episodes
- Series road map
SPECIFIC FOR REALITY OR NON-SCRIPTED SERIES AND SHORT WEB SERIES
- Total number of episodes
- Project bible
2. EVALUATION
THE PROCESS
2. EVALUATION
10 business days
- Verification of fulfillment of the application requirements.
- If necessary, supplementary documents or contents can be requested.
- A concept of verification of requirements and relevance of the project is issued to the CPFC.
- The project is declared approved.
3. APPROVAL
THE PROCESS
3. APPROVAL
Annual CPFC schedule
1
The CPFC (Committee) will decide on the approval or rejection of projects for reasons related to the fulfillment of the purposes of Law 1556.
2
The in-country spending budget for audiovisual services and logistical audiovisual services is determined, together with the maximum FFC/CINA rebate amount.
3
4. FILMING CONTRACT
THE PROCESS
4. FILMING CONTRACT
20 business days
The applicant producer must sign the Colombia Filming Contract with Proimágenes within a maximum of twenty (20) days following the approval of the project.
5. TRUST SETUP
THE PROCESS
5. TRUST SETUP
3 months
The producer must set up a trust for the management and payments of the budget within a period of three (3) months following the signing of the Colombia Filming Contract.
6. SHOOT
THE PROCESS
6. SHOOT
The producer must
- Contract the relevant audiovisual and logistical services.
- Spend the established minimum amount.
- Carry out the filming activities for the project in Colombia, along with production or post-production work.
- Include credits for public screening and communication.
- Fulfill the general obligations and other related obligations.
7. ACCREDITATION
THE PROCESS
7. ACCREDITATION
3 months
The producer must submit the following documents within a maximum period of three (3) months from the expiration of the term to make the expenditure in the country:
- Request for reimbursement of the FFC or CINA consideration.
- Certification issued by the trust entity.
- Certification issued by the external auditor.
- In case of foreign audiovisual projects, certification issued by the Film Services Association.
- Certification proving the link between the foreign producer and the direct depositor in Colombia designated for the dematerialized issuance of the CINA.
8. FINAL STEP
THE PROCESS
8. final step
FFC REIMBURSEMENT
Proimágenes will reimburse the FFC amount within the two (2) months following satisfactory receipt of all the required accreditations.
CINA ISSUANCE
1
Proimágenes will issue the certificate of authorization to the Ministry of Culture within a maximum period of fifteen (15) days following satisfactory receipt of all the required accreditations.
2
The producer must make a payment to cover administrative costs, equal to five per cent (5%) of the nominal value of the CINA, minus the amount corresponding to the bid bond deposit made.
3
9. CINA NEGOTIATION
THE PROCESS
9. CINA NEGOTIATION
The CINAs are freely negotiable securities, which are issued in the name of the foreign producer
responsible for the audiovisual project
- Its nominal value is equivalent to thirty-five percent (35%) of the value of the investment made in Colombia.
- According to a decision of the Ministry of Culture, the CINA are issued in a dematerialized form.
- They can be negotiated in the secondary market or transferred to natural or legal persons that declare income tax in Colombia.
- They can be used with a maximum validity of two (2) years from their issuance.
- The holder can use them partially or totally, before their maturity, to:
• Payment of income tax self-withholdings .
• Discount on the income tax statement.
- The income from the transfer of the certificate is not subject to withholding tax in the country and does not constitute taxable income in Colombia.