Addressing around 800 international delegates, the minister presented SCRI.PT, a newly launched €350m funding framework designed to strengthen Portugal’s audiovisual and film industry through a more structured and competitive incentive system.
Set to run until 2029, the programme replaces a previously fragmented mix of rebates and approvals with a unified mechanism aimed at offering long-term financial predictability to international producers. The package combines cash rebates, refunds and grants, with further operational details expected to be finalised and officially announced in June.
At the centre of the initiative is a €50m annual incentive scheme, divided between €35m for high-end international productions and €15m dedicated to domestic and independent projects. This is complemented by a €150m financial guarantee line, enabling producers to access bank financing using approved incentives as collateral.
The revised framework significantly increases Portugal’s investment capacity compared to previous years, particularly in attracting large-scale international shoots. Productions spending above a defined local threshold will benefit from a tiered rebate system, while updated payment structures are designed to improve cash flow during production.
Balseiro Lopes emphasised that the country’s appeal lies not only in financial incentives but also in its combination of skilled professionals, diverse locations and growing production infrastructure. She highlighted the need to further promote Portugal internationally in order to compete with established hubs such as Spain.
The minister also underscored the broader economic relevance of the audiovisual sector, positioning it as a strategic industry capable of generating both cultural value and significant economic impact.
