Skip to content
  • Español
  • English

Project with foreign investment

Invest in Colombia, bring your stories to life.

Investing in Colombia is not just a requirement: it is a commitment to the talent, services, and creativity that drive the growth of the local audiovisual industry.

Each type of audiovisual project has a specific minimum expenditure requirement to qualify for CINA. See below for details for each category.

CINA

Audiovisual Investment Certificate

Series

Minimum expenditure required

Must meet two conditions:

Minimum project expenditure
including taxes: COP 3.151.629.000

The minimum expenditure can be distributed across up to four (4) episodes, meaning that each episode should cost, on average:
COP 787.907.250

*The Resources Allocation Manual (MAR) establishes these values in SMLMV, which are updated each year in accordance with current regulations.

Check this link for the updated minimum expenditure values for 2026 by project type in Colombian pesos and US dollars.

What does the MAR say about this?
What does the MAR say about this?
What does the MAR say about this?
What does the MAR say about this?
What does the MAR say about this?
What does the MAR say about this?
What does the MAR say about this?
Minimum expenditure calculator

Enter your estimated budget values in Colombia and view:

Minimum expenditure required: Series

Who can apply?

If you are a foreign producer who does not file income tax returns in Colombia, CINA is the right incentive for your project!

Please note that this incentive only recognizes expenses incurred in Colombia with local suppliers. In addition, it is mandatory to have a Colombian co-producer or film services company.

What does the MAR say about this?

Technical requirements

  • Logline and synopsis
  • Scripts for the first two (2) episodes and a roadmap for the remaining episodes (for reality shows or non-scripted series, the project bible must be included)
  • List of locations to be filmed in Colombia
  • Technical specifications
  • Technical and artistic team configuration
  • Detailed weekly schedule
  • Monthly expense projections
  • Financing plan format
  • PowerPoint project presentation (.pptx)

If the project is applying for the Production and Post-production components, the following documents are required:

  • Detailed description of the post-production processes to be carried out in Colombia
  • List of Colombian companies involved
  • Gantt chart of post-production activities
What does the MAR say about this?
Back to home
Back to menu CINA

FAQ

¿Se puede obtener el incentivo del FFC y del CINA con el mismo proyecto?
No. Los instrumentos son excluyentes. Un proyecto solo puede presentarse a uno de los dos. No se aceptan postulaciones duplicadas ni que sean beneficiarias de la Ley 814 de 2003 (FDC).

¿Puede un proyecto de solo postproducción aplicar?
Sí, al CINA, si cumple el gasto mínimo (COP 630.325.800. ) y se presenta como proyecto independiente. Al FFC únicamente se aplican proyectos que con anterioridad a la postulación hubieran sido destinatarios del FFC para producción.

¿Cuáles son los gastos no cubiertos por los incentivos?
No están cubiertos: gastos fiduciarios, auditorías, administración de valores por depositantes, compras de bienes, ni gastos que no sean servicios audiovisuales o logísticos prestados por personas naturales o jurídicas colombianas.

¿El productor debe ser el propietario de los derechos patrimoniales de la obra?
Sí. El productor, como responsable del proyecto, debe ser titular de los derechos patrimoniales, salvo que se pacte lo contrario legalmente.

¿La sociedad de servicios cinematográficos debe ser coproductora?
No. Puede ser simplemente contratista. Para proyectos no nacionales, los servicios deben contratarse por intermedio de una sociedad registrada como prestadora de servicios cinematográficos, sin necesidad de que sea coproductora.

¿Es necesario que el productor esté legalmente constituido?
Sí. El productor debe ser una persona jurídica (o su equivalente extranjero) legalmente constituida.

En el caso del CINA, debe tratarse de productores extranjeros no declarantes de renta en Colombia.

¿Existe alguna restricción si el productor extranjero tiene filiales en Colombia?
No. Las filiales pueden actuar como sociedades de servicios cinematográficos si están registradas ante el Ministerio de Cultura y su objeto social incluye dichos servicios.

¿Se puede postular una idea para publicidad?
Sí. En producción audiovisual publicitaria se permite postular una idea, con aprobación posterior por parte de la Sociedad de Servicios Cinematográficos.

¿Se pueden postular dos temporadas de una serie en una sola postulación?
No, Cada temporada debe hacer una postulación por separado

¿Cuáles proyectos no pueden postularse?
Aquellos que ya recibieron FFC (excepto postproducción) o CINA, ni beneficiarios de FDC, ni de la ley 814, ni aquellos que tienen vínculos con miembros del CPFC o empresas inhabilitadas.

¿Qué pasa si la postulación del proyecto está incompleta?
No puede agendarse para la sesión del CPFC. Se requiere presentación completa y estar habilitado por la entidad de gestión con al menos 5 días hábiles de antelación.

¿Qué sucede si el proyecto es desaprobado por el CPFC o se retira antes de ser evaluado por el CPFC?
El productor puede solicitar el reintegro del 90% del valor de la cobertura de la seriedad.

¿Qué sucede si el proyecto desiste después de ser aprobado?
El productor puede desistir en cualquier momento, perdiendo el valor de la cobertura de seriedad.

¿Se puede ampliar el presupuesto de un proyecto ya aprobado?
Sí. Hasta el 50% del valor del gasto sujeto a CINA o contraprestación, sin necesidad de suscribir otro sí.

¿Existe un cronograma con fechas específicas para aplicar?
No. La convocatoria está abierta todo el año. FFC se otorga hasta agotar el presupuesto asignado por el Gobierno Nacional; CINA, hasta agotar el cupo fiscal aprobado por el CPFC.

¿Qué ocurre si no se presentan las certificaciones?
Se considera desistimiento. Se libera el cupo asignado.

¿Se pueden emitir varios CINA por un mismo proyecto?
Sí. Se permiten emisiones parciales según los montos acreditados.

¿Puedo fraccionar los CINA de un mismo proyecto?
Sí, el productor extranjero puede negociar el CINA parcial o totalmente. El beneficiario o tenedor del título puede dar la instrucción de la operación por el valor que requiera a través de su depositante directo quien se encarga de realizar los fraccionamientos y cumplir la operación en el Depósito de Valores.

¿Se pueden vender los CINA?
Sí, a personas naturales o jurídicas que sean declarantes de renta en Colombia, en el mercado bursátil a través de una sociedad comisionista de bolsa o una operación extrabursátil en el mercado OTC.

¿Cómo identificar a posibles compradores del CINA?
Una forma es a través de una firma comisionista, que identifica empresas o personas que requieran pagar impuestos de autorretención y renta en Colombia. Otra manera es contactando directamente a personas naturales o jurídicas declarantes del impuesto de renta en Colombia.

¿Puedo negociar los CINA sin un comisionista?
Sí. Es posible hacerlo mediante una operación extrabursátil -OTC- negociación directa entre las partes, requiere al depositante directo para el registro de la operación en el sistema electrónico.

¿Quiénes están habilitados como comisionistas?
Cualquier firma comisionista puede actuar como depositante directo de valores. Cada firma decide si acepta o restringe la custodia o negociación de los CINA.

¿Se puede acceder al CINA sin haber terminado el proyecto audiovisual?
Sí, siempre que se haya acreditado el gasto mínimo exigido por el programa.

¿Cuál es el proceso de recepción del CINA por parte del productor extranjero?
1. El CINA es emitido por el Ministerio de Cultura a través de DECEVAL, a favor del productor extranjero.
2. El productor debe estar vinculado a una sociedad comisionista de bolsa o depositante directo.
3. El depositante directo recibe el CINA en una subcuenta del productor y realiza la instrucción de venta o traslado que le dé el productor.

¿Se pueden usar los CINA como garantía bancaria?
Sí. Pueden hacer parte de un paquete financiero respaldado por flujo de caja, preventas y distribución

Calculators

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 29. Minimum expenditure in the country. By applying for the tax discount instrument covered by CINA, the producer is obliged to make, separately or jointly, expenses in audiovisual services and/or audiovisual logistic services in Colombia, for a minimum amount of:

29.1. Feature films: One thousand eight hundred (1,800) SMLMV, including taxes.

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 29. Minimum expenditure in the country. By applying for the tax discount instrument covered by CINA, the producer is obliged to make, separately or jointly, expenses in audiovisual services and/or audiovisual logistic services in Colombia, for a minimum amount of:

29.2. Series: One thousand eight hundred (1,800) SMLMV, including taxes. The minimum expenditure may be distributed in up to four (4) serialised chapters.

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 29. Minimum expenditure in the country. By applying for the tax discount instrument covered by CINA, the producer is obliged to make, separately or jointly, expenses in audiovisual services and/or audiovisual logistic services in Colombia, for a minimum amount of:

In the case of short serialised content for web and 100% animated series, a package of up to twenty-five (25) chapters may be submitted within the minimum of one thousand eight hundred (1,800) SMLMV.

If the series has a total expenditure in the country equal to or greater than nine thousand (9,000) SMLMV, the expenditure may be distributed over a larger number of chapters.

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 29. Minimum expenditure in the country. By applying for the tax discount instrument covered by CINA, the producer is obliged to make, separately or jointly, expenses in audiovisual services and/or audiovisual logistic services in Colombia, for a minimum amount of:

29.4. Video games: One thousand two hundred and fifteen (1,215) SMLMV, including taxes. This expenditure must be made on one (1) video game, video game prototype or video game expansion.

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 29. Minimum expenditure in the country. By applying for the tax discount instrument covered by CINA, the producer is obliged to make, separately or jointly, expenses in audiovisual services and/or audiovisual logistic services in Colombia, for a minimum amount of:

29.3. Music videos: One thousand eight hundred (1,800) minimum wages, including taxes. This minimum expenditure can be distributed in an audiovisual package of twenty-five (25) videos.
In any case, if it is a single music video, its minimum expenditure may be two hundred (200) SMLMV, including taxes.

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 29. Minimum expenditure in the country. By applying for the tax discount instrument covered by CINA, the producer is obliged to make, separately or jointly, expenses in audiovisual services and/or audiovisual logistic services in Colombia, for a minimum amount of:

29.5. Advertising audiovisual production: Four hundred (400) SMLMV, including taxes. In the audiovisual advertising production, the minimum expenditure can be distributed in a package (called audiovisual campaign) of a maximum of twenty (20) audiovisual pieces of the same advertising campaign. At least eighty percent (80%) of this expenditure must be on audiovisual services (not logistics).

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 29. Minimum expenditure in the country. By applying for the tax discount instrument covered by CINA, the producer is obliged to make, separately or jointly, expenses in audiovisual services and/or audiovisual logistic services in Colombia, for a minimum amount of:

29.6. Post-production. Projects that only include a post-production component, regardless of the type of audiovisual work to which they correspond, must spend a minimum of three hundred and sixty (360) SMLMV, including taxes.

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 28. Applicants. Legal entities that are foreign producers of the respective audiovisual project and are not income tax filers in Colombia may apply for the tax discount under the CINA. All necessary processes, from the application to the issuance of the CINA, may be carried out through: (a) the national co-production company, or (b) the project’s film services company. This, under the figure of Power of Representation or mandate; always, in the name and on behalf of the foreign producer, in the format established by the Management Entity.

Article 30. Restrictions. The following may not apply for CINA:

30.1. Projects that have any economic or patrimonial participation (producers, investors, sponsors, financiers in any capacity), artistic or technical (artistic and technical personnel according to Decree 1080 of 2015), authorial (scriptwriters, pre-existing work, music, designs) of a CPFC member.

30.2. Projects in which the executive personnel of the production company, the film services company, or the national co-production company have a relationship with a member of the CPFC as: spouse or permanent partner, or kinship up to the second degree (parents, children, siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, spouse, permanent partner).

30.3. Projects that have been previously approved to receive the FFC’s Cash Rebate or CINA, except in the case of the post-production component provided for in this manual, or in the case of the withdrawal option.

30.4. Projects related to legal entities that fall under any of the restrictions of this article. This includes (a) those that have the status of producer, co-producer, investor, sponsor (or financier in any capacity) or film services company of the project; or (b) members of the same business group as the applicant producer.

30.5. Projects whose producers, co-producers, partners or investors have omitted the obligations established in article 52 of this Manual.

30.6. Projects that are in the process of applying for, or have been approved to receive: 30.6.1. Incentives from the Film Development Fund (Law 814 of 2003).

30.6.2. FFC’s Cash Rebate or CINA.

30.7. Projects that have obtained the national project resolution for tax deduction (Law 814 of 2003).

30.8. Producers who have breached, on any occasion, the Colombia Filming Contract.

Paragraph. The producer may withdraw from carrying out or completing the project at any time, informing the Management Entity of such decision, before or after entering into the Colombia Filming Contract, in which case the bid bond will be in favour of the CINA system. No CINA approvals will be made for projects that are withdrawn

What does the MAR say about this?

32.3. Project information:

32.3.1. Information required for each type of project, which will be published in an annex, updated by the Management Entity, taking into account the particularities of each audiovisual genre or type.

32.3.2. Certification, in a pre-established format, stating that the submitted audiovisual project did not opt for or receive the FFC’s Cash Rebate or incentives under Law 814 of 2003.