Step 9 – MAR – Comisión Fílmica de Colombia

Step 9

Approval and signing of the Colombia Filming Contract

Application stage: Aprobación CINA

01.

02.

03.

04.

Application

Approval

Project accreditation

Issuance of the Audiovisual Investment Certificate

(Select the step you want to know about)

Once the project has been approved, the producer must sign the Colombia Filming Contract with Proimágenes. Please note that the CPFC approves or rejects the project according to the criteria established by law, which are:

The promotion of the national territory for audiovisual filming
The development of the national film industry
The promotion of tourism and the country’s image

If approved, the budget for SA and SLA expenses in Colombia is defined, as well as the maximum amount of CINA for the respective project.

☞ See here for the text of the Colombia Filming Contract

Remember that...

The contract must be signed within a maximum period of twenty (20) business days from the notification of approval of the CPFC sent by Proimágenes.
The producer may withdraw from the project at any time, in which case they will lose the Bid Bond.
The trust account can only be set up after the contract has been signed, within a period of no more than three (3) months from the date of the contract.

Frequently asked questions

What are the reasons for rejecting a project?

Lack of accuracy in the documents submitted
Failure to meet the application requirements
Existence of any applicable restrictions
The project does not comply with the purposes of the law

What happens if the project is rejected?
The producer may request a refund of 90% of the value of the Bid Bond, unless there is false information in the documents.

What happens if the producer withdraws the application after it has been approved?
They lose the total value of the Bid Bond and cannot access the CINA.

What happens if the contract is not signed within the established time frame?
It is understood that the producer has withdrawn from the project and the quota is released for other projects.

What does the MAR say about this?

Article 34. Project approval. The CPFC shall decide on the approval or disapproval of projects for reasons relating to compliance with the purposes set forth in Law 1556 of 2012, Article 1 (promotion of the national territory for audiovisual filming; development of the national film industry; promotion of tourism activity and the image of the country), for which it may define processes, guidelines, criteria, or weightings that serve as input in the preliminary evaluation of the Management Entity, and for its autonomous decision.

Upon approval of a project by the CPFC, the budget for expenditure in the country on audiovisual services and audiovisual logistical services is set, as well as the maximum amount of CINA for the respective initiative. Additionally, the signing of the Colombia Filming Contract will be ordered. Decisions will be set forth in agreements.

34.1. In the case of advertising audiovisual production, either the audiovisual campaign idea or the campaign itself may be submitted, in accordance with section 29.5 of this Manual. If only the audiovisual campaign idea is submitted, the CPFC may approve it. This approval is conditional upon the confirmation of the applicant producer to proceed with the respective application, which in this case must be made within a maximum of twenty (20) working days from the date on which the CPFC has given its approval. Only from this moment on will all the terms established in this Manual be counted with respect to the approved projects. In the event that only the idea of the audiovisual campaign is submitted, the Management Entity shall establish which documents must be submitted at that time and which must be submitted from the time the applicant producer provides the confirmation referred to in the previous paragraph. In all other respects, the provisions of this Manual shall apply.

Article 35. Grounds for non-approval. Projects will not be approved when:

35.1. There are reasons to doubt the veracity of the submitted documents.

35.2. It is verified that any of the submitted documents and requirements do not meet the standards established in this Manual.

35.3. The applicant producer or the project falls under any of the circumstances provided in Article 30 of this Manual.

35.4. The CPFC deems the project not relevant for the purposes established in Law 1556 of 2012 (promotion of the national territory for audiovisual filming; promotion of tourism activity, the country’s image, and the development of the national film industry).
The Management Entity will inform the applicant about these situations.
SECTION II COLOMBIA FILMING CONTRACT; PROJECT EXECUTION

Article 36. Contract and commitments. Once the project is approved, the producer must comply with the following:

36.1. Enter into the Colombia Filming Contract with the Management Entity within a maximum of twenty (20) days following the communication sent by the latter. If the producer does not do so within this timeframe, it is understood that the producer withdraws from the project, and the CINA quota will be immediately released for other projects.