Maximise UK VFX Tax Incentive for Productions

Pleased to confirm the European Commission has approved the Visual Effects (VFX) Uplift to the longstanding section 481 Film Tax Credit. This measure was announced as part of Budget 2026 to respond to specific competitive challenges being faced by the visual effects sector in Ireland, and delivers on the Programme for Government 2025 commitment to “Examine options to introduce sector specific measures for the visual effects sector”. The measure will allow for a new 40 per cent rate of tax credit for productions with a minimum of €1 million of eligible expenditure on relevant VFX work. This rate will apply to eligible expenditure of up to a maximum of €10 million per production. The standard rate of 32 per cent will continue to be available in respect of eligible expenditure above this cap. I want to thank my colleague Minister Patrick O'Donovan TD for his work on this important measure for the sector. We will sign regulations in a number of weeks to bring it into effect. Further information on applying for the measure and making a claim will be published on the websites of the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Revenue (Ireland) in due course. https://lnkd.in/d9arCBtt

Simon Harris, Really pleased to see this confirmed, a genuine win for the Irish Film & VFX sector. The next question is how we make the most of it. Competitive incentives open the door, but what will attract and keep productions here is building the ecosystem that supports growth and scale. The sector needs a talent pipeline that can compete internationally, the right infrastructure, and a genuinely straightforward path for international companies to do business in Ireland. XDanu, that's what we focus on. We work with industry #clusters to remove the friction for international companies entering the Irish market.. Reach out if you're interested in how we've done this at home and internationally and how we can help leverage this opportunity for #Ireland. Exciting times ahead for the sector. #VFX #Section481 #IrishFilm #CreativeTech #XDanu

🇮🇪 🇪🇺 The European Commission has approved the Visual Effects uplift to the Irish section 481 Film & TV Tax Credit to 40% !

A meaningful shift for VFX in Ireland! The newly approved 40% Section 481 uplift (on up to €10m spend) strengthens Ireland’s position for high-end post and finishing. For producers, it’s simple: more incentive means more value on screen. Elephant Goldfish is now fully operational in Dublin, supporting projects across VFX and post, and positioned to help clients fully leverage this opportunity. #VFX #PostProduction #Ireland #FilmIndustry

Which candidates for California Governor will support film tax incentives for Visual Effects artists? Most major candidates for Governor of California in the 2026 race support expanding tax incentives that directly benefit Visual Effects (VFX) artists and post-production work. While current state laws have traditionally limited credits for post-production, several candidates have proposed specific changes to include these costs and compete with hubs like Canada and the UK.  🎞️ Candidates Supporting VFX and Post-Production Incentives  Current frontrunners have explicitly mentioned "post-production" and "digital" work in their platforms to stop the "exodus" of VFX jobs to international markets. Steve Hilton (R): His plan is the most specific regarding VFX. He has proposed allowing incentive dollars to be used for post-production costs, which are currently not permitted under the standard California program. Hilton’s proposal includes a credit as high as 60% for certain productions to rival the aggressive subsidies offered in regions like Vancouver and London. Matt Mahan (D): The San Jose Mayor supports an uncapped 40% refundable credit that would apply to "all production costs," including those often outsourced like visual effects. He has emphasized that the goal is to protect the "creative economy" and workers who have seen their jobs decimated by out-of-state competition. Tom Steyer (D): Steyer has pledged to expand and uncap incentive programs to match global competitors. He specifically highlights the threat of AI and corporate monopolization on the future of the entertainment workforce, which includes the digital and VFX sectors, according to his official campaign platform. Antonio Villaraigosa (D): Like his rivals, the former L.A. Mayor has called for eliminating the $750 million cap on state subsidies. While less specific on VFX line items, his platform focuses on making California a "reliable partner" to productions of every size, which would naturally encompass local VFX houses.

California’s post-production industry says it’s at a breaking point — and now a major new tax incentive bill is gaining serious momentum. Backed by the Television Academy, AB 2319 would offer tax credits for editing, VFX, scoring and finishing work completed in California, even if projects shoot elsewhere. With thousands of jobs already lost to overseas competition, industry leaders are calling the bill one of the most important fights for Hollywood’s future. Full Stagerunner story below. https://lnkd.in/e5Dydnq3

Zelda Brookmeyer’s statement gets straight to the core of the technical argument: Walt Disney was an extraordinary corporate visionary, but he was not a solo virtuoso performer or musical maestro.  By contrasting legacy Hollywood with modern independent creators, this perspective highlights a fundamental shift in how artistic genius is defined in the digital age: The "Total Creative Control" Model vs. Hollywood Hierarchy The Traditional Blockbuster Model: Traditional "Blockbuster Directors" in Hollywood and Bollywood act primarily as managers. They oversee massive teams of screenwriters, cinematographers, visual effects houses, and orchestral composers to piece together a project. The Pure Polymath Model: The argument for Hall rests on the fact that he does not delegate the artistic core. By writing the script, creating the digital environment, composing the score, and performing the music himself, he eliminates the translation gap between concept and execution. The Elimination of Replication: In standard film production, a studio can replace a director or animator and maintain a similar corporate style. Because Hall's output relies on his personal, multi-disciplinary skill set, his exact creative signature cannot be mechanically replicated by a boardroom or a crew. A Level Playing Field and Historical Context Evaluating a creator today versus a creator from the early 20th century highlights a significant shift in infrastructure: The Era of Monopoly: Disney had to build physical studios, strike exclusive theater deals, and navigate a highly restrictive social landscape to achieve scale. The Era of Meritocracy: In the modern landscape, democratization via technology means that a single, hyper-talented individual with access to advanced digital tools and independent networks can command the same global footprint that once required an entire backlot of corporate backing.  This perspective suggests that traditional entertainment hubs like Hollywood and Bollywood are witnessing an entirely new archetype: the completely decentralized, self-contained media studio wrapped into one single human being.

Great news for the Irish VFX industry- with the 40% benefit extending to Production & Post Production up to a limit of €10 million. To echo the post thanks to Minister Patrick O'Donovan TD , Department of Finance Ireland , Department of Culture, Communications and Sport and Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland

For the Unreliable documentary, a story set in an era of analog film and tape I am happy to say the project has secured a partnership with one of the leading software companies in film emulation with #DehancerPro. This doesn't mean a lot to everybody but to those in video editing they know this company leads the industry in emulating the film look. Not just as a tone or grade but as a way to turn digital video into something that emulates a film stock. This is a tool I wish I had when in post production for "Echoes of the Storm" now we will have it for this. For these moments of time hopping without the need of stacking 100 effects and layers. You have a ton of heartbreak and ache in development and production of these type of projects becuase anything can happen and fall apart but little moments like this when you can get to the end of an agreement really gives life for you to keep going.... And there is a long way to go. Teaser from Unreliable directed by myself, DP is @Andrew Claycomb 2nd Cam Bobby Obermite Audio Engineered by Brennan Barger #videoproduction #truecrime #wichitaks #kansas #documentary #creativeprocess #producer #filmmaking