Film Fiji conducts a stringent audit for all productions carried out locally following which a rebate is decided upon.

Industry Permanent Secretary, Shaheen Ali says at the end of all productions, a committee consisting of the Ministry, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and Film Fiji, audit the expenditure of the production.

Ali says through the audits, the Qualifying Fijian Expenditure is determined to give the percent of rebate a production house is entitled too.

“The QFE includes things like airfares, insurance, location scouting and visit, costume, make-up and set design, producer’s fee and there’s a limit on that, writer’s fee. So basically anything that helps Fijian industry qualifies as a local content but with a slight variation because productions are unique, however, those will qualify for the rebate.”

Ali says the film sector contributed to over thirty-two million dollars of economic activity in 2014 with over fifty international productions filmed.

He adds while Fiji is an attractive destination, competition from other countries remain a challenge.