Support for the filming of foreign films and the organisation of large publicevents in Latvia

Published: 04.03.2025.

On February 11, 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the support programme “Procedures in which state budget co-financing is granted for large, significant public events and the filming of foreign films in Latvia” (CM regulation 99).

The objective of the aid programme is to ensure co-financing of the State budget for the organisation of large public events and filming of foreign films in Latvia, creating positive economic impact, as well as promoting international recognition of the image of the State of Latvia.

From this year on 3 March to 3 April, the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) will accept applications in the support programme for foreign films and major events. The total budget to support both programmes is planned at EUR 23.67 million by 2027. You can apply for support on the platform: www.business.gov.lv.

Application for the organisation of large public events in Latvia.

Application for the filming of foreign films in Latvia.

For the first competition the total funding available for 2025, 2026 and 2027 projects is EUR 23.67 million – for the filming of foreign films in Latvia EUR 15.2 million and for the organisation of large public events EUR 8.4 million.

CM regulation 99 provides that after April 3, when the acceptance of applications is concluded, the LIAA will evaluate applications within one month and collect information regarding the necessary co-financing for each type of measures. The information collected sequentially will be transferred to the Ministry of Economy, which will carry out a request for financing or increase of appropriations in accordance with the available amount of financing specified in the current State budget Law in the period until 2027 in 2025, 2026 and 2027, not exceeding 15% of the amount of the fiscal security reserve of the relevant year. Following the decision to increase appropriations, the LIAA will conclude contracts with project promoters.

Cabinet Regulation No. 173 of 15 March 2022, procedures in which State budget Co-financing is granted for filming of foreign films in Latvia, the LIAA has disbursed co-financing for 24 film projects in the amount of EUR 5.28 million. The amount of taxes paid within the framework of supported film projects amounts to EUR 5.67 million.

On March 15, 2022, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a new state support program of the Ministry of Economics for filming foreign films in Latvia. In order to promote the attraction of foreign investments, various financial support mechanisms have been established in many countries in Europe and the world, both in the form of taxes and funds, so that foreign film producers are financially interested in filming films in a given country, recovering part of the invested funding.

The services provided by the film industry significantly stimulate the development of economy and recognition of Latvia. With the help of co-financing, employment is effectively promoted in various sectors of the economy, including those not directly related to the film industry (for example, hospitality, catering, transport services), while strengthening the international competitiveness of film industry professionals.

Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers of March 15, 2022 No. 173 "Procedure in which state budget co-financing is granted for the filming of foreign films in Latvia" (CM regulation 173) determines the procedure by which the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (hereinafter - LIAA) grants state budget co-financing for the filming of foreign films in Latvia.

The Ministry of Economics, in cooperation with LIAA, is currently working on amendments to the regulations of the CM 173, with the aim of improving and speeding up the procedure for submitting projects and the support granted, changing the evaluation criteria of the project submission, supplementing the criteria of eligible costs, changing the amount of co-financing by determining it in a single item of eligible expenses, as well as determining the obligation to timely submit a detailed and documented list of the amount of taxes paid as a result of project implementation.Find out below why Lolita Ritmanis, a Latvian composer, who is a Grammy®, Emmy® and SCL Award winning member of the international film music community, thinks you should discover film making in Latvia.