The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) said in reply to a written interpellation from lawmaker Leong Sun Iok released on Sunday that it is planning to establish a website for local and overseas production companies and filming teams to exchange information and cooperation.
Leong, a vice-president of the Macau Federation of Trade Unions, commonly known as Gung Luen, submitted his written interpellation last month, asking about the government’s plan to promote film production in Macau. The interpellation and the reply from the bureau were released to the media on Saturday.
According to the reply, the bureau received 388 e-applications for shooting permits in about two and a half years through an online platform established by the bureau and 10 other government entities, with the processing time being shortened from 4.3 days to about 3.6 days.
The bureau underlined that the functions of the application platform would be continuously assessed and enhanced to facilitate the shooting work of overseas teams filming in Macau and provide related supporting services, according to the reply.
The bureau noted that a total of 16 projects under the Cultural Development Fund’s two new schemes in 2023 to support the launch of film and TV productions “with Macau elements” had been granted the subsidies as of May, with film and TV crews from mainland China, Hong Kong and Japan slated to shoot at various World Heritage sites and the city’s old quarters, so as to provide more opportunities for local film and TV enterprises to participate in the production of overseas film and TV productions.
The government will continue to promote Macau’s image of through film and television productions, strengthen Macau’s cultural communication capabilities, and promote the in-depth integration of “culture + tourism”, the bureau said.
This undated handout photo provided by lawmaker Leong Sun Iok on Saturday shows him addressing the hemicycle of the Legislative Assembly (AL).
