Malaysia‘s National Film Development Corporation, known as FINAS, used a showcase session at Hong Kong FilMart on Tuesday to announce that the Malaysian government has approved a RM300 million ($76.5 million) allocation for its cash rebate program over the next five years – a renewal that the agency’s chief said cements the country’s position as a leading destination for international productions across the Asia-Pacific.
Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, CEO of FINAS, told attendees at the “Malaysia on Screen: Powering Global Productions Through Incentives, Tourism and Creative Excellence” session that the rebate’s renewal follows over a decade of demonstrated results. Since the program’s launch 13 years ago, FINAS has disbursed RM580 million ($147.9 million) in rebates across 243 projects, while attracting nearly RM2.8 billion ($713.8 million) in total investment into the country, generating approximately 30,000 jobs and producing an estimated RM7 billion ($1.78 billion) in multiplier effects across tourism, hospitality and allied services.
The renewed program supports both inbound international productions and local projects, with FINAS data showing global productions accounting for RM2.25 billion ($573.3 million) in investment and domestic projects contributing an additional RM550 million ($140.2 million).
Azmir noted that Malaysia’s rebate stands apart from comparable programs offered globally because it covers a broad range of formats – from feature films and documentaries to TV series, streaming productions, visual effects and post-production work – and extends eligibility to above-the-line talent, including actors and performers working in Malaysia. Among the high-profile productions previously supported under the program, he cited post-production work on “Star Wars” and a location shoot for Marvel’s “Thunderbolts*,” portions of which were filmed at Malaysia’s Merdeka 118 tower.
The session also served as a platform to highlight 2025 as a breakout year for Malaysian cinema. The country’s local film box office reached an all-time high of RM244 million ($62.2 million) – nearly double the RM125 million ($31.9 million) recorded in 2024 and more than twice the RM108 million ($27.5 million) posted in 2023. Total investment and sales between Malaysian companies and international partners crossed RM1 billion ($255 million) for the year, driven in part by a three-year agreement with Banijay Nordic for unscripted series “Survivor” to be shot in Malaysia, and an expanded animation partnership with Hasbro Entertainment covering titles including “Transformers” and “My Little Pony.”
On the regulatory front, Azmir highlighted a recently passed amendment to the FINAS Act that broadens the legal definition of “film” to encompass TV content, documentaries, animation and AI-generated content – a move he described as future-proofing the agency’s mandate as emerging technologies reshape production pipelines. The amendment also introduces a suite of worker protections for cast and crew, including standardized working contracts, mandatory insurance coverage and permits governing the employment of child performers.
The showcase also featured a signing ceremony for Malaysian action film “Konspirasi,” with Elepfilm Entertainment inking an international distribution deal with Hong Kong-based Reliance Media Entertainment Ltd at the event. The film is described as a story rooted in anti-corruption and national crisis themes.
Alongside the incentive and deal announcements, Azmir pointed to a BBC and Sony Pictures co-production – a TV adaptation of “Lord of the Flies” – which was shot over four months on the island of Langkawi as a showcase of Malaysia’s location diversity. He also highlighted the country’s growing reputation as a hub for unscripted formats, noting that multiple international survival series are currently in production across the country’s varied landscapes, from rainforest interiors to island settings in Sabah and Sarawak.
Looking ahead, Azmir outlined FINAS’s strategic priorities for the next five to ten years: building Malaysia’s domestic film industry into a regional force, cementing the country’s position as the preferred base for unscripted international productions in Southeast Asia, and expanding its animation sector, which he said already leads the region in the number of animated theatrical releases.
English (US) ·