Regions and Runaways: Film Assistance in New Zealand and British Columbia, 1999–2005

The film and television production industry is significant in both New Zealand and British Columbia. Governments in both localities provide substantial support for the industry through government agencies and tax incentives. This study reviews the effectiveness and success of the New Zealand Film Commission and BC Film in meeting their respective mandates and strategic goals over the last five years. The scope and success of government tax incentives in attracting and encouraging production in both localities are reviewed, with an analysis undertaken of the results. The paper concludes that the greater cultural focus by the New Zealand government compared with that of British Columbia has resulted in a stronger track record of critically acclaimed and commercially successful films from New Zealand, with a more mixed record from the service-oriented film economy of British Columbia.