Uruguay shows its audiovisual industry to the world in a new web portal

The sectorial brand Uruguay Audiovisual launched its page at the Cannes Film Festival with the aim of disseminating the attractions offered by the country for filming, its film offer and bringing information to all local actors in the sector.

The Cannes Film Festival, which this year was held virtually, served as a showcase for the launch of the new website www.uruguayaudiovisual.com.

The initiative is promoted by the investment and export agency Uruguay XXI for the sectorial brand Uruguay Audiovisual, together with the Film and Audiovisual Institute of Uruguay (ICAU - MEC), the National Direction of Telecommunications and Audiovisual Communication Services (DINATEL-MIEM), Montevideo Audiovisual -the Audiovisual Management and Promotion Unit of the Culture Department of the Montevideo City Council (IM)-, the Association of Film Producers and Directors of Uruguay (ASOPROD) and the Business Chamber of Advertising Production Companies of Uruguay (CEPPU).

The page reflects the proposal of this sector in our country, which focuses both on attracting foreign productions and on promoting national cinema. It also has a complete directory of companies and professionals and an agenda of the festivals and markets held in Uruguay. In this way, for the first time, the different aspects of an industry that aims at attracting investments to the country and at making visible the authorial seal of the national cinema can be seen in one single place.

Through the Uruguay Audiovisual website, visitors can find out about national projects that are in the production stage, thus favoring the realization of co-productions, as well as the releases planned for the year. It also facilitates access to signed co-production agreements and the main benefits offered when it comes to attracting international productions. Among the latter are the Cash Rebate, a refund mechanism of up to 25% for foreign productions made in Uruguay, and the exemption from the payment of VAT (22%), which is applied to production costs of projects made abroad but filmed in the country.

The portal also features information on the versatile Uruguayan locations, which alternate natural landscapes of beaches, fields, and mountains with art deco, art nouveau, and modern buildings that are accessible at short distances. Other advantages offered by Uruguay when it comes to attracting international productions are the stations opposite the northern hemisphere, varied castings, highly qualified personnel, as well as state-of-the-art equipment and telecommunications, among others.

The Uruguay Audiovisual brand was created after the sector took off in the country in the last 20 years. Its objective is to consolidate Uruguay's position as an attractive destination for high-quality film shoots, as well as to promote the strengths and talent of its industry around the world.