The Romanian government this week officially announced the extension of an improved cash rebate program at Transylvania International Airport for three years. Film festival. Under the terms of the new law, loan agreements can be concluded until the end of 2029 and payments will be made until the end of 2031.
The program is administered by the Office of Film and Cultural Investment (OFIC) and provides a 30% cash rebate on eligible production costs incurred in Romania. OFIC said the annual budget limit remains at 55 million euros ($63.2 million), with an overall budget of about 250 million euros ($287 million), of which about 180 million euros ($206.7 million) is available for new projects.
Since resuming the cash rebate program in 2024, Romania has attracted more than 90 projects, representing an estimated 110 million euros ($126.3 million) in domestic spending plans, OFIC said. These works, along with others currently in development between 2027 and 2029, have the legal certainty needed to move forward.
“Romania has proven that it can compete with major international productions, and this extension is our commitment to keeping that promise,” said OFIC Director General Valentin Sabu. “We have the locations, staff, infrastructure and legislative runway to make Romania a long-term home for film and television. We truly believe the best is still to come.”
With its diverse locations, well-developed infrastructure and skilled and competitively priced staff base, Romania has attracted international productions such as Season 1 of Netflix’s hit series “Wednesday” (pictured), Sony Pictures’ TV series “Alex Rider” and BBC America’s “Killing Eve.”
The extension of the cash rebate program will ensure that Romania remains an attractive country for the production of foreign productions, alongside countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, in the increasingly competitive Central and Eastern European region.
In addition to a 30% cash rebate on on-site spending, the revamped program offers a fully digital application and documentation system that supporters say is fast, reliable, transparent, and provides a complete cycle of completed projects through all stages of the program, from initial registration to final payment.
Veteran filmmaker and TIFF founder Tudor Giorgiu told Variety that he was “really pleased that government representatives decided to extend the cash rebate scheme despite the deep political crisis,” adding, “Our industry needed a lot of it.”
“I recently met with French and American producers in Cannes and they were all cautious when talking about the possibility of filming in Romania, mainly because the rebate has not been extended yet,” said Giorgiu. “Now we feel there is a more serious and predictable situation. We are happy that the film office can continue its good work.”
Meanwhile, industry groups are rallying behind the news.
“This is not just about attracting overseas filming. For Romanian filmmakers, the extension of the cash rebate program means that they can finally plan,” said Andrei Boncea, co-founder of Bucharest-based production company Frame Film and chairman of the Romanian Producers Union.
“Directors who are developing a project – work that often takes years to complete – know that a significant portion of their budget will be covered. That certainty influences what we dare to try and how far ahead we can think.” he continued. “This also strengthens our strength in co-production in Europe. Partners are attracted not only to our exceptional talent, but also to the tangible economic weight that Romania brings.
“Timing is important. Romanian films have already achieved real fame abroad and have been rebuilding trust over the years, but international productions are once again seriously eyeing Romania,” Bonsea added. “Fixing the program until the end of this decade turns that momentum into a sustained one. I am confident of significant growth for the sector as a whole and a number of remarkable Romanian films made with real ambition. The question is no longer whether filmmakers can afford to make the films they want to make, but how far they are prepared to push it.”
The Transylvania International Airport Film Festival will be held from June 12th to 21st.
