Iceland plans filming incentive boost for 2017

Iceland is a popular international filming location as it offers unique topography including black-sand beaches, glaciers and vast volcanic landscapes. Everything is within easy reach of capital city Reykjavik and the country itself is also only a few hours’ flight from central European hubs.

Recent productions shot in Iceland have included Darren Aronofsky’s biblical drama Noah (pictured) and Tom Cruise’s Oblivion, as well as TV dramas like Game of Thrones and Fortitude.

"Last year was a fantastic one for the Icelandic film industry with around 100 prizes at international film festivals worldwide,” said Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir, minister of industry and commerce, according to a report in Iceland Monitor.

“We should all be very proud. One of the factors in the great development of the Icelandic film industry can be traced to governmental tax reimbursement, something which has been a part of Icelandic law since 1999."

The Icelandic plan comes only a few months after Norway launched its first national filming incentive. Oslo quickly secured production of crime thriller The Snowman, which teams acclaimed Swedish filmmaker Tomas Alfredson with Michael Fassbender and Rebecca Ferguson.

Icelandic filmmaker Baltasar Kormákur is working on plans to establish a new film studio near Reykjavik that could help further boost the country’s international production appeal.

For more on filming in Iceland see our production guide.

Image: Niko Tavernise/Paramount Pictures Corporation/Regency Entertainment