Based in Vienna, the small production company Pont Pictures focuses on producing films that are co-produced within Europe. They’re leading a unique project aimed at fostering more global partnerships through the utilization of Austria’s generous film financing programs.
Philip Mair Vargas, CEO of Pont Pictures, has introduced a model that leverages the 60% co-production incentive from Austria’s ÖFI Plus subsidy program to address one of the major hurdles in independent filmmaking: bridging the financing gap.
Mair Vargas asserts that by smartly shifting production expenses to Austria, up to 60% of the investment in the country can be met through the national incentive program, without necessarily requiring physical filming days within Austria. This can be achieved by either outsourcing post-production tasks to Austrian studios or employing Austrian crew members who work on set elsewhere, as Mair Vargas clarifies.
Take the project cost of €250,000 – we increase this amount to a total Austrian spend of €416,000. Since 60% of these expenses are covered by our co-production incentive, that means only €166,000 actually needs to come from Austria. This way, we can cover the €250,000 cost difference without putting too much extra financial strain on the production.
Pont Pictures’ model doesn’t require recouping and provides immediate cash flow, meaning producers don’t have to take loans based on the grant or pay interest charges, thereby increasing its allure, he emphasizes.
In order to be eligible for the incentive and Pont Pictures’ funding for project gaps, proposals should align with Austria’s cultural standards. These requirements include:
A tale set within the European Union, viewed as a unified cultural domain by the Austrian Film Authority.
• At least one main character that has European roots or a European background.
As a movie enthusiast, I recently had the pleasure of reviewing “The Restauration at Grayson Manor,” a gripping thriller helmed by Glenn McQuaid and produced by Pont Pictures in partnership with Fantastic Films from Ireland and Horse & Fruits based in Vienna. In a strategic move, Pont Pictures chose Austria as their location, leveraging the country’s attractive 60% co-production incentive to bridge the financing gap for this captivating project. This collaboration not only made “The Restauration at Grayson Manor” financially feasible but also allowed us to witness Chris Colfer and Alice Krige bring their characters to life on set last summer.
As a movie critic, I’m thrilled to share that Fantastic Films is collaborating with Pont Pictures and Horse & Fruits on our groundbreaking queer production, ‘The Restoration at Grayson Manor.’ Brendan McCarthy from Fantastic Films expresses his joy, stating, “We’re grateful for this opportunity to work together.” ÖFI’s minority co-production funding not only aligned perfectly with our partners – Screen Ireland, Coimisiún na Meán, RTE Television, and global sales agents Bankside Films – but also granted us access to an array of outstanding filmmaking talent hailing from Austria.
Mair Vargas comments: “The trial run confirmed the feasibility of our design and its ability to assist numerous European film directors. Our goal is to eliminate financial hurdles and encourage creative partnerships across boundaries.
Currently, Pont Pictures is working on two collaborative productions with overseas partners, which they intend to film by the end of this year: “Fractal,” a gripping time-loop thriller centered around a destructive relationship culminating in homicide, and “Amygdalla,” an intense horror movie that employs hyperrealism.
In partnership with Mark O’Sullivan’s London-based company DLNQNT, “Fractal” is scheduled to debut at EFM and will be filmed entirely in Austria as a joint Austrian-British production, with post-production happening in the UK. Written and directed by Faisal Hashmi, the film has filled two out of its three primary roles, with Eidin Jalali and Gabriela Garcia Vargas joining the cast. The Movie Partnership has already secured distribution rights for the movie in both the U.K. and Australia.
Mair Vargas is collaborating with Leeona Duff from Up on Blue Bridge Prods., based in Ireland, for the project named “Amygdala”. This €1.8 million co-production between Austria and Ireland is jointly directed by Adriana Mrnjavac and Nicole Stigler. Despite being set in Ireland, most of the filming will take place in Vienna.
Mair Vargas, moderating a debate about the Austrian incentive scheme at Berlin’s Soho House on February 13, emphasizes that his goal is to back projects that offer great returns despite having limited budgets. These projects should prioritize artistic authenticity and significant audience impact.
By creatively utilizing Austria’s incentive schemes, Pont Pictures can assist filmmakers in finishing their productions, thereby boosting European cinema’s presence on a global scale, he points out.
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2025-02-13 10:19