An island paradise once known only for its idyllic beaches, Mauritius has positioned itself to welcome the international filmic community with open arms. In the last year or so, Mauritius has taken the world by storm as a haven for filmmakers. The country has taken a unified approach to attract internationals to their shores. Not only do they offer a beautiful, idyllic location with beach destinations to boot, but they also have a very strong incentive offering that not many nations can beat.
The cinema of Mauritius refers to films made in Mauritius or by Mauritius-related filmmakers or companies. Mauritian cinema does not have a long-established and continuous tradition and organization. However, there have been recent efforts to encourage international filmmakers to shoot on the island and establish an indigenous film industry.
Map of Mauritius
Historical Context and Development
Filmmaking in Mauritius started with "sporadic attempts at making home movies in the 1950s". In 1986 a Mauritius Film Development Corporation (MFDC) was established, under the aegis of the Ministry of Arts and Culture, to encourage the development of a film industry in Mauritius. The MFDC helped foreign directors obtain permits to shoot on the island.
Attractive Locations and Infrastructure
Located in Mauritius Island found in the Indian Ocean and surrounded by sandy beaches and unique wildlife, Whitetone Films is a well-established company to provide you with different kind of shooting scenarios for the production of your next video or films. Other looks include waterfalls and rivers, stunning underwater photography along the protected west coast, and surf breaks along Tamarin Bay. Run-down French colonial architecture makes for interesting backdrops, while sugarcane and tea are available for agricultural looks. Places of particular interest are the Black River Gorges National Park, Casela Nature Park and the coloured earth of Chamarel and Le Pouce. Popular locations are the Botanical Gardens, Le Morne Brabant, Fort Adelaide, hotel premises and beaches.
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The country has post-production studios providing digital animation and VFX facilities. It also has a fully-fledged production studio in the pipeline, with the first phase of construction slated to begin in early 2019. The Economic Development Board is open to discussing other investments into infrastructure, like water tanks, for instance.
Wonders of Mauritius | Amazing Places to visit in Mauritius | Travel Video 4K
Incentives and Rebate System
Mauritius does not only offer beautiful scenery for film production but offers ‘The Mauritius Film Rebate Scheme’ which is a project of the Economic Development Board (EDB), in association with the Mauritius Film Development Corporation (MFDC). The scheme is open to both local and international filmmakers and its aim is to stimulate the interest of filmmakers and promote film production in Mauritius.
The Mauritian film incentive offers a cash rebate of 30% on all Qualifying Production Expenditure and up to 40% on certain projects. This QPE is in respect to pre-production, production, and post production on a film project. It includes accommodation, catering, rental or film equipment, ground transport and logistics, air tickets, local and foreign cast and crew. It covers feature films, documentaries, TV productions, serials, commercials, music videos and dubbing work.
The scheme makes Mauritius a very attractive location to film as it has one of the highest Film Rebate Schemes in the world, which supports Feature Films, high-end TV Drama series, TV Commercials, Documentaries, TV Reality Series, Music Videos, Games and Single Drama Series. The scheme is granting up to 40% rebate on Qualified Production Expenditures (QPE) which includes, Travel/Shipping to and from Mauritius (by air and by sea), Accommodation in Mauritius, Rental of local film equipment, Professional services such as insurance, accounting and audit services, Production service company fees, Post-production services, National & International Cast and Crew costs, Flights and Ground transport, Catering services, Props, Sets and Wardrobe purchased and/or rented in Mauritius and many more.
Mauritius offers a powerful, dual incentive for film productions: an up to 40% Film Cash Rebate and a 200% tax double-deduction for Mauritian companies that finance, sponsor, market, or distribute an approved film. Since July 2016, the Film Cash Rebate Scheme has helped position Mauritius as a serious production base for features, premium TV drama, documentaries, reality shows, music videos, games, and single dramas.
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Since July 2023, Mauritius has also introduced a tax film rebate that allows local Mauritian companies to deduct twice the amount they invest in an EDB-approved production. This creates a compelling framework for brands and Mauritian businesses to participate in film finance while supporting local jobs and skills.
Identical Pictures manages the full process. We evaluate your project for eligibility, prepare Movie Magic budgets and schedules, present to the EDB team, set up a local SPV with its bank account and Mauritian director, and arrange cash-flow, gap, or equity financing where needed. Our goal is simple: maximise your eligible spend, compress timelines, and put more of your budget on the screen.
The country has one of the highest rebates in the world, and definitely the highest in Africa, surpassing SA’s 20-25% rebate. And because there are no film incentives in India, the island attracts many Bollywood productions.
| Incentive Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Film Cash Rebate | Up to 40% on Qualifying Production Expenditure |
| Tax Double-Deduction | 200% deduction for Mauritian companies investing in approved films |
Notable Productions and Success Stories
Serenity, starring Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey, was the first Hollywood feature film to shoot on location here. South African production houses such as Two Oceans Production have set up offices on the islands already to better serve their clients.
The recently premiered film “Resort to Love” is now available to stream on Netflix, starring the popular American actress, singer and songwriter Christina Milian alongside Sinqua Walls, Jay Pharoah, Christiani Pitts and Alexander Hodge. The most interesting part about the film is that it was entirely filmed in the beautiful island of Mauritius, with filming starting in October 2020.
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Films in Mauritius are predominantly broadcast or released in French, with some in English or Indian languages.
Mauritius Cinema Week
From 18-21 October 2018 the second Mauritius Cinema Week took place, and the Callsheet joined in the festivities. This included a selection of the best in cinema both locally and globally, as well as awareness around the island’s creative industries. The week took on a strong business approach and included a conference on film financing, a workshop on the jobs of tomorrow’s film industry, as well as masterclasses on the creative aspects of film. The programme was spearheaded by the Mauritian Economic Development Board.
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