A €25m government scheme to further boost the island’s audiovisual industry is set to provide a mix of subsidies and tax incentives to continue attracting foreign productions to the island.
The Audiovisual Industry Promotion Plan, widely known as Olivewood, was approved by the Ministry of Finance back in August, and the government has already released €3.3 million to support several international projects.
Over €1m have been earmarked for the second season of The Ex-Wife, a British thriller series based on Jess Ryder’s novel. Also, more than €1.7m have been allocated to three separate versions of the entertainment show Roast on the Coast, produced for Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Each edition consists of six half-hour episodes in which Scandinavian comedians travel around Cyprus and share humorous stories, blending travelogue with stand-up comedy.
A further €604,000 have been granted to the ninth season of Superstars, a competition series in which well-known former athletes compete in various sports challenges across different locations in Cyprus. The season consists of 18 one-hour episodes and will be broadcast on Warner Bros Discovery.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, the audiovisual committee released €430,000 for the production of Apart From Her, the latest feature by South African-born Greek-Cypriot filmmaker Stelana Kliris, whose previous romantic comedy Find Me Falling gained international attention on Netflix. An additional €331,000 were allocated to the Canadian drama Kaboul Montreal, directed by Bachir Bensaddek, a social drama highlighting the courage of Afghan mothers.
The programme builds on the initial audiovisual framework launched in 2017 and revised in 2023, offering a structured package of financial incentives that cover production expenses such as accommodation, travel, catering, equipment rental, set construction, post-production and local crew wages. Eligible applicants include Cypriot and EU companies or individuals active in the audiovisual sector, provided they meet the scheme’s cultural and economic criteria.
