German Free Ride is Over

The era of funding Hollywood films with German tax shelters is over. Films like "Monster," "The Human Stain," "Miami Vice," "Lara Croft: Tomb Raider," "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King," and "Jarhead"--none of which filmed in Germany--cost the German government over $1 billion per year. Now, Culture Minister Bernd Neumann must come up with a "new and better financial instrument" to stimulate private investment in films, and he's eyeing the straightforward production rebate.

>> German biz eyes fund void [Hollywood Reporter, 12/29/05]

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