Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, unveiled a comprehensive plan to strengthen the national film industry, including support for training, production, exhibition and preservation, alongside a new tax incentive aimed at repositioning the country as one of the most competitive audiovisual hubs in the world.

The central measure consists of a stimulus equivalent to 30 percent of income tax (ISR) applied to spending carried out within Mexico, with a cap of up to 40 million pesos per project. The decree will be published on Monday, February 16, in the Official Gazette of the Federation and was developed in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit.

During the announcement at the National Palace, the president said the incentive is designed to attract international productions without sacrificing local talent. She explained that the mechanism includes a government commission tasked with ensuring projects generate opportunities for Mexican actors, technicians and professionals across all film-related trades, preventing foreign productions from operating without a meaningful impact on the national economy.

Culture Minister Claudia Curiel de Icaza specified that the scheme will require at least 70 percent national sourcing to qualify. The benefit will be available to Mexican individuals and companies, as well as foreign entities with a permanent establishment in the country or those working through a Mexican production company. Eligible projects include fiction or animated feature films and series episodes with a minimum spend of 40 million pesos; documentaries from 20 million; and specific animation, visual effects or post-production processes starting at 5 million.

The minister stressed that the goal is to attract high-value productions while preventing domestic projects from relocating abroad, thereby strengthening the creative economy, cultural sovereignty and the diversity of stories produced in Mexico.

The announcement was backed by prominent industry figures. Oscar-nominated Mexican actress, producer and director Salma Hayek Pinault praised the initiative and highlighted its cultural and economic impact. She said such policies not only generate jobs and promote tourism but also help position authentic narratives. “With this support, we have no comparison,” she said, acknowledging the administration’s vision for boosting Mexican cinema.

Producer Inna Payán described the date as a pivotal moment for the country’s film sector, arguing that the incentive will stimulate both domestic and foreign private investment with a multiplier effect on the economy, while also driving infrastructure development and job creation across the audiovisual value chain.

The new scheme adds to other measures implemented by the federal government to reinforce the sector. These include an increase in the EFICINE tax incentive, upgrades and expanded access at the Centro de Capacitación Cinematográfica, the opening of a new campus in Chapultepec to broaden training in film trades, and a larger budget for the Mexican Film Institute.

Through this strategy, the government aims to consolidate a comprehensive public policy that combines tax incentives, talent development and legislative updates, with the goal of restoring international competitiveness and once again making Mexico a top destination for both domestic and international productions.