FiMI Attracts RM486 Million Investment Commitments At MIPCOM 2025 - Fahmi

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 (Bernama) -- The national film industry has secured investment commitments worth RM486 million through the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FiMI) at MIPCOM 2025, the world’s largest content market held in Cannes last October, according to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

He said the investment is expected to generate up to 1,500 jobs for local industry players and deliver an estimated economic return of RM1.66 billion.

“I have instructed the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) chief executive officer and chairman to prepare next year’s strategic plan so that promotional and investment-attraction efforts can be carried out more comprehensively.”

Fahmi said this when winding up the debate on the FINAS (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was later passed by the Dewan Rakyat with a majority voice vote today.

The minister said the government has allocated RM110 million for FiMI next year, which offers a 30 per cent rebate for productions filmed in Malaysia, plus an additional five per cent for incorporating local cultural elements.

“FiMI is a highly competitive incentive. Many Southeast Asian countries offer beautiful locations, so we are competing healthily within the region,” he said.

Fahmi also clarified that the government has no plans to impose film-production requirements, filming certificates, or FINAS permits on influencers or podcasters, nor to introduce licensing rules for OTT (over-the-top) streaming platforms at this time.

He said the Communications Ministry is in the midst of updating the National Film Policy following the amendment to the FINAS Act 1981, which aims to strengthen industry development, governance and enforcement, without restricting creative freedom.

“The amendment will broaden regulatory scope to cover new technologies, including digital platforms, while subsidiary regulations will be adjusted to provide clearer protections for industry workers, including welfare, standard contracts, job security, payment terms and production safety.

“Through this amendment, regulations and subsidiary legislation under the principal Act will also be amended to ensure policy coherence and its implementation can support the direction and vision of FINAS as the leader of the national film industry and a catalyst for the development of local creative content,” he added.

-- BERNAMA