PANAMA

On January 13, the Executive published a resolution creating the Office for the Panama Film Commission under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Its functions include maintaining the National Registry of Foreign Film and Audiovisual Productions. The resolution is already in effect.

The creation of the office forms part of Law 16 of 2012, establishing the Panama Film Commission as the highest advisory and consultative body at national level, whose purpose is to contribute to the development of the film and audiovisual industry. The remit of the newly-created office is to promote the Panamanian industry abroad and attract foreign film and audiovisual productions to the Republic of Panama. Among other things, it will be responsible, for example, for maintaining the National Registry of Incentives for the Film and Audiovisual Industry and will be staffed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade as necessary for operation, as it answers to that Deputy Ministry.