Serving Filmmakers for 70 Years
Production Services
From a heritage built in Hollywood, Birns & Sawyer puts boots on the ground where your budget stretches furthest. We line-produce, crew, permit, and equip international productions — turning location incentives into real savings while your creative team stays focused on the work.
Start a ConversationPhilippines · Thailand · Canada
The Philippines
Cash rebates, tax-free importation, and a fluent English-speaking crew base
The Philippines offers a selective cash rebate through FLIP, administered by the Film Development Council of the Philippines. Qualifying international projects that partner with a Filipino production company receive a 20% rebate of up to ₱25 million (about $450,000) for line production, animation, or post-production.
Projects passing a cultural-merit test earn an additional 5%, raising the total to 25% and the cap to ₱30 million (about $540,000). As your local applicant and line producer, Birns & Sawyer manages the entire process — and because the program runs on application cycles with annual budget limits, we position your submission early.
Tax Incentives & Rebates
20–25% cash rebate via FLIP, plus tax-free equipment importation through the FLEX one-stop shop.
Crew & Local Talent
Deep, experienced crews with widespread English fluency across departments.
Locations & Permits
Coordinated permitting through FilmPhilippines — thousands of islands, colonial cities, jungle, and metro backdrops.
Equipment & Studio Access
Birns & Sawyer Manila and partner facilities for production gear and post.
Philippines desk: Henry Yin · New Manila, Quezon City · henry@birnsandsawyer.com
Thailand
An uncapped, tiered rebate and one of Asia's most mature production ecosystems
Thailand's rebate scales with your spend: 15% from THB 50 million (about $1.54M) in qualified Thai spending, 20% between THB 100–150 million, and 25% above THB 150 million. The previous per-project cap has been removed, with a maximum total of 30% once bonuses are included.
Uplifts stack on the base rate: +5% for employing Thai nationals in key roles, +5% for promoting tourism and a positive image of Thailand, +3% for filming in designated provinces, and +3% for completing post in-country. A separate scheme offers a 20% rebate for animation, VFX, and post work commissioned to Thai studios.
Tax Incentives & Rebates
15–25% base, up to 30% with bonuses, no cap — plus a separate 20% post/VFX rebate.
Crew & Local Talent
Decades-deep crew pool and English-speaking producers, proven on major international features.
Locations & Permits
Thailand Film Office permitting — beaches, jungle, temples, and a Bangkok metropolis that doubles for many Asian cities.
Equipment & Studio Access
Bangkok's full-service stages and rental houses with current camera, lighting, and grip packages.
The rebate is paid after wrap and audit, not upfront — we build that cash-flow timing into your budget from day one.
Thailand desk: Mari Acevedo · mari@birnsandsawyer.com
Canada
Stackable federal and provincial credits, world-class infrastructure, North American time zones
Canada combines a federal production services tax credit with generous provincial programs that stack on top. The federal PSTC returns 16% of qualified Canadian labour and is open to foreign-owned corporations — with no cap and no Canadian-content requirement.
Provincial credits add the real weight: British Columbia layers a basic 28% on labour plus regional, distant-location, and digital animation/VFX/post uplifts; Ontario supports up to 35% on eligible labour; Alberta offers 22–30% depending on local ownership. Stacked, federal and provincial credits offset a meaningful share of total cost.
Tax Incentives & Rebates
Federal 16% PSTC stackable with BC, Ontario, and Alberta provincial credits.
Crew & Local Talent
One of the world's most experienced English-language crew bases, union and non-union.
Locations & Permits
Mountains, forests, coastline, and cities that double convincingly for U.S. and European settings.
Equipment & Studio Access
Vancouver and Calgary soundstages with complete Birns & Sawyer rental and post infrastructure.
Canada desk: Wesley Villarcia · Vancouver & Calgary · wesley@birnsandsawyer.com
Let's find your production's best home
Send us your script, budget, and schedule. We'll model the incentives across all three territories and show you where your money goes furthest.
Contact Birns & SawyerIncentive figures current as of 2026 and subject to change with each government budget cycle. Contact us for the latest rates and eligibility specific to your production.