Disney Exec, Top Producers Say ‘Real Competition Is No Longer in Tax Incentives’: Local Talent and Efficient Film Commissions and Producers Are Key

In the late nineteen-nineties, Costa Rica had virtually no film industry. Today, it's a global powerhouse whose productions sweep awards at Cannes and Berlin. According to Variety, that rise reflects a major shift in how Hollywood chooses locations: tax incentives are no longer the main draw. Disney executives and top producers say the real competition now centers on local talent, efficient film commissions, and strong producer networks. Costa Rica's transformation proves the power of that approach.

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