Quick Read
- Mexican government launched a new national film support plan including a 30% income tax incentive.
- Oscar-nominated actress Salma Hayek Pinault attended the launch with President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, advocating for the initiative.
- The incentive offers up to 30% tax credit on local expenses, capped at 40 million Mexican pesos (approx. $2.3 million).
- Projects must source at least 70% of goods/services domestically and involve a Mexican production company.
- The plan aims to boost local production, attract international projects, create jobs, and promote Mexican culture.
MEXICO CITY (Azat TV) – Oscar-nominated actress and producer Salma Hayek Pinault joined Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on Sunday, February 15, 2026, to officially launch a national film support plan that includes a significant 30% income tax incentive for audiovisual productions filmed in Mexico. The measure, published in the country’s Official Gazette on Monday, February 16, aims to revitalize the local film industry, attract major international streaming platforms, and create jobs while promoting Mexican culture globally.
Hayek, a vocal advocate for the initiative, welcomed the program during the presentation ceremony, emphasizing Mexico’s unique advantages for the audiovisual industry and its potential to stimulate tourism, investment, and cultural employment. President Sheinbaum underscored the necessity of such incentives to encourage more filming in Mexico, particularly for national and independent projects, stating that the goal is to “meet the level of our people and to match the extraordinary creativity that exists in our country.”
Salma Hayek Champions New Film Incentive
Salma Hayek Pinault, whose career began in Mexican telenovelas before achieving international acclaim, highlighted her personal connection to the country’s film community. “I owe my career to the Mexican film community. It was a great honor to stand alongside this same community today and announce this incredible new initiative,” she stated, according to Deadline. She further asserted that with this support, Mexico has no comparison globally, citing its ecological diversity and beauty as unparalleled assets for the industry.
Hayek’s presence at the presidential briefing in Mexico City was a key element in signaling the initiative’s importance. She expressed excitement that the incentive would “help shine an even brighter light” on Mexico’s world-class film industry, its talented artists, and technicians, ultimately strengthening the entire community. Her advocacy for “authentic and meaningful storytelling” resonated with the government’s stated goals of fostering national pride and defending cultural rights.
Key Details of Mexico’s Audiovisual Support Plan
The core of the new plan is a federal income tax credit allowing producers to claim up to 30% of eligible project expenses incurred within Mexico. This incentive is capped at 40 million Mexican pesos, approximately $2.3 million per project or process, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Deadline. To qualify, productions must source at least 70% of their goods and services domestically and involve a Mexican production company, even when backed by foreign studios.
The incentive is available to a broad range of entities: Mexican individuals and legal entities, foreign individuals and entities with a permanent establishment in Mexico, and foreign individuals and entities who carry out production through a Mexican resident individual or legal entity. Specific minimum expenditures are set for different types of productions:
- Fiction or animated feature films and series episodes: minimum verifiable expenditure of 40 million pesos ($2.3 million).
- Documentary feature films and series: minimum expenditure of 20 million pesos ($1.1 million).
- Animation, visual effects, or post-production processes: minimum expenditure of 5 million pesos ($291,000) per process.
The initiative, coordinated with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (Secretaría de Hacienda y Crédito Público, SHCP), is officially in force as of Monday, February 16, 2026.
Broader Context for Mexican Film Industry Growth
This tax incentive is part of a broader, concerted effort by the Mexican government to modernize and strengthen its audiovisual sector. The government recently introduced a proposed Federal Film and Audiovisual Law, which seeks to update legislation from 1992. This reform aims to adopt a cultural rights framework, increase the presence of Mexican films in theaters through a proposed minimum 10% exhibition quota, and improve visibility on digital platforms.
The draft legislation also proposes expanded public funding and incentives, with a particular emphasis on independent projects. Furthermore, it includes safeguards for voice actors against unauthorized artificial intelligence use, mandating consent requirements, fair compensation rules, and penalties for misuse of voice or image. These comprehensive measures are designed to position Mexico as an international audiovisual production hub while simultaneously bolstering its domestic cultural output.
The governmental push coincides with significant industry investment trends. For instance, Netflix strengthened its commitment to Mexico in February 2025, with Co-CEO Ted Sarandos announcing plans to invest $1 billion over four years to produce films and series in the country, supporting industry growth and job creation, according to El País. This confluence of public policy and private investment signals a robust period of expansion for Mexico’s film and television landscape.
The launch of Mexico’s new 30% film tax incentive, strongly supported by global icon Salma Hayek, marks a strategic move to leverage the country’s rich cultural and natural resources to become a leading international production hub. By combining financial incentives with updated legal frameworks and safeguards for creators, Mexico is not only aiming to attract foreign investment but also to cultivate and protect its vibrant local talent and storytelling, ensuring its cinematic legacy continues to thrive on a global stage.