In our diversification strategy and to attract investments in various economic sectors, EDB has crafted a series of schemes, like the Premium Investor Scheme and the Investment Scheme, that offer incentives to potential investors in qualifying activities. The development and setting up of studios are among the category of qualifying activities, and Gao Shan Pictures is one such beneficiary of the Investment Scheme.
The Film Rebate Scheme, which is specific to the filmmaking sector, provides incentives to attract the production and shooting of films in Mauritius. This include Digital Animation movies, which are very high value-added ventures. In 2020, ‘Jungle Beat the Movie’, was the first animated movie to have been entirely produced in Mauritius, under the Film Rebate Scheme.
In 2023, Gao Shan Pictures, an award-winning production company of French origins, relocated part of its activities from Reunion to Mauritius to focus on the production of animated movies. The company focuses on animation features, co-production and also offers line production services.
Armand Desponts, General Manager, Gao Shan Animation Studio (Maurice)
In the aftermath of its relocation, Gao Shan Pictures produced its first digital animation movie in Mauritius under the Film Rebate Scheme in 2024. The film entitled "Pie dan lo", was shortlisted for the 2024 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France and was released in September 2024.
Prior to this production Gao Shan Pictures has collaborated with media arts students at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, by sponsoring a three-week training course on 2D/3D animation.
Gao Shan Pictures has been very active in securing further collaboration by the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the training institution, Polytechnics Mauritius, in view of providing new academic programmes in the animation field. This would enable the training of Mauritians in the digital animation and related fields to plug the skilled-labour gap of the sector on the international market.
EDB’s strategy for the filmmaking industry, is threefold. First, through a sustained marketing strategy, continue to promote the Mauritius as a prime destination for film shooting and production. Secondly, by leveraging the right set of incentives, fiscal and non-fiscal, attract international production houses to set-up or relocate (like Gao Shan Pictures) their facilities to Mauritius and therefore undertake all the operations involved in their filmmaking process in the country. And thirdly, support the training and upskilling of Mauritians to the new techniques and technology of filmmaking, including digital animation, in view of creating a talent pool that would support the previous two axes of the strategy, as well as boosting the local industry.
Investors, like Gao Shan Pictures, which is a beneficiary of an Investment Certificate, are integral to the success of this strategy.
