18 Nov Foreign Production Insurance Covers a Variety of Location-Specific Risks

While the U.S. continues to be a central hub for film production, there is a notable increase in both the number of films produced internationally and U.S. films being shot abroad, reflecting the global nature of the film industry.

This trend is driven by factors such as cost savings, tax incentives, and diverse filming locations offered by countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, France and Italy.

As more films are produced outside of the United States, the need for foreign production insurance is more important than ever.

Foreign production insurance, also known as international production insurance, is a type of coverage specifically designed for film and television productions that occur outside of the production company’s home country. This insurance is vital for managing the unique risks associated with filming in foreign locations. This type of coverage can cover many things, including property damage and workers’ compensation.  Here’s why it’s important:

1. Location Risks: Filming abroad can expose a production to a variety of location-specific risks such as political instability, unfamiliar legal systems, extreme weather, and other logistical challenges. Foreign production insurance can cover these risks, ensuring the production can proceed smoothly despite unexpected issues.
2. Compliance with Local Laws: Different countries have different legal requirements that might pertain to liability, employment, and filming permissions. This insurance helps ensure that the production meets local insurance requirements and covers potential legal disputes or liability issues.
3. Equipment and Set Protection: Transporting and using expensive filming equipment and sets in foreign countries increases the risk of damage, theft, or loss. Foreign production insurance can cover the replacement or repair costs of equipment and sets.
4. Cast and Crew Safety: Ensuring the safety of the cast and crew is paramount, and foreign environments may pose health and safety risks not present in the home country. This insurance can cover medical treatment, emergency evacuation, and other related contingencies.
5. Currency and Financial Risks: Financial risks, including currency fluctuations and transfer issues, can impact the budget and financial stability of a production. Insurance can provide some level of financial assurance against these unpredictable elements.
6. Travel Disruptions: Issues such as travel delays, cancellations, or transportation logistics can affect production schedules. Insurance can cover additional expenses incurred due to such disruptions.

By mitigating these risks, foreign production insurance helps ensure that the production can stay on schedule and within budget, regardless of unforeseen events or challenges. It provides peace of mind to producers and investors that their investment is protected against a wide array of potential issues.

As niche insurance brokers that specialize in film production, Barrow Group works with your production team to determine the type and level of coverage required to protect your assets.  including foreign production insurance. If you know certain activities will be filmed outside of the U.S. or  If you’re working on a new production and have basic questions regarding insurance requirements, complete an application, and we’ll be in touch:

Film & TV Production Coverage