The potential risks a feature film faces are already significant thanks to dozens or even hundreds of crewmembers, cast, and staff, expensive equipment, and more. When a film needs to go abroad, all these issues multiply, and insurance for feature film production must adapt to the new needs of the project.
Filmmakers and production companies planning to shoot documentaries or feature films outside their home country should be prepared to maneuver international insurance landscapes.
Foreign locations often impose additional rules on insurance protection, from requiring specific types of coverage to mandating a minimum level of protection via dollar amount or scope.
Here is a big-picture overview of insurance requirements when filming abroad.
Researching Local Regulations
Even domestically, a film can expect to work within the confines of local regulations when securing insurance coverage. This reality also extends to international destinations, and a skilled film insurance agency can help you understand the regulations specific to the area in which your film will be shot.
Some countries maintain specific requirements for any shoots within their borders, while cities or municipal organizations will impose other rules.
For international shoots, additional risk factors such as political unrest and natural disasters add complexity to properly insuring a project. Depending on the shoot, this might prompt the need for foreign liability insurance coverage, contingency insurance, and more.
Types of Coverage Essential for International Filming
While each film project may need specialized coverage customized to the unique risks faced by the shoot’s international location, some basic coverages are non-negotiable any time filming moves out of the country. These include:
General Liability Insurance
General liability protection covers third-party property damage and injury, which is essential for any shoot that occurs off the production studio’s premises.
Should a member of the public become injured during the filming process or if their property is harmed, general liability insurance can cover the costs to repair or replace the item, pay medical bills, and address legal expenses.
Foreign liability insurance can fit into this category. It may cover anything from the legal costs of addressing charges filed outside the U.S. to vehicle damage in a car accident using a vehicle in a foreign country. An insurance expert can help you understand what types of liability protection are most important for your project.
Travel and Health Insurance
When films are shot abroad, the cast and crew do not benefit from the health insurance coverage they enjoy inside the U.S. If a medical incident occurs during travel, they would be expected to pay the treatment costs if no insurance is in place. Filming abroad can have additional physical dangers, especially in remote locations, making such coverage essential.
Note that protection for cast may be packaged differently than insurance coverage for crewmembers. Discuss cast and crew travel and health insurance with an expert to clarify what policies cover and whether multiple policies or riders are necessary to ensure comprehensive protection.
Equipment and Property Insurance
It is not unreasonable (and even expected) to assume that equipment may be damaged during travel. Transport on airplanes, public transit, and into the shoot location in a different country leaves plenty of room for cameras, lighting equipment, and more to be broken, crushed, lost, or stolen.
Equipment and property insurance can pay for repair or replacement—which may cost extra in foreign countries if a U.S. product must be shipped there or there is no local supplier. However, always be sure to understand what is and is not covered.
For instance, drone usage may not be protected under a standard equipment insurance policy. Still, drones are a common method of gathering footage in remote locations for wide shots and landscaping.
Riders or additional policies can address these gaps in coverage. In foreign countries, the limits on an insurance policy’s payout may be dictated by the value of the local currency if a repair or replacement is undertaken outside the U.S., so keep this in mind as well.
Insure Your International Film Production With MFE Insurance
An international film production can be complex, but this does not mean it must be overwhelming. Insurance requirements for foreign film shoots must blend standard baseline coverage with specialized policies that address the risks unique to the specific location of the shoot and the local regulations affecting it.
The experts at MFE Insurance can streamline your coverage needs and ensure you don’t miss any important compliance issues as you secure your coverage. Contact MFE Insurance to explore insurance requirements for filming abroad and how to meet them confidently.