U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of high tariffs on foreign-produced films has sent shockwaves through Hollywood and the global film industry. Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, appointed by Trump as a Hollywood ‚ambassador‘ alongside Sylvester Stallone and Mel Gibson, announced on Monday that he has submitted a comprehensive plan to the Republican president aimed at reforming Hollywood.
Voight, 86, father of Angelina Jolie, stated in a release that he has consulted with numerous representatives from major film and television industry associations to boost domestic production. „The President loves the entertainment business and this country, and he will help us make Hollywood great again,“ Voight remarked, referring to the need for smart incentives and necessary funding to strengthen domestic productions.
In this context, Voight proposed a plan featuring tax breaks, subsidies for theater owners and production companies, and agreements for co-productions with foreign entities. According to the statement, tariffs would only be applied „under certain limited circumstances.“
Trump previously claimed that the American film industry is dying, as filmmakers and studios are lured abroad by various incentives. His solution is a 100 percent tariff on films „that come to our country and are produced abroad.“ This could potentially impact the business model of U.S. studios, which often film overseas to reduce costs.
The announcement has created uncertainty, even in Germany. Jörg Bachmaier, CEO of Studio Babelsberg in Potsdam, expressed concern, stating, „Many questions remain unanswered, and the implications for our business and the production location in Germany as a whole cannot be fully assessed at this time.“
Bachmaier continued, „As a long-standing partner for U.S. productions shooting in Germany and part of the internationally active platform Cinespace Studios, we are closely monitoring the situation to understand how the announced tariffs could affect our operations, our services, and our clients.“ Studio Babelsberg is not a lone player but part of a global studio network and industry based on international collaboration and cultural exchange.
Known as the cradle of German cinema, Studio Babelsberg has produced the German-language series „Babylon Berlin“ and internationally successful films such as „Inglourious Basterds“ and „Bridge of Spies.“ Cinespace Studios operates studios in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, according to Studio Babelsberg.
Trump has announced plans to engage in discussions with representatives of the film industry. However, it remains unclear how such tariffs would function, as films are not imported like goods with a fixed price and often involve cross-border productions. The U.S. government would need to determine a method for evaluating films to establish when they qualify as imports.
Hollywood has long been struggling with large film productions relocating to other U.S. states or abroad, often attracted by tax incentives. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, is advocating for stronger tax breaks for Hollywood.