California’s film industry is getting a major boost as 48 new projects — including 43 independent features — have been approved for production through the state’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program.
These productions are expected to generate $664 million in spending and create over 6,500 jobs for cast and crew across the state.
Among the highlights: a new film from director Ang Lee and the sequel to One of Them Days, produced by Issa Rae and set in Los Angeles, with more than $39 million in qualified expenditures projected for that single production.
Filming won’t be limited to Hollywood. A wide range of locations — including San Francisco, Bakersfield, Half Moon Bay, Riverside, El Dorado, and more — will host production, bringing economic impact and job opportunities to communities beyond Los Angeles. Altogether, the projects will account for 1,346 total filming days across the state.
The tax credit initiative, run by the California Film Commission, is designed to keep productions from relocating to other states by offering financial incentives to stay local. It also supports diverse and underrepresented voices in filmmaking, with 37 of the upcoming projects being lower-budget independent films.
Though Governor Gavin Newsom has proposed increasing the annual funding for the program from $330 million to $750 million, the current results already underline California’s strength as a global production hub.
“This industry is core to California’s creative economy, and keeping production here at home is more important than ever,” said Colleen Bell, Executive Director of the California Film Commission.
The next application window for TV projects opens July 7 to 9, and film applications will be accepted August 25 to 27.
