Filming in Champaign-Urbana
Info
Locations
Incentives
Film Credits
Contact
Introduction to EXPERIENCE CHAMPAIGN-URBANA
Champaign-Urbana has long been a place where stories get told— and increasingly, a place where they get filmed. Situated in the heart of the Midwest just two hours south of Chicago, the area offers filmmakers a remarkably diverse production landscape: historic architecture, a world-class university campus, sweeping farmland, wide open skies, and a growing roster of local talent and crew. Add in competitive costs and a supportive film office, and it’s easy to see why productions are taking notice.
The biggest development in recent years is happening just north of the city, in Rantoul. Flyover Film Studios, named for its home inside a massive former Air Force base hangar, has transformed what once held aircraft into a full-scale film production facility. It encompasses 290,000 square feet of interior space, housing multiple soundproof stages, mill space for set construction, and secure equipment storage for multi-day shoots, along with a variety of pre-built standing sets ready for immediate production use.
Champaign-Urbana offers the locations, the infrastructure, the talent, and the studio space to bring almost any project to life — at a fraction of the cost of a major market.
Production Credits
- Chili Finger(2026)
- Moses the Black(2026)
- The Twister: Caught in the Storm(2025)
- Albany Road(2024)
- Black Mold(2023)
- Deep in the Willow music video (2023)
- Revealer(2022)
- You’re OUT!(2021)
A Few Filming Locations in Champaign-Urbana
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Urban districts: Downtown Champaign, Downtown Urbana
Rural/Outdoors
Unique Interiors/Exteriors
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
This Big Ten institution offers scenic outdoor and indoor backdrops, with arrange of historic buildings dating back to 1867 and modern facilities. Sports facilities, arts and cultural spaces, and wide-open outdoor settings provide a diverse mix of options.
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Urban districts: Downtown Champaign, Downtown Urbana
Downtown districts offer a mix of architectural backdrops, streetscapes,murals, local businesses, theatres, and parking garages, surrounded by quaint residential neighborhoods with historic homes, brick-lined streets, and charming street lights.
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Rural/Outdoors
Our community quickly goes from urban to rural in less than 10 minutes. Area park districts and forest preserves are friendly to filming, while our agricultural partnerships help identify farm locations. Small towns offer a variety of backdrops, often along the railroad.
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Unique Interiors/Exteriors
From mid-century modern homes and neighborhoods to dilapidated buildings and schools; from timeless diners to massive stadiums, there are endless opportunities to film throughout the Champaign-Urbana area.
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REBATES & INCENTIVES
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The state of Illinois offers a 35% Film Tax Credit, with an additional 5% Credit on Illinois resident salaries for productions filming outside of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
Learn More About Rebates & Incentives
Unlock the Perfect Backdrop for Your Production
CONTACT
Experience Champaign-Urbana
Mark Brown, Director of Event Services & Film
MarkB@experiencecu.org
217-351-4133
https://experiencecu.org/film-office
