The region features enticing incentives and a rich variety of backdrops for your next project
From sweeping romantic dramas to a zombie apocalypse, the South has provided settings for thousands of Hollywood stories for over a century. The states in this region offer a variety of tax rebates, many soft incentives and a wealth of local, unionized talent that will ensure an unforgettable final project. Many iconic films have showcased the magnificent backdrops only the South can provide, including classics like Fried Green Tomatoes and To Kill a Mockingbird. The South offers the gamut from the Spanish moss draped ancient live oaks to the shimmering shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic.
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Alabama
Talladega Superspeedway, the white sand beaches near Mobile, and the beautiful ocean views of Dauphin Island have lured filmmakers to this state since Universal used the Old Monroeville County Courthouse for To Kill a Mockingbird. With a comprehensive production directory and location catalogue, the Alabama Film Office is an excellent resource and has advocated for even more attractive incentives to appeal to producers.
Incentive Type: Full Refundable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 25% – 35%
Minimum Spend: $500K
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: Yes
Application: Application fees apply. Completed applications must be received no later than 30 days before starting production activities in Alabama.
Film Sales Tax Relief: Yes
Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief: Yes
Sunset Date: December 31, 2028
Arkansas Filming Incentives
Home to the acclaimed Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, rolling Ozark hills and striking cityscapes, the Natural State has attracted high-profile projects. Thanks to growing programs at John Brown University, SAU Tech, and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, the state offers a healthy pool of local talent, and relatively underutilized outdoor locations will make it easy to distinguish your next project.
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Incentive Type: Fully Transferable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 25% – 30%
Minimum Spend: $200K
Bonus: Veterans’ Payroll Bonus: 10% bump for payroll of honorably discharged veterans; Veterans’ Vendor Bonus: 10% bump for expenditures purchased from an Arkansas-based small business vendor owned by honorably discharged veterans of the US Armed Forces.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must submit an application form to the Arkansas Film Commission before incurring any in-state production or post-production costs. Upon approval, both parties will sign a financial incentive agreement.
Sunset Date: June 30, 2032
Florida Film Production Benefits
Film Florida is a 501c3 non-profit entertainment production organization run by volunteers. It’s also a professional networking and development team for Florida’s Screen Production Industry. The company offers regional financial incentives rather than statewide benefits and unites productions with exceptional filming locations and vibrant backdrops, including in Jacksonville and Miami Beach.
Visit FilmFlorida.org/incentive-programs/ for more information.
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Incentive Type: Secondary Incentives (Grants / Rebates)
Incentive Amount: 15% – 30%
Broward County: 15% – 30% Incentive; $400K Minimum Spend; Audit Required
Jacksonville: 15% – 20% Incentive; $400K Minimum Spend; Audit Required
Miami Beach: $25K Minimum Spend; No Audit Required
Miami Beach VCA: 25% Incentive; $200K Minimum Spend; Audit Required
Miami-Dade: Varying Qualified-Based Incentives; $500K Minimum Spend; Audit Required
Miami-Dade High Impact: 20% Incentive; $5M Minimum Spend; Audit Required
Pinellas County: 15% – 30% Incentive; No Minimum Spend; Audit Required
Sunset Date: None
Georgia State Film Incentives
Thanks to the presence of Turner Entertainment, Tyler Perry Studios and Screen Gems, Georgia hosts the most TV and film productions outside of California and New York. A generous tax incentive introduced in 2002 has ushered in over two decades of growth that has welcomed major studio players like Disney, Netflix and AMC. Thanks to a variety of urban and rural environments, a mild climate and proximity to the ocean, Georgia can portray any type of genre or cinematic atmosphere.
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Incentive Type: Fully Transferable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 20% – 30%
Minimum Spend: $500K
Bonus: Georgia Logo Bonus: 10% additional tax credit for projects that include an embedded Georgia logo on approved projects and a link to the Georgia Film Office on the promotional website.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must submit a completed application online. Projects estimated under $1M must be submitted no earlier than 120 days before principal photography, and projects estimated to be over $1M must be submitted no earlier than 180 days prior.
Film Sales Tax Relief: Yes
Sunset Date: None
Kentucky Film Production Incentives
From the famous Fort Knox set piece in Goldfinger to the horse racing sequences in Secretariat, Kentucky has welcomed film and television productions for decades. The Kentucky Entertainment Incentive (KEI) program has successfully expanded the state’s media footprint with recent films such as Tammy and Above Suspicion, and the state also offers hotel occupancy tax relief.
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Incentive Type: Fully Refundable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 30% – 35%
Minimum Spend: $250K
Bonus: Enhanced Incentive County Bonus: 5% bump on expenses incurred in an Enhanced Incentive County.
Audit: Yes
Application: Case-by-case basis. Fees apply. Applications are considered by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA). Completed applications must be submitted 45 days before KEDFA meetings (on the last Thursday of each month, except November and December).
Film Sales Tax Relief: Yes
Sunset Date: None
Louisiana Filming Incentives
While evocative bayou settings and globally unique New Orleans streets have drawn productions since the advent of the industry, filmmaking exploded in Louisiana when the state passed desirable tax incentives in 2002. Since then, the state’s skilled crew base has grown by over 400%. With a temperate climate and a mix of swamps, cities and waterfronts, the state has stood in for the Antebellum South, the Wild West, New York City, and London.
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Incentive Type: Partially Refundable Tax Credit
Incentive Amount: 25% – 45%
Minimum Spend: $300K
Bonus: Out-of-Zone Bonus: 5% bump on state-certified productions that have their office and at least 60% of principal photography outside of the New Orleans Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must submit an online application, including a detailed preliminary budget and Louisiana budget, distribution plan, script or synopsis, and other required paperwork.
Film Sales Tax Relief: Yes
Sunset Date: July 1, 2031
Mississippi Filming Benefits
Southern charm comes alive in Mississippi, where rich cultural heritage seamlessly blends with diverse landscapes and historic sites. It’s an ideal location for capturing slices of Americana or any number of other settings. Notable films like The Help, which vividly portrays the state’s historical settings, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, showcasing its picturesque landscapes, are some of the iconic films shot in the Magnolia State. With its authentic Southern atmosphere, welcoming communities and competitive production incentives, Mississippi’s film industry is taking off.
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Incentive Type: Grants / Rebates
Incentive Amount: 25% – 40%
Minimum Spend: $50K
Bonus: Veteran Bonus: 5% bump for payroll of honorably discharged veterans of the US Armed Forces; Mississippi Episodic TV Incentive Program: If the criteria are met, the Film Office may grant you access to an additional program ranging from 20%-35% incentives.
Audit: No
Application: Production companies must submit the Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Application and all documentation (vendor list, script, shoot schedule, etc.) before beginning production.
Sunset Date: None
North Carolina Film Benefits
North Carolina is world-renowned as a film-friendly state with minimal permitting and assistance at the ready. The state’s Film Office serves as a liaison to secure locations and services while helping to expedite production schedules. From the rolling beauty of the Smoky Mountains to the bright lights of Charlotte and the coastal town of Wilmington, the Tar Heel State is a truly versatile destination that welcomes productions of all sizes.
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INCENTIVE KEY SYMBOLS: Film Sales Tax Relief
INCENTIVE AMOUNT (PERCENTAGE CIRCLE): 25%
Incentive: Grants / Rebates
Minimum Spend: $250K (Commercial); $500K (Per Episode Average); $500K (TV Movie); $1.5M (Film)
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must complete a Notification of Intent to Film form and the formal North Carolina Department of Commerce and Entertainment Grant Application. Priority is granted to projects that are reasonably anticipated to maximize the benefit to the state.
Film Sales Tax Relief: Yes
Sunset Date: None
South Carolina Film Production Incentives
When it comes to stunning coastal scenery, charming historic towns and lush landscapes, South Carolina is hard to beat. It has become a beloved destination for filmmakers working across a variety of genres, who note the state’s hospitable communities and attractive production incentives. Iconic films like The Notebook, capturing the state’s romantic Lowcountry, and Forrest Gump, featuring its charming small towns, showcase South Carolina’s cinematic appeal.
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Incentive Type: Grants / Rebates
Incentive Amount: 20% – 30%
Minimum Spend: $1M
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must contact the South Carolina Film Commission to discuss the project and submit a Qualifying Motion Picture Application prior to the beginning of production.
Film Sales Tax Relief: Yes
Sunset Date: None
Tennessee State Filming Incentives
Tennessee is home to famous cities, including Nashville and Memphis, as well as the famed Smoky Mountains, which boast unparalleled natural beauty. For filmmakers, the state’s rich musical heritage, rolling hills, and vibrant cities make it an appealing destination that stands out on screen. Notable films like Walk the Line, which delves into the life of Johnny Cash, and The Green Mile, featuring the state’s evocative rural settings, are examples of Tennessee’s powerful on- screen presence.
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Incentive Type: Grants / Rebates
Incentive Amount: 25%
Minimum Spend: $200K
Bonus: Scripted TV Bonus: 5% bump on resident labor for scripted TV shows with a minimum spend of $500K per episode.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must meet with the Tennessee Film, Entertainment & Music Commission to discuss the production before beginning principal photography. Once entered into the Grant Contract, principal photography must begin within 120 days from the effective date in the Grant Contract.
Film Sales Tax Relief: Yes
Sunset Date: None
