Maximize your next project’s budget with beautiful water views and city skylines
The Great Lakes region offers a variety of visuals to suit your next production. From dense forests and vast lake coastlines to bustling cityscapes, this area has a landscape to match your creative vision. Discover incredible filming incentives along with vibrant urban backdrops and rolling farmlands in Illinois. Nostalgic scenery in Ohio is waiting for your project at amusement parks and historic landmarks. Many more Midwest states offer exceptional filmmaking opportunities for any project and budget.
Be sure to Subscribe for FREE to Destination Film Guide and Download the Magazine for FREE to uncover more unique production content and expert resources.
Illinois Film Production Incentives
While the city of Chicago is managed by its own film office, the state of Illinois promotes the unique array of locations available. Urban sprawls can also be found in the likes of Springfield and Bloomington, while just an hour south of the Windy City are mile after mile of farmlands and historic farmhouses. With an eye for diversity, inclusion and opportunity, the Prairie State provides a plethora of resources to ensure the success of every production.
INCENTIVE KEY SYMBOLS: Sunset Provision,
INCENTIVE AMOUNT (PERCENTAGE CIRCLE): 30% – 45%
Incentive: Fully Refundable Tax Credit
Minimum Spend: $100K
Bonus: Economic Disadvantaged Area Bonus: 15% bump on salaries of individuals (making at least $1,000 in total wages) who live in an economically disadvantaged area.
Audit: Yes
Application: Submit a completed application five business days before the beginning of principal photography (24 hours for commercials).
Sunset Date: January 1, 2033
Indiana Filming Incentives
There are myriad reasons why Indiana is the perfect location for your next project. The state’s northwest region is home to some of the rarest shorelines of Lake Michigan. The Indiana Caverns is an underground cave system located at the southern tip of the state. Indiana is also home to cities big and small, each with a unique flair. You don’t have to travel far throughout the state to come across some of the most charming small towns in midwestern America.
Be sure to Subscribe for FREE to Destination Film Guide and Download the Magazine for FREE to uncover more unique production content and expert resources.
INCENTIVE KEY SYMBOLS: Sunset Provision, Hotel Occupancy Tax Relief
INCENTIVE AMOUNT (PERCENTAGE CIRCLE): 20% – 30%
Incentive: Non-Transferable/ Non-Refundable Tax Credit
Minimum Spend: None
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: Yes
Application: Case-by-case basis. Reach out to the film office directly to apply.
Sunset Date: July 1, 2031
Minnesota State Film Incentives
Minnesota’s location guarantees four distinct seasons, all marked with their own grandeur. On top of its statewide incentive programs, Minnesota also offers several regional film production incentives that can be compounded. In any city you choose to film in, there is no shortage of union and non-union crews and actors with one of the nation’s largest and most diverse professional theatre communities.
Be sure to Subscribe for FREE to Destination Film Guide and Download the Magazine for FREE to uncover more unique production content and expert resources.
INCENTIVE KEY SYMBOLS: Sunset Provision
INCENTIVE AMOUNT (PERCENTAGE CIRCLE): 20% – 25%
Incentive: Fully Transferable Tax Credit
Minimum Spend: $1M
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: Yes
Application: First-come, first-served basis. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements, then apply for and receive a Credit Allocation Letter before beginning principal photography.
Sunset Date: December 31, 2030
Missouri Film Incentives
From the vibrant streets of St. Louis and Kansas City to the serene beauty of the Ozarks, Missouri’s diverse landscapes have been used as backdrops for a wide variety of film genres. Filmmakers are drawn to the Show-Me State for its unique blend of urban and rural scenery, supportive local communities, and attractive production incentives. Notable films such as Gone Girl, which captures the idyllic town of Cape Girardeau, and Winter’s Bone, set in the rugged Ozark Mountains, showcase Missouri’s rich cinematic potential.
Be sure to Subscribe for FREE to Destination Film Guide and Download the Magazine for FREE to uncover more unique production content and expert resources.
INCENTIVE KEY SYMBOLS: Sunset Provision
INCENTIVE AMOUNT (PERCENTAGE CIRCLE): 20% – 42%
Incentive: Fully Transferable Tax Credit
Minimum Spend: $100K ($50K for under 30 minutes)
Bonus: Majority Missouri Bonus: 5% bump if at least 50% of the project is filmed in MO; Rural Area Bonus: 5% bump if at least 15% of qualified expenses are incurred in a rural/blighted area of MO; Resident Advancement Bonus: 5% bump if at least three production departments advance a Missouri resident to the next level of their craft; Positive Portrayal Bonus: 5% bump if the production paints MO in a positive light; Select County Bonus: 2% bump if the production office is located in a Second, Third or Fourth Class County.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must submit a preliminary application to the Missouri Film Office, including supplemental documents, before the first day of principal photography.
Sunset Date: December 31, 2029
Nebraska Film Production Benefits
Nebraska’s wide-open landscapes and vibrant communities lend to its iconic Midwestern charm, providing an authentic and versatile setting for a variety of film genres. Many notable films have used the state’s landscapes to tell their story, including Nebraska, which captures the stark beauty of the state’s countryside, and Up in the Air, featuring scenes shot in Omaha. The Cornhusker State’s grant program further rewards productions that tell a story about the state through the art of film.
Be sure to Subscribe for FREE to Destination Film Guide and Download the Magazine for FREE to uncover more unique production content and expert resources.
INCENTIVE KEY SYMBOLS: None
INCENTIVE AMOUNT (PERCENTAGE CIRCLE): 20%
Incentive: Grants / Rebates
Minimum Spend: $1M
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: No
Application: Case-by-case basis. Applications must be submitted to the Nebraska Film Office before production begins.
Sunset Date: None
Ohio Filming Tax Incentives
Since 2009, Ohio has made significant efforts to attract the film and TV industry with a comprehensive tax incentive and the development of multiple regional film offices. Each regional commission boasts unique filming locations and easy access to well-trained local crew members. The sky is the limit when it comes to areas in the birthplace of aviation. Of course, the Buckeye State has an abundance of open fields, farms and corn silos, but the state’s location databases are full of historic landmarks, amusement parks and urban sprawl.
Be sure to Subscribe for FREE to Destination Film Guide and Download the Magazine for FREE to uncover more unique production content and expert resources.
INCENTIVE KEY SYMBOLS: Film Sales Tax Relief
INCENTIVE AMOUNT (PERCENTAGE CIRCLE): 30%
Incentive: Fully Refundable Tax Credit
Minimum Spend: $300K
Bonus: Contact the film office.
Audit: Yes
Application: Production companies must register and complete an online application. Productions must beg in within 90 days of being determined eligible. Credits are awarded based on economic impact.
Sunset Date: None
