Written by on Feb 11, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

Film Florida report outlines state-wide benefits of filming incentive

A new report from Film Florida has outlined how the state has benefited from the filming incentive programme that has attracted films like Dolphin Tale. According to the study, Florida makes a minimum of five dollars in investment for each dollar issued through the filming incentive.

Sponsored by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), the report looks at the filming incentive’s broad economic benefits, including how Florida production impacts film tourism. Nearly 20% of visitors to the state who were questioned for the report said they had come to Florida partly because of a film or TV series that was shot locally.

“The programme attracts a significant amount of entertainment projects, and in turn Florida gains direct and indirect jobs, tax revenue, and film-induced tourism dollars from the film and entertainment industry,” said Film Florida president Leah Sokolowsky.

“If leveraged to its full potential, the incentive programme has the ability to infuse even more capital into our state’s economy. Simply put, a long-term funding commitment and continued investment in Florida’s Film and Entertainment Industry Financial Incentive Program is an investment in Florida’s economy.”

If leveraged to its full potential, the incentive programme has the ability to infuse even more capital into our state’s economy.

Leah Sokolowsky, President of Film Florida

Added Vans Stevenson, senior vice president for State Government Affairs at the MPAA: “Today’s findings released by our friends at Film Florida support what has been demonstrated in the US and internationally - that a competitive, reliable production tax incentive is incredibly beneficial for state and local economies.”

In recent years Florida has had long-term TV success with spy drama series Burn Notice, while feature productions have included Dolphin Tale and its sequel, Magic Mike and Spring Breakers.