Written by on May 19, 2014. Posted in Incentive News

Florida suffers blow as authorities fail to boost filming incentive fund

Florida’s production industry faces an uncertain future as authorities have failed to boost its formal filming incentive. The state offers a base filming tax credit of 20%, but a lack of available cash in the fund means Florida is struggling to attract another long-running production like Burn Notice.

A film fund totalling just under USD300 million was set up in 2010 to finance the tax credit, but the money was intended to last a full six years and has long-since been allocated.

Florida’s production industry campaigned to have the fund boosted, but these efforts have not been rewarded. The industry will now have to wait at least another year to see any changes, Associated Press reports.

“Even if we get it a year from now - which would be fantastic - it will come after two years of staff and crew moving out of the state," said Graham Winick, current Film Co-ordinator for Miami Beach and a former President of Film Florida, in comments to the outlet: “We'll have to find them and get them to move back [to Florida].

“These great, hugely fantastic, star-driven, heavily budgeted TV and film projects throughout the entire state are falling apart and going elsewhere.”

Even if we get it a year from now - which would be fantastic - it will come after two years of staff and crew moving out of the state.

Graham Winick, Film Co-ordinator for Miami Beach

Florida had a big hit with the family film Dolphin Tale in 2011 and a sequel is on the way, but high-profile features have otherwise been scarce. Burn Notice ran for seven seasons and came to an end last year.

Authorities in Miami recently made a deal with EUE/Screen Gems to develop a new studio facility in the city. The Miami Entertainment Complex will offer twin 15,000-square-foot sound stages among its filming facilities and this could help soften the incentives disappointment.

Florida faces stiff production competition from neighbouring Georgia and nearby Louisiana, both of which offer generous filming incentives with full funding available.