Written by on Jun 14, 2013. Posted in Incentive News

Montana launches Big Sky Film Grant as extra location filming incentive

Montana has launched an extra location filming incentive in the form of its Big Sky Film Grant. Qualifying productions can get up to 20% of their local expenditure back in cash within as little as 30 days after principal photography wraps.

The new programme is designed to attract features and TV productions to Montana, and has a fund worth a million dollars a year for the next three years. Eligible projects will shoot at least half of principal photography in-state and will spend USD300,000 locally.

“It is our goal with the Montana Big Sky Film Grant to offer Montana’s one-of-a-kind places and production talent to filmmakers,” Montana Film Commissioner Deny Staggs explained.

It is our goal with the Montana Big Sky Film Grant to offer Montana’s one-of-a-kind places and production talent to filmmakers.

Deny Staggs, Montana Film Commissioner

“The programme is unique among other location incentives," Staggs adds: "While it can be combined with Montana’s existing tax incentives for filmmakers, the grant is not a tax credit or rebate - it’s simply a cash infusion that can go directly to expenditures incurred while filming in Montana.”

The new programme can be combined with Montana’s existing 9% filming tax credit on local production expenditures and a 14% filming tax credit on local crew and talent salaries.

(Main page image courtesy of Montana Film Office; Glacier National Park image courtesy of Phil Armitage)