Florida Entertainment Industry Incentives

Filmmakers Get It All Here!

Millions of Dollars of Production Money
The Florida Entertainment Industry Financial Program has increased to $25 million for fiscal year 2007/08, and for the first time allows any unused funds to roll over to next year! Qualified productions may receive a cash rebate of up to $8 million, provided they spend a minimum of $625,000 in the state, on Florida businesses and vendors. The new incentive also includes a 5% off-season bonus from June through November to help rebuild Florida as a 12-month production state and a 2% bonus for family-friendly films. Independent filmmakers residing in Florida will be provided with their own queue, with a lower threshold of $100,000. The purpose of this program is to encourage the use of this state as a site for filming and for providing production services for motion pictures, made-for-television movies, commercials, music videos, documentaries, digital media effects productions, industrial and educational films, television programs and more.

Tax Incentives
Florida is one of only seven states that has no personal income tax and no tax on inventory or goods in transit. Florida’s per-capita state tax collection consistently ranks below the national average. There are special tax exemptions that have helped Florida become the third largest motion picture and television production center in the United States.

Effective January 1, 2001, The Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment has the ability to grant sales tax exempt status to companies that spend their production dollars in Florida.  Here is a brief list of expenditures that are exempt from sales tax with the Entertainment Industry Qualified Production Company Certificate of Exemption:

·   No tax on the sale or lease of motion picture, television, and sound-recording equipment, or on parts or accessories for the qualified production equipment.

·   No tax on props and wardrobe that are purchased and can be stored for future production activities.

·   No tax on most materials used to design and build sets.

·   No tax on the rent or lease of real property used as an integral part of a motion picture production. Renting studios, sound stages, lots, buildings or any other real estate is exempt. This exemption applies to small, independent operations and to major studio facilities.

·   No tax on artistic or copyright material on master tapes, master films, master records and master videotapes. Transactions involving masters are taxed only on the value of the blank film, tape or other tangible personal property. The value of all the major cost components of making a master, such as artistic services, processing, copyrights and royalties, is excluded from taxation when the master is sold or leased.

For more information about the Entertainment Industry Sales Tax Exemption, call the Florida Governor’s Office of Film & Entertainment at 877.352.3456, or visit www.filminflorida.com.

Competitive Union Rates
A coalition comprised of industry professionals, labor leaders, and film commissioners has united to launch Film Florida, a partnership that will work together supporting legislation and creating marketing incentives for film and television production.

Los Angeles Liaison for the Governor’s Office of Film and Entertainment Commission
Los Angeles Liaison Susan Simms is available to work closely with studio executives to identify projects that are suited to Florida’s beautiful and versatile scenery. To reach Ms. Simms, call 818.508.7772.

Palm Beach County Film & Television Incentives

 

Free Production Space
The G-Star School of the Arts for Motion Pictures and Broadcasting, a Florida non-profit corporation educating students through motion picture and television production, offers an extraordinary incentive package at no charge to filmmakers. This package includes the use of the 84,000 square foot facility, featuring the 25,500 square foot G-Star Motion Picture Studios, set on three-acres of security fenced property. The 25,500 square foot space is made up of a 17,000 square foot warehouse and 8,500 square feet of space offering 12 furnished offices and a conference room.

Fully Equipped Studios, Soundstages & Professional Support Services
Film friendly Palm Beach County is home to six studios and soundstages complemented by state-of-the-art equipment and amenities. Our strong base of homegrown studios and production companies in the area has played an integral role in the development and training of locally based qualified crews. Palm Beach County is also home to 40 local production companies producing original, syndicated and local programming.

Free 24-Hour Services Including One-Stop Permitting
Founded in 1989, the Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission (FTC) has been a pioneer in developing the “One Stop Permitting Process.” A government network has been created in Palm Beach County that allows the office to cut through stacks of red tape and offer industry professionals One-Stop Permitting at NO COST. The FTC offers additional services that bolster Palm Beach County’s reputation as a “Film Friendly” environment including assisting with accommodations, crew, locations and production services.

Palm Beach County Film & Television Incentive Grant Program
The Palm Beach County Office of Economic Development has created a fund making up to $150,000 available to a film/television production studio or a technology company with a multi-media focus that relocates to Palm Beach County. The relocation project must create a minimum of 25 full-time jobs in Palm Beach County, in order to receive up to $2,000 back per job created. The goal of this program is to provide economic stimulus through the development and expansion of the film and television industry in Palm Beach County.

Talented Local Crew Base
Palm Beach County has a strong, stable crew base of award-winning production professionals, including producers, directors, grips and lighting technicians. These industry professionals have contributed to countless nationally broadcast television programs, feature and independent films, commercial projects, print work, etc. Many of these professionals have received or worked on productions that have been honored with Telly, FREDDIE, Emmy, Addy and other nationally and internationally recognized awards. The awards have been bestowed upon individuals and companies time and again for both creative quality and dedication to professionalism.

 

Promotional Opportunities with the Palm Beach International Film Festival and other Local Festivals
Going into its 13^th year, the Palm Beach International Film Festival (PBIFF) has exceeded expectations, establishing a credible reputation as a globally respected film event. Through a unique partnership between the PBIFF and the FTC, the festival showcases Palm Beach County as a premiere filming destination. Other local festivals dazzling filmmakers include the Delray Beach Film Festival, which has a schedule packed with screenings, parties and free surfing lessons, the Palm Beach International Latin Film Festival, whose goal is to encourage filmmakers to share elements of the Latin culture with the local community, and the Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, an 11-day event that is dedicated to screening outstanding foreign and independent films with Jewish content.

 

Remarkable, Unique Locations
Palm Beach County is home to 47 miles of pristine beaches including Singer Island Beach in Riviera Beach. This tropical haven is complete with palm trees, sugar soft sand, sand dunes, volleyball areas and a breathtaking view of the Atlantic Ocean. In the southwestern part of the County, the Everglades offer a 200 square mile area of swampland with lush tropical vegetation and varied wildlife in their natural environment. Palm Beach County is a wonderland of recreational activity with more than 160 picturesque public and private golf courses, a handful of beautifully manicured polo fields and the National Croquet Center that spans four acres. As the oldest structure in Palm Beach County, the Jupiter Lighthouse, is a 115-foot tall, natural brick colored lighthouse that overlooks the Jupiter Inlet. Lion Country Safari, America’s largest drive-through zoo features over 500 acres of wild animals, rides and games. The Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens provides a harmonious arrangement of pine forests, bamboo groves, rock formations and beautiful cascading waterfalls. Specialty locations include Moroso Motorsports Park, featuring a 2.25 mile, ten-turn road course and 9/10 mile asphalt Kart Track and Yesteryear Village, a historic 10-acre park showcasing buildings and artifacts from the 1850’s to the 1950’s. One of Palm Beach County’s most prized industries, sugar farming exists throughout the county’s Western Communities. These areas can also double for any quaint farming community with their wealth of agriculture including corn, wheat and rice fields.