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SOURCE: The Business Journal | Staff
August 3, 2023
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Development has awarded $36 million in tax credits to support eight Ohio film productions in six communities, including several in northeastern Ohio.
The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program provides a refundable tax credit of 30% on production cast and crew wages and other in-state spending for eligible productions, including feature-length films, documentaries, pre-Broadway productions, miniseries, video games and music videos.
“Film impacts our communities in more ways than just providing entertainment,” said Lydia Mihalik, director of the Department of Development. “Projects awarded … will help highlight Ohio’s unique communities, promote the arts, and bring creative jobs to our state.”
Awarded projects total more than $170 million in production expenses, $129 million in total eligible production expenses and are expected to create 370 full-time jobs. The department received 30 applications for the fiscal year 2023 July round, requesting more than $77 million in tax credits.
The latest Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit recipients are:
- “Muenster, Ohio” (TV series), $327,143, Geauga County.
- “Once Upon a Time in Sports” (TV series), $148,629, Cuyahoga County.
- “Nex” (miniseries), $2,099,373, northeastern Ohio.
- “A Train Near Madgeburg” (miniseries), $454,378, Columbus.
- “Nightmare Transmissions Season II” (miniseries), $152,179, Cleveland.
- “Ella McCay” (feature film), $14,097,770, Cleveland.
- “Trap” (feature film), $9,522,006, Cleveland.
- “Eenie Meanie” (feature film), $9,254,869, Cleveland.
Applications are reviewed and awarded in two rounds each year. $40 million is available annually, evenly divided between the two rounds plus any rollover amounts from the preceding period. Projects are awarded first to television series or miniseries, then to all others, based on the extent of positive economic impact in the state and the effect on developing a permanent workforce in the motion picture or theatrical production industries in the state.
The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit was created in 2009 to encourage and develop a film industry in Ohio. The application and additional program information can be found HERE.