New York State Increases Funding For Film and TV Tax Credit Through 2009

As you know, the highly successful NY Film and TV Tax Credit ran out of money in January of this year and Governor Patterson’s proposed budget did not include any further funding of the program.

A significant lobbying effort was immediately undertaken by Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild of America, IATSE Locals 52, 700 and 600, the Teamsters and AFTRA, Motion Picture Association of America, Silvercup Studios, Kaufman-Astoria Studios, NBC Universal, New York Production Alliance and thousands upon thousands of small business owners and individual workers to convince policy makers of the need to uncap the program and make it permanent in order to provide the certainty necessary for the production industry to remain in New York and continue to contribute to the creation of jobs and revenue for the state.  

Click here to read more

---

NY State and NYC offer Film Production Tax Credit programs combined can provide qualifying film and television productions a fully-refundable tax credit equal to 35%. The incentive applies to production costs incurred in NYS and/or NYC eligible productions: feature films, episodic television series, television pilots, television movies and miniseries. However, this highly successful program has run out of money and the governor's proposed budget does not include an extension of the program. As the legislature debates the 2009 budget, it is imperative to give this program certainty for thousands of workers. (Click here for information on how to write to your legislative representative in support of the continuation of the program)

---

A press conference organized by Screen Actors Guild took place at the Kaufman Astoria Studios “Life On Mars” set on March 2nd.  Film and television workers, union crew members, truck drivers, gaffers and shop craftsmen, set designers, set dressers, maintenance workers, location managers, production assistants, editors, background actors, local business vendors and NYS AFL-CIO President Denis M. Hughes called on the Governor and the NYS Legislature to keep good paying jobs with benefits and economic development in New York State by reinvesting in the Empire State Film Production Tax Credit and making the successful program permanent. (Click here to read the press release)

---

Screen Actors Guild, International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, Teamsters, AFTRA, Directors Guild of America and the AFL-CIO sent a united message to Governor Paterson and the State’s Legislature urging the continuation of the highly successful New York State Film and TV Tax Incentive program. NYS and NYC now offer Film Production Tax Credit programs, which combined can provide qualifying film and television productions a fully-refundable tax credit equal to up to 35%. The incentive applies to production costs incurred in NYS and/or NYC eligible productions: feature films, episodic television series, television pilots, television movies and miniseries. (Click here to read letter)