Lawmakers and Filmmakers Boost North Carolina's Film Revival

Bipartisan Efforts to Revitalize North Carolina’s Film Industry

A group of bipartisan lawmakers is working to bring more attention to North Carolina as a prime location for film and television productions. The General Assembly’s Film Industry Study Committee is set to reconvene to explore ways to boost the state’s film industry, which has seen a decline in recent years.

Before 2015, North Carolina offered a 25% tax break for qualifying expenses for film productions. This incentive made the state an attractive destination for filmmakers due to its diverse landscapes and cost-effective production environment. However, these incentives expired at the end of 2014, leading to a noticeable shift in the industry.

Local filmmaker Lauren Vilchik, who moved to North Carolina about 20 years ago, expressed disappointment over the loss of these incentives. She first came to the state to work on a movie and fell in love with its natural beauty and film-friendly environment. Vilchik eventually became a faculty member at UNC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. At the time, the tax breaks allowed her students to work on major projects like The Hunger Games.

“Part of the reason The Hunger Games was filmed here was because of the incentives,” she said. “When they ended, people stopped coming.”

Today, many filmmakers are choosing states like Georgia, South Carolina, and New York, which offer more substantial incentives. As a result, local film students often have to leave North Carolina to find work.

“We're training our students, but we're not creating an environment where they can start their careers, build them, and learn from professionals,” Vilchik explained.

Local cinemas also see the potential benefits of boosting incentives. A/perture Cinema executive director Leigh Dyer emphasized that films with local connections tend to draw higher attendance, benefiting their business. She believes film incentives are crucial for the state's creative economy.

Broader Economic Impact

The impact of film production extends beyond the entertainment industry. Rebecca Clark, executive director of the Piedmont Triad Film Association, noted that while cities like Wilmington and Charlotte have retained some productions, incentives historically brought productions to all regions of the state.

“It benefits not only big cities but also small communities in rural areas,” Clark said. “Films shoot in every single county in the Piedmont Triad, and wherever they go, they spend money.”

This spending supports various industries, including restaurants, gas stations, hardware stores, antique shops, and production rental equipment companies. Clark shared an example of a small florist in a rural town who earned $60,000 in one day from a production company.

In 2024, the North Carolina Department of Commerce reported that film production generated over $300 million in direct in-state spending. In contrast, Georgia reported an estimated $2.6 billion in the same year.

Clark and Vilchik are urging lawmakers to reinstate or enhance incentives to revitalize the film industry. They believe this could lead to significant economic growth for North Carolina.

“I think North Carolina has a little bit of work to do,” Clark said. “But I think it can come back stronger than ever.”