IATSE-Backed Study Makes Case for Federal Film & TV Production Incentives

IATSE joined a coalition of lawmakers and a special ambassador at a press conference to unveil a new study on federal film and TV production incentives. The push is aimed at establishing federal-level tax incentives to compete with aggressive state and international incentive programs that have pulled productions out of traditional US hubs.

The study’s release signals a coordinated lobbying push to bring federal incentives into the conversation — something the US has historically lacked compared to countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia, which use national rebate programs to attract major productions.

For US-based crew, this matters: the erosion of domestic production work tied to runaway production has been a persistent pressure on below-the-line employment, particularly in traditional markets like Los Angeles. A federal incentive structure could help level the playing field and bring more work back stateside.

No specific legislative bill or dollar figures have been announced yet. Watch for details on the study’s findings and any proposed legislation as the coalition moves forward.