DC Film and TV: Film DC Economic Incentive Grant Fund

In December 2006, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the Film DC Economic Incentive Grant Fund creating incentives for motion picture and television companies that film all or part of their project in the District of Columbia. The purpose of the incentives is to encourage the use of the District as a site for film and television production, to encourage the hiring of District residents as cast, crew and staff and to support and encourage the use of other District services and equipment companies by the entertainment industry in these productions.

The Office of Motion Picture & Television Development determines whether particular motion picture and television productions and the expenditures associated with those productions qualify for incentives under the Act. All production companies that receive grant funds must expend at least $500,000 in the District and film for 5 or more days in the District of Columbia. The recipient of the grant will receive an amount not to exceed the lesser of 10 percent of qualified expenses or 100 percent of the sales and use taxes paid to the District on the qualified expenses. The term “qualified expenses” means costs incurred in the District for the production of a film or television project including all expenses incurred in the District from vehicle rentals, camera equipment, costumes, wardrobe, construction materials, props, scenery materials, film and tape, design materials, special effects materials, fabrication, printing or production of scripts, storyboards, costumes, salaries paid to District residents, hotel expenses, food and alcohol purchases, restaurant expenses and related supplies and equipment. The application pertaining to the grant fund requires that information be submitted concerning the production company, the production, production timelines, total anticipated expenditures, anticipated District expenditures and other pertinent information.