On Thursday, Kansas City’s City Council approved amendments to the KC Film Development Program proposed by the Kansas City Film Office. Eligible productions can now receive an up to 12% cash rebate on all qualified Kansas City, Missouri expenditures.
Sponsored by Mayor Quinton Lucas, the amendments include adjustments to existing administrative and eligibility requirements to better mirror Missouri’s new State Film Tax Credit Program, ensuring consistency and ease of use for interested productions. Additionally, the program will now offer two optional bonuses intended to support the growing creative workforce. Each bonus will carry a potential rebate increase of 2%.
Workforce Development Bonus Productions can receive an optional 2% rebate increase when they provide a minimum of two day-long shadow opportunities with heads of departments to students enrolled in local film and media programs.
Cultural Integration Bonus Productions can receive an optional 2% rebate increase if their crew and principal cast are comprised of at least 30% women and minorities.
“Kansas City has seen a marked increase in large-scale film production since the implementation of the State Film Tax Credit in October 2023. With more interest in our local incentive than ever before, now is the time to utilize the City’s generous offerings to help create opportunities to expand, diversify and develop our workforce. Steps like these will be instrumental in creating a stable and skilled local industry,” says Kansas City Film Office Director, Rachel Kephart.
Since the passing of the State Film Tax Credit in Missouri, Kansas City has played host to 12 projects taking part in the State’s program, including the number one cable TV movie of the year, Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story.
Kephart says this is only the beginning. “Reinstating Missouri’s Film Tax Credit was a huge step in making Missouri competitive within the industry again, and our local incentive ensures that those new eyes on the State are drawn to Kansas City. The interest in KC hasn’t slowed down, with teams returning to the area with more projects after having great experiences working in our city with our talented crew. I’m biased, but it seems to me, once you film in Kansas City, it’s hard to go anywhere else.”
“Kansas City film is on the rise with millions of dollars in economic activity this year alone, while showcasing all that makes Kansas City special for millions of viewers across the country and globe. I am proud to sponsor legislation to ensure our film program remains competitive regionally and nationally. I look forward to more incredible projects filmed in Kansas City with local production crews,” said Mayor Quinton Lucas.
