HOLLYWOOD: Calif. Gov. Newsom this past week (April 23) announced that 38 film projects have been awarded tax credits through the California Film Commission’s recently expanded Film & Television Tax Credit Program. These productions, which will generate nearly $800 million in economic activity across California, are expected to spend more than 460 filming days outside the traditional 30-mile studio zone — bringing good-paying jobs and meaningful investment to communities statewide.
“California remains the entertainment capital of the world — and we’re making sure it stays that way. Our expanded film and television tax credit is keeping more productions here in the Golden State, creating good-paying jobs and supporting communities statewide. I’m proud to announce the next round of projects that will keep California films rolling and strengthen our leadership in the global creative economy,” said Gov. Newsom in a press release issued by his office.
Films coming to the Golden State include 20th Century Studios’ “The Simpsons Movie 2,” “Phineas and Ferb” from Disney Entertainment Television, “Self Help” produced by Will Ferrell, and “Black is Blue” with Laverne Cox.
Today’s awardees are the result of the Governor’s expansion of the Film & Television Tax Credit Program last year, which is bringing an undeniably positive impact on the production industry since it went into effect. In the first application window of the newly expanded program alone, applications jumped more than 400%. And since that time, the CFC has approved tax credits for 147 productions — a 53% increase compared to the same time period last year (July 2024 – April 2025). Together, these 147 projects represent $5.5 billion in total economic activity, 21,504 cast and crew jobs, and 5,928 filming days across California.
The California Film Commission (CFC) administers the Film & Television Tax Credit Program. Earlier this year, the Governor more than doubled California’s Film and Television Tax Credit program — from $330 million to $750 million — and implemented key updates to keep production, below-the-line jobs, and investment rooted in California.
Since its inception in 2009, California’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program has generated over $32.3 billion in economic activity and supported more than 234,000 cast and crew jobs across the state. In years past, for every dollar of tax credit awarded, California has seen massive returns — $24.40 in economic output, $16.14 in GDP and $8.60 in wages.
The expanded program — now one of the largest capped film incentives in the nation — maintains California’s competitive edge in the creative economy while continuing to prioritize workforce diversity provisions, more funding for the Career Pathways Training Program, and the nation’s first Safety on Production Pilot Program.
For more information about the program, visit https://www.film.ca.gov.
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This version of news first appeared on CaliforniaNewswire.com and is © 2026. Image created by Christopher Simmons using AI tools along with Adobe Photoshop – reproduction rights reserved.
