Arkansas's uniquely diverse landscape and unspoiled beauty offer more effective and dramatic settings than most other locations. In concert with her natural beauty, Arkansas provides visionary producers with seamless and efficient single-contact access to production houses, skilled crews, casting agencies and the resources that help filmmakers get from script to wrap party.

For more information about the film and motion picture industry in Arkansas, download the 2019 Film Report.

PRODUCTIONS FILMED IN ARKANSAS

Arkansas’ unique creative economy has been the secret ingredient to film and television success stories like the movie “Mud,” with Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon, and HBO’s drama series “True Detective” season three. “The film “American Cherry”, described as a psychological thriller-romance, was filmed in Northwest Arkansas and is set to premiere in 2020.

For Arkansas' complete filmography download the 2019 Film Report.

INCENTIVES FOR THE FILM AND MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY

Prior to beginning preproduction activities in Arkansas, register with the film office and submit an application along with an estimate of expenditures; meet the minimum spending requirement of at least $50,000 within a six-month period in connection with a postproduction project or $200,000 within a six-month period in connection with the production of one project; and apply for a production rebate certificate no later than 180 days after the last production expenses are incurred.

Qualified Spend

Includes costs incurred in Arkansas in the development, preproduction, production or postproduction of a qualified production; the first $500,000 of wages or salaries paid to each resident and nonresident that are subject to Arkansas income taxes; pension, health and welfare contributions; and stipends and living allowances. Payments for production and post-production expenses are recommended (but not required) to be made from the checking account of an Arkansas institution. Cash payments to vendors may not exceed 40% of the total verifiable costs.

Summary

Each project submitted for funding under this program is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. An eligible production company may earn a 20% rebate on all qualified production expenditures in Arkansas. Salaries and wages paid to resident and nonresident above-the-line employees, as well as resident and nonresident below-the-line employees, will qualify for the 20% rebate and an additional 10% may be earned on the payroll of below-the-line employees who are full-time Arkansas residents for a total rebate of 30% on such wages. Below-the-line does not include directors and producers but for purposes of the additional 10%, resident actors and writers are defined as below-the-line. The incentive program is scheduled to sunset on June 30, 2029.

Applications

Click here for Arkansas Film Production Application

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