By Kayla DeKraker
New York’s governor Kathy Hochul has increased the state’s film and TV subsidy cap to $800 million as it vies to build its entertainment industry prowess.
“The enhanced and extended film incentive program will further cement New York as a leader in the entertainment and creative sectors,” said Charles Rivkin, president of the Motion Picture Association. “As the outpouring of support from across the state has made clear, New York crews, creatives and small businesses are applauding leaders in Albany today.”
$100 million of the budget will be allotted to independent filmmakers.
This change gives the state of New York a larger budget for filmmaking than California, which will increase its budget from $330 to $750 million.
New York’s commitment to production is already boosting its economy.
“Over 103 days of filming, production of Netflix’s ZERO DAY added $146 million to New York’s economy and supported 2,073 local cast and crew, according to new studio data released today,” the Motion Picture Association posted on Instagram.
Rivkin was proud of the film’s impact in the state, saying, “Netflix’s ZERO DAY takes global audiences through twists and turns in pursuit of the truth — but the economic value of its production is undeniable. This gripping thriller created high-quality jobs for New Yorkers, pumped critical growth into the local economy, and delivered investments to small businesses statewide.”
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Doug Steiner, chairman of Steiner Studios, added, “Facilitating a large-scale production is no easy feat, but our world-class complex supplies the necessary resources, amenities, and experience to transform a filmmaker’s vision from conception to polished, completed content.”
He continued, “Moreover, the benefits reach far beyond our soundstages, from local small businesses to multiple communities around the state. Our footprint — and ongoing expansion — here in Brooklyn represents a massive investment in film and television production which continues to pay substantial, demonstrable dividends to a host of stakeholders.”
Now that the budget has increased, more films will be able to help the New York economy.
The entertainment industry’s move to New York has been building following 2023’s Hollywood strikes and the COVID pandemic.
“2025 looks very solid, and very, very good for Western New York especially,” Tim Clark, the Buffalo Niagara Film commissioner, said of New York’s growing film industry.
“Downtown Buffalo could play for Chicago, we often twin for New York, we’ve even doubled for Los Angeles in the past. So it plays for anything and everything, and we think we’re going to continue to use that, those strengths to our benefit.”
As California struggles to remain the dominant entertainment production hub, other states are jumping on the opportunity to boost their economies through film.
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