Savannah, GA Production Incentives

PRIOR to applying, meet with the Savannah Regional Film Commission (SRFC) and spend at least two days scouting; apply at least seven business days but not more than 90 days PRIOR to the start of principal photography in Chatham County; locate the main production office in Chatham County; show proof of funding amounting to at least 30% of the total budget; 50% of shooting days must occur within 60 miles of Savannah’s City Hall; meet the minimum qualified spend requirement in Chatham County of $1 million for feature films and pilots with a total production budget of at least $4 million or $1 million for Television or Internet-Distributed Episodic Production with a minimum of five episodes per season and a total budget of $5 million per series; display the SRFC logo in end credits immediately after the Georgia logo; add SRFC’s Executive Director and Office Manager to distro list during preproduction and production; and submit the necessary documentation for audit within 120 days of the completion of principal photography in Chatham County (or postproduction, if performed in Chatham County).

Qualified spend consists of expenses incurred with a company officially operating in Chatham County, including but not limited to: rentals, purchases, airfare, hotels, per diem, casting fees, picture cars, parking, gas and oil, catering (labor/food), craft service, gratuities, animals, security and police, healthcare professionals, site rentals, and production services companies. Only below-the-line Chatham County resident labor (including assistants to directors and producers, day players, and casting fees on day players) and background players with proof that their main residence is within 60 miles from Savannah’s City Hall will qualify.

This program is administered on a combination of a first-come, first-served basis and a review/approval of the production project by senior SEDA staff and legal counsel. Savannah offers a rebate equal to 10% of qualified local nonpayroll spend and resident labor for productions that shoot at least 50% of principal photography days within 60 miles of Savannah’s City Hall and meet the minimum spend, episodic, and budget requirements. There is a program funding cap of $1 million per calendar year and an incentive per project cap of $175,000 for a feature film or TV pilot and $300,000 per calendar year for a qualifying television or internet-distributed episodic production. An applicant for a feature film or TV pilot can qualify only once per year unless the budget exceeds $15 million.