Ohio awards $44 million in tax credits for movies and TV shows

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Lights! Camera! Action!

Ohio has been home to several major films throughout the years with Cleveland hosting productions like The Avengers and Captain America: The Winter Soldier in recent years. Other hits like A Christmas Story and The Deer Hunter also came to Northeast Ohio decades ago to bring their films to life.

Now, the Ohio Department of Development has announced state support of more than $44 million in tax credits for movies and TV series being filmed across the state.

The following clip from August 2011 features behind-the-scenes footage captured by 3News as an explosive scene from ‘The Avengers’ rocked East 9th Street:

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“Investing in these productions fuels the vibrant creativity that’s alive in Ohio’s communities and serves as a powerful catalyst for economic growth,” according to Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development. “These projects celebrate and showcase our diverse landscapes, generate jobs, stimulate local businesses, and create a lasting legacy for the arts in Ohio.”

Awards are being made through the Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit Program, which officials say “provides a refundable tax credit of 30 percent on production cast and crew wages and other in-state spending for eligible productions, including feature-length films, documentaries, pre -Broadway productions, miniseries, video games and music videos.”

Here’s a list of the 23 projects that are being awarded with the $44 million in tax credits…

• An Interesting Life Season 2, Southwest Ohio$432,300
• WWE 2024, Ohio$1,675,986
• Nightmare Transmission Season 2, Ashland/Columbus$265,247.40
• Heartland Horror Chronicles Season 1, Crestline$129,444
• Christmas on Main, Ashland$148,842
• Kings of Vegas, Cleveland$105,878.25

• Genesis, Cleveland/Cincinnati$11,091,686.70
• Superthief, Northeast Ohio, $5,296,260.30
• Alarum, Cincinnati$5,863,392.30
• Epiphany, Cincinnati$6,052,988.40
• Stained Glass, Southwest Ohio$3,026,255
• The Marshals, Southwest Ohio$2,380,988.40
• Nutcracker’s Mustache, Dayton/Cincinnati$2,008,106.70
• The Last of the Big-time Promoters, Southwest Ohio$985,500
• Never Quit, The Todd Crandell Story, Toledo$1,256,153.40
• Harbor Master, Northeast Ohio$1,113,364.80
• Down to the Felt, Columbus$385,853.70
• Oscar’s Options, Cincinnati$823,269.60
• Slay, Columbus$519,603.60
• The Forgotten Chords, Columbus$115,651.50
• Heavenly Wickedness, Ashtabula$110,625
• Cannonballer, Summit$148,371
• aimless, Columbus$93,313.50

“Awarded projects total nearly $503 million in production expenses, $146.7 million in total eligible production expenses and are expected to create 530 full-time jobs,” according to the state’s press release. “Development received 27 applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 January round, requesting nearly $60 million in tax credits.”

Applications are reviewed and awarded in two rounds each year.

“The program provides $50 million annually, evenly divided between the two rounds, plus any rollover amounts from the proceeding period and any recaptured funds from previous productions,” according to the press release. “There is $5 million held annually from the full amount specifically for Broadway and theatrical productions. Projects are awarded first to television series or miniseries, then to all others, based on the extent of positive economic impact in Ohio and the effect on developing a permanent workforce in motion picture or theatrical production industries in the state.”

The Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit was first created back in 2009 “to encourage and develop a strong film industry in Ohio.”

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