Orange County is offering a competitive film incentive through a program for eligible film, television, and commercial productions in Central Florida.
Backed by a $25 million, five-year investment funded through the Tourist Development Tax (TDT), the Film Incentive Program is designed to attract high-impact productions to the region, create high-wage jobs for local creative professionals, and boost tourism by showcasing Orange County’s diverse locations and communities to global audiences.
“The Film Incentive Program reflects Orange County’s commitment to growing our creative economy and positioning our region as a premier destination for the entertainment industry,” said Democratic Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “We look forward to welcoming productions that will showcase everything Orange County has to offer.”
The program is open to production companies seeking to film in Central Florida, as the Orlando region continues to strengthen its position as a competitive destination for film and television production. Eligible projects include feature films, television series, streaming productions, and commercials. Film incentive requirements include both a minimum direct spend in Orange County and a cap: commercials require a $250,000 minimum spend with a 10% rebate capped at $50,000; and TV and film productions have a $400,000 minimum spend with a 20% rebate capped at $1 million.
The Film Incentive Program is designed to promote tourism in Orange County through hotel occupancy, other local economic activity, workforce development, and enhance regional visibility through film, television and digital media production. Eligible applications will be evaluated by a three-member selection committee who will score using a hybrid scoring model that prioritizes hotel room nights, tourism value, and economic impact.
Film and TV productions generate a significant local economic impact. Visitors and production crews often stay longer than typical tourists, benefiting local hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. The average salary for a film production job is $105,000 per year, creating high-wage employment opportunities for creative professionals in Central Florida.
The latest Film Incentive Program application portal is accepting submissions until May 28, 2026 for the next batch of available funding. The first incentive is expected to be awarded in June 2026.
“We are thrilled to open the portal and begin accepting applications for this exciting program,” said Jen Pennypacker, Film Incentive Program Administrator. “Orange County is ready to compete for the best productions in the industry. Between our competitive incentive offering, diverse filming locations, experienced local workforce, and world-class infrastructure, we have everything a production needs to succeed — and we look forward to proving it.”
Orange County will track the number of hotel room nights resulting from productions, local
spending, and job creation to measure the return on investment. Data will help guide
future funding decisions and ensure the program’s continued growth, according to officials.
Check out more information on the Orange County film incentive program and guidelines online.
