It’s a sign of the times: The iconic Warner Bros. water tower has already been repainted to include ‘A Skydance Corporation’, signaling the close of the PSKY/WBD merger. 

While this consolidation has everyone wondering about the future, Film Independent is already looking ahead. During the Future of Independent Film & The Creative Economy panel at the Film Independent Forum, president Juan Devis addressed a fundamental question facing independent film: 

“For 42 years, Film Independent has championed creative independence in filmmaking. Through our programs, labs, grants, mentorship, events and the Spirit Awards, we have helped artists and projects move from idea through development and production, and ultimately toward audiences. But the conditions in which that work is being made are changing dramatically. Los Angeles remains one of the greatest filmmaking capitals of the world, yet we have watched production decline, jobs disappear and projects move elsewhere.

Film Independent wants to take a more active role in making sure these filmmakers, businesses, and jobs are represented in the economic and policy conversations shaping our future. And that is why we are gathered here today, to ask: What will it take for Los Angeles and California to remain the world’s most important and relevant home for independent storytelling?”

A new federal film incentive might provide some answers. 

It’s called The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act. Introduced by Washington lawmakers on September 24, 2026, this bipartisan piece of legislation is part of a plan to counter overseas production and bring filmmaking jobs back to the U.S. As the first national film and television production tax credit, it would create a 20% U.S. film incentive, with bonuses that could bring the total rebate up to 30%.

To showcase the financial disadvantages currently facing U.S. productions, producer John Lang told the audience at the Creative Economy panel that a $25-30 million dollar movie had a proposed transportation budget of 9 million dollars to film in Atlanta, as opposed to 950,000 pounds in Belfast. “You can’t compete with that,” he said.

While it’s not a ‘silver bullet’, this new federal incentive is designed to compete with approximately 65 countries currently offering incentives unavailable in the U.S. It will also be stackable with state incentives, and would provide a 5% uplift for spending at least $10 million in 10 states in a year.  These combined credits could create some of the world’s most generous subsidies for film and TV. “If it passes and it stacks clean, shooting in Georgia or California or New York is the best deal on the planet,” said Joe Chianese, senior vice president for incentives at Entertainment Partners. “Nothing overseas comes close.”

The incentive would apply to narrative and documentary feature films, TV shows (scripted and unscripted), TV pilots, animation, pre- and post-production, above-the-line and below-the-line wages. 

Importantly, it would also include a 5% bonus for independent productions, as well as for filming in a federal disaster area, with a 5 year limit. After the 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires, Los Angeles County was declared a federal disaster area. If adopted, this bonus would apply to LA County until January 2030.

For independent filmmakers, this could have significant implications for packaging and financing their work. If shooting in LA becomes more financially viable, it incentivizes talent to attach themselves to those independent projects, which directly impacts their ability to get financed and made. 

“When you’re talking about independent film and you’re trying to go for that actor who’s going to greenlight you, if you can say you’re shooting here in LA and they get to go home every day, that makes a huge difference,” said producer Tom Butterfield at the Forum.

The Motion Picture, Television, and Entertainment Revitalization Act would require films to have a minimum spend of $1 million, and at least 75% of the production days must take place in the U.S. If it passes, it will apply to projects that go into production after December 31, 2026. 

This legislation has bipartisan support from the White House, as well as Senator Adam Schiff (D), Representative Laura Friedman (D) of California, Senator Tim Scott (R) of South Carolina, and Representative Tim Moran (R) of Texas. Friedman and Moran are also founding members of the Congressional American Film & TV Production Caucus, a bipartisan effort to further bolster U.S. production and educate Congress on the importance of making entertainment here in the states. 

According to John Lang, a healthy film ecosystem includes not just larger, studio-backed productions, but independent ones as well. “We fill in the gaps in the ecosystem. You don’t want everyone to just have a job at a huge company. You need to have that mix of small and medium sized businesses.”

While the future remains uncertain, Film Independent is committed to finding paths forward that support creative independence, for the well being of all.