Incentives & Funding
Greater Erie Film Industry Summit, 2024
Photo By: Rylee Louisa Photography
Make Your Budget Go Further in Erie, PA
Whether you're filming a feature, short, series, doc, or commercial project, Erie and Northwest Pennsylvania offer financial advantages that let you do more with less — without compromising on quality.
Filming in the Erie region means:
Lower location fees & permit costs
Affordable lodging & food for cast/crew
Free or low-cost parking & staging areas
Supportive local government and private partners
Short travel times between varied locations
PA Film Tax Credit Program - EIR Report: 2023-2024
Pennsylvania Film Tax Credit
Up to 25% Back on Qualified Expenses
The Pennsylvania Film Production Tax Credit Program offers a 25% tax credit to productions that spend at least 60% of their total budget in the state.
Qualifying expenses can include:
Cast and crew wages (including local hires)
Equipment rentals
Location fees
Post-production services
Lodging and transportation
Bonus: Projects that meet certain criteria — like using a PA post house or shooting in an economically distressed area — may be eligible for additional tax credit uplifts.
Filmmaker Cole Daniel Hills director of short film 'The Night Mare'
Eerie Horror Fest, 2022 - Photo by R Frank Media
Grants, Sponsorships & Regional Support
We connect you to the people and programs that can help bring your project to life.
While Film Erie doesn’t administer direct funding or production grants, we work to amplify local opportunities and help filmmakers tap into existing support across the region. We can:
Point you toward local and state funding programs
Provide letters of support for eligible productions or grant applications
Make introductions to potential sponsors, partners, or collaborators
Share relevant calls for projects, fellowships, or residencies
Highlight regional artists and youth filmmakers through our programming
As we grow, so will our network — and we’re proud to help connect the dots.