Twenty-eight film projects have been awarded funding through California’s expanded Film & Television Tax Credit Program, Governor Gavin Newsom announced on December 17, 2025. The selected productions include a new film from Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee and a biopic produced by Snoop Dogg set in Long Beach.
These productions are expected to create jobs for nearly 4,837 cast and crew members, along with 22,614 background performers (measured in days worked), across 831 shooting days throughout the state. The projects will generate approximately $337 million in qualified spending within California, including $209 million allocated to wages.
Governor Newsom stated: “California’s film and television industry isn’t just an economic engine — it’s part of who we are. For more than a century, the world’s most iconic stories have been imagined, produced, and shared from right here, powered by unmatched talent, creativity, and innovation. This latest round of tax credit awards builds on that legacy while delivering real results across the state: good-paying jobs, stronger local economies, and thriving small businesses. It’s a clear signal that California remains the global home of storytelling — yesterday, today, and for generations to come.”
The current round marks the halfway point for Program 4.0 of the tax credit initiative which began in July 2025. In less than six months since its launch, this program has generated $4.17 billion in economic activity and created over 25,000 cast and crew jobs during more than 4,000 filming days statewide.
Colleen Bell, Director of the California Film Commission said: “We’re very proud to feature so many California-centric stories with this round. These aren’t just movies shooting here; they’re also telling the stories of the places where they’re shooting—drawing from our vivid history, vibrant neighborhoods and diverse and storied culture that are so uniquely California. By supporting these talented artists’ storytelling, we’re not only keeping entertainment jobs in-state; we’re reinforcing California’s status as the entertainment capital of the world and a larger-than-life character that no fictional one could ever rival.”
Among highlighted projects are Gold Mountain (Fifth Season), Business Women (Twentieth Century Fox), an untitled project produced by Glen Powell (Sony), Guerrero directed by Gina Rodriguez (Warrior Stuff LLC), and an untitled Snoop Dogg project (Universal).
Snoop Dogg commented: “Big love to the California Film Commission and Gov. Newsom for holdin’ it down with that tax credit. Y’all making it possible for us to tell my story right here where it all began. California raised me, inspired me, and now helpin’ bring this biopic to life in 2026. Much respect – that’s real teamwork, ya dig…”
Scott Budnick of 1Community added: “This film is a love letter to a community that is woven into the fabric of our state; so it’s only right that we shoot this project here. I’m so fortunate that a movie with cultural resonance to and about Los Angeles and California has been selected for the Tax Credit; I’m excited to bring these stories to the screen.”
Director Gina Rodriguez said: “I’m deeply honored that our film has been selected for the California Tax Credit. Having the opportunity to bring this project to life in Los Angeles means a great deal to me—not only because this city has shaped so much of my creative path but because it allows us to collaborate with the inimitable crews and craftspeople who make California such a singular home for filmmaking.”
Seventeen out of these twenty-eight new projects will be filmed at locations across various regions outside Los Angeles County’s traditional filming zone—including Alameda County as well as Contra Costa County https://www.film.ca.gov, San Bernardino County https://www.film.ca.gov, San Francisco County https://www.film.ca.gov, Santa Barbara County https://www.film.ca.gov, Sonoma County https://www.film.ca.gov, Joshua Tree https://www.film.ca.gov, Palm Springs https://www.film.ca.gov, San Luis Obispo https://www.film.ca.gov ,and Temecula—helping stimulate regional economies statewide.
Ang Lee’s Gold Mountain will lead out-of-zone filming with fifty shoot days scheduled exclusively in Sacramento County.
Earlier this year Governor Newsom increased funding for this program from $330 million annually up to $750 million while introducing updates designed both keep production work rooted locally as well as enhance diversity efforts within workforce development initiatives.
Since its creation in 2009—the tax credit program has contributed over $30 billion dollars toward economic growth statewide while supporting upwards of two hundred thousand cast-and-crew positions.
For further details about eligibility or application procedures regarding these incentives visit www.film.ca.gov
