About MFIC

Why the MFIC Was Formed

Just a few years ago, Maryland was among America’s leading film and television destinations. That is no longer the case. Presently, 44 states offer incentives to producers, movie studios and networks that exceed or rival ours. Massachusetts, New Mexico, Louisiana and Connecticut offer programs with unlimited funding. Pennsylvania’s fund has $42 million. Maryland’s has only $1 million.

Maryland has tremendous advantages: A deep pool of skilled, experienced talent; spectacularly varied locations; and official support at every stage of production. But despite all that, we’re rapidly going from first choice to last place.

Here are a few recent films that illustrate the challenge:

  • In a rousing number from Hairspray, Nikki Blonsky scampered through streets of row houses, belting out “Good Morning Baltimore,” however Toronto, Canada, doubled for Baltimore
  • When Disney filmed Annapolis, the location was obvious. That is until the crew set up shop in Philadelphia
  • F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Baltimore story, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, with a budget of $150 million, was rewritten for Louisiana in order to take advantage of that state’s superior incentive program

What Is at Stake?

It is not only our actors, crews and support staff who suffer when productions are lured elsewhere. Scores of businesses, large and small, profit from films and TV shows shot on location in Maryland. According to the Maryland Film Office, a major motion picture filmed in Maryland does business with about 400 local vendors. On-screen exposure boosts tourism and contributes to the state’s prestige.

How much has been lost? In the past three years, productions that considered, and then bypassed, Maryland had combined budgets of more than $500 million. Many producers with projects currently in development have expressed interest in filming in Maryland. Unfortunately they will not come here due to Maryland’s lack of competitive incentives.

The comparison of Maryland’s anemic production incentive program with those of states where business is booming puts our competitive weakness in sharp focus. The Economic Impact section of this web site illustrates what we stand to lose if we allow Maryland’s ability to attract film and TV projects to continue to decline. Also visit our Media Center for more details.

Mission

The Mission of the Maryland Film Industry Coalition is to advocate for effective incentives that will enable Maryland to regain and enhance its competitiveness as a premier location for film, television and media production.

In order to fulfill our mission, MFIC has retained the government relations firm of Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan and Silver to assist us in educating the public and our elected officials about the importance of film and television production to the state and the legislation that must be enacted for the industry to grow and generate hundreds of millions of dollars for Maryland’s economy.