To qualify for the incentive program, productions must meet the following requirements:

• The production must be produced by a film company that has entered into a Film Use Agreement with the City.
• The production must have at least five (5) full principal photography days in San Francisco.
• The production must spend at least $500,000 in San Francisco. If the project budget is under $3 million, the minimum spend requirement is $250,000.
• Productions must base their production office in San Francisco unless they determine that no physical production office is needed.
• Fulfill the Film Skills Training and First Source Hiring requirements.
• Qualified film production types include: feature-length narrative film, documentary feature, television film, television series*, television pilot*, television episode*, unscripted series*, regardless of the medium used to create or convey the project. *includes web content
• Register your production company as a San Francisco business here.

Ineligible projects include animation, a news or current affairs program, interview or talk program, instructional film or program, film or program consisting primarily of stock footage, sporting event or sports program, game show, award ceremony, film or program intended primarily for industrial, corporate, or institutional end-users, fundraising film or program, commercials, or music videos; or a production for which records are required under Title 18 United States Code Section 2257, to be maintained with respect to any performer in such production. Film SF reserves the right to determine final eligibility.

Qualifying production phases include principal photography, pre-production, and post-production. These phases are defined as follows:

"Principal photography" means the time period and phase of film production during which the main photography occurs with the director and lead actors usually present. Principal photography does not include the filming of primarily backgrounds, visual effects, action, and/or crowd scenes by the second, stunt, or visual effects units.

“Pre-Production” means the process of preparation for physical production which begins after a qualified film production has received a firm agreement of financial commitment. And customarily includes, but is not limited to, activities such as hiring key crew members, scouting for locations, building sets, casting, and establishment of a dedicated production office.

“Post-Production” means the final activities in a qualified film production’s creation including, but not limited to, editing, foley recording, ADR, scoring, sound editing, negative cutting, color correction, and sound mixing.

Participating productions can receive a 100% rebate of eligible costs paid directly to San Francisco City departments. This includes but is not limited to the following:

• Permits & Fees: Film SF, Fire Department, Recreation and Parks, Business License Registration Fee.
• Transportation & Parking: Rentals (Cable Car, Light Rail Vehicle, Streetcar, Bus), De-energizing Muni Lines, SFMTA Use of Image Fee, Muni Inspectors, Lane and Street closures, Use of SFMTA or city-owned garages, Lots, and Parking Meters, Parking Control Officers.
• Services: Street Cleaning, Water Meter, Streetlights.
• Police: Intermittent Traffic Control (ITC), Police Escort, Safety.
• Staffing Costs: Police Department, Municipal Transportation Agency, Sheriff's Office, Fire Department.
• Real Estate & Facilities: City Hall, Hall of Justice, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco Airport (SFO), Port of San Francisco, Public Utilities Facilities, City-Owned Real Estate.
• Recreation and Parks: Parks, Plazas, and Recreational Facilities.
• Museums & Performing Arts: de Young Museum, Asian Art Museum, Legion of Honor, California Academy of Sciences, War Memorial Opera House, Herbst Theater, Davies Symphony Hall.
• Treasure Island (TIDA): Parking, Film Permit Fees, and City-Owned Facilities.

Participating productions can receive a 10% rebate on production-related goods and services purchased or rented from businesses located in San Francisco on the first $1 million spent and 20% on anything spent over $1 million. See here for a list of qualifying and non-qualifying expenditures. Details on required submission requirements are listed in Phase C Final Paperwork & Rebate Request Package.

Participating productions can receive a 10% rebate on eligible wages paid to verified San Francisco residents on the first $1 million spent and 20% on anything spent over $1 million. This includes Above the Line and Below the Line employees and is capped at $100,000 per employee.

Productions participating in the incentive program must provide skills training as part of the production’s engagement with the local community. This requirement can be fulfilled in several ways including:

• Hosting a talk or panel
• Facilitating a set visit
• Providing a hands-on workshop or demonstration
• Providing an internship

The Film Skills Training requirement ensures that the economic benefits of film production in San Francisco extend beyond short-term spending of productions to long-term workforce development, strengthening local talent pipelines and expanding access to careers in film, television, and digital media for San Francisco residents. Productions must provide proof of fulfillment of this requirement at Phase C: Final Paperwork & Rebate Request Package. Film SF will work closely with the production to coordinate and fulfill this requirement. 

Productions participating in the California Film Commission’s (CFC) Film & Television Tax Credit Program can fulfill their Career Readiness Program requirement through the Scene in San Francisco incentive program Film Skills Training requirement.

Productions participating in the state’s Tax Credit program are required to make a financial contribution to fund the CFC’s Career Pathways Training Program for individuals from underserved communities to receive training for careers in the industry. That donation can go to the California Department of Education, Foundation of California Community Colleges, or a non-profit of their choosing.

San Francisco’s First Source Hiring Program provides a ready supply of qualified workers to employers with hiring needs. It also gives residents the first opportunity to apply for entry level jobs in San Francisco. Productions must enter into a First Source Hiring Agreement and post entry-level positions and ultimately demonstrate good faith efforts to hire individuals through this program. Film SF will coordinate a meeting between the production and the City Employer Services team who can advise and assist productions on posting the Production’s open positions and hiring needs. Under the program, productions create a business profile on workforcelinksf.org, and upload the production job description(s). Productions schedule interviews with pre-screened candidates and inform Film SF about hiring status.

Productions participating in the Scene in San Francisco incentive program may receive a 100% rebate on real estate for film-related activities such as production offices, stage space, and more. If no City property is available or suitable, the production may enter into a private lease or rental agreement with a third-party property owner (minimum 30 days) and still receive a 100% rebate on the production’s rent. The guidelines below outline Film SF and Real Estate’s workflow as well as requirements for productions under the program.

Uses

Real estate costs may be eligible for a 100% rebate for uses including but not limited to filming, production office, soundstage space, storage space, and production vehicle, and crew/cast parking. The following property types qualify so long as the property is located within San Francisco and/or it is City-owned and meets the City’s requirements. If there are no suitable City owned/operated property options, productions may pursue a third-party property option (more information below). Crew accommodations do not qualify for the rebate program. The following types of property may be eligible under the rebate program:

• City-owned real estate
• Office buildings and businesses
• Warehouses
• Residential homes, apartments, and condos for filming and office use only, not including accommodations
• Hotels and motels for filming and office use only, not including accommodations
• Parking lots and garages
• Vacant land

Process

Participating productions must first contact Film SF to discuss their Real Estate needs. Film SF then consults with Real Estate and other City departments to generate a short list of available City real estate options for the production to consider. Film SF coordinates tours/site visits for the production as needed from that list.

Productions must provide at least two (2) months’ advance notice to Film SF prior to the start of any real estate use to allow Film SF to successfully aid the production’s efforts in securing space. Productions must submit the following information to Film SF at that time:

• Desired location
• Terms (month-to-month, etc.)
• Proposed start date and end date of the lease or occupancy
• Total number of people anticipated to use the space
• Square footage of the space being leased or occupied
• Parking needs, including number of spaces and duration
• Primary intended use of the space (e.g., production office, writers’ room, editorial, storage, stage)
• Any additional operational needs tied to the space (e.g. amperage, ceiling heights, light grids, sound insulation, green screen, monitors, kitchen, utilities, access requirements, security, etc.)

City Leases

If the production chooses a City-owned property option, Film SF will coordinate entering into a lease with the City and the production will need to provide a copy of the signed lease agreement when they submit their final documentation during Phase C of the incentive program to receive a 100% rebate on their rent.

Third-Party Property Leases

If there is no suitable City-owned option, the production may enter into an agreement with a third-party property owner and receive 100% back on the production’s rent or fees for the use of space. Productions must provide Film SF with information on the property they would like to rent including the monthly rental amount, address, and point of contact. Film SF will review the production’s proposed property option in consultation with the Real Estate Division who will assess the information. Film SF will then reply with approval to proceed or with any outstanding questions, typically within a week. Productions seeking to use the incentive program for rent for third-party property will be required to sign Film SF’s Terms and Conditions for Filming on Private Property agreement and attest that the production has exhausted City options and that there is no suitable city property available.

Productions must provide a copy of the signed Terms and Conditions agreement as well as the signed rental agreement when they submit their final documentation during Phase C of the incentive program. The City reserves the right to request additional documentation from a production in its sole discretion.