Step by Step Guide

Upon submission of Phase A materials, production will be emailed a form to sign and email back to film@sfgov.org. Once Film SF receives the signed form, if a production’s Phase A submission is approved, Film SF will issue a formal Letter of Conditional Eligibility confirming that the production is cleared to proceed to Phase B.

When do I submit? 5 days before principal photography.

Phase B of the submission process ensures Film SF has final production schedule details and core production documentation prior to filming. The following materials will be required:

• Full production shooting schedule
  • If TV series or episode, a calendar in place of a full production shooting schedule will suffice.
• Call sheet signed by the UPM for the first day of production
• Crew list
• Completed First Source hiring agreement

When do I submit? Once principal photography has concluded.

Phase C is the final submission stage in which the production formally requests reimbursement for qualifying expenditures and Film SF determines final eligible costs, verifies qualifying expenditures, and calculates the final rebate amount. Productions must submit complete and organized documentation. Film SF will not begin final rebate calculation until receiving a complete submission package and payment may only be issued when screen credits are verified, subject to available funding. The following materials will be required:

• Applicant information (including a copy of the production company's San Francisco business registration)
• Project information
• Hiring information
• Local community expenditure
• Total spent on SF goods and services
• General ledger
• Vendor list
• Final cast and crew list
• Representative verification letter
• Payroll representative letter
• Proof of wage payment
• Final production shooting schedule
• Final call sheets signed by the UPM
• Daily production reports
• Film skills training proof
• First Source hiring information
• Electronic press kit

Film SF will require that participating productions either hire a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to assemble their final paperwork or Film SF will conduct an internal verification. Productions must select a CPA from the California Film Commission’s CPA List and they must meet the following requirements: active California license to perform and completed attendance at a CFC CPA Orientation Meeting. Note that all submitted claimed costs must be supported by documentation and must be clearly tied to production activity (i.e. within the pre-determined production schedule of pre-production through post production). Qualifying expenditures generally fall into three categories:

Qualifying Expenses: San Francisco Vendor Goods and Services

Goods and services qualify for rebate if they are purchased or rented from a business located within San Francisco with a verifiable San Francisco business registration. A full list of non-qualifying expenses can be seen here. To qualify, expenditures must be supported by:

• Invoice showing vendor name and address
• Proof of payment
• Description of goods/services tied to production
• Active San Francisco business registration

Qualifying Wages: San Francisco Resident 

Wages qualify for rebate if paid to verified San Francisco residents and supported by payroll documentation. Wages are eligible only if:

• Residency is documented and verifiable
• Payroll reports clearly reflect wages paid
• Proof of payment is provided
• Note: wages are capped at: $100,000 per individual per project

City Fees: expenses paid to a City agency

City costs paid directly to San Francisco departments may qualify for the 100% City rebate. These costs must be supported by City invoices and proof of payment.