Montana Media Coalition Wants to Keep Montana’s Film Industry Alive

Montana Media Coalition  aims to expand tax incentives for Montana filmmakers

“This is such an important legislative session. I cannot emphasize enough how important this is,” said Lynn-Wood Fields, coalition president, at the beginning of her presentation.

The coalition wants the state to raise its media credit cap—a tax incentive for media productions—to $30 million during this 2025 legislative session, with 60% of that money being reserved for filmmakers who live in Montana.

• House Bill 293 – The MEDIA Act
• House Bill 340 – The MEDIA Act, Revised
• Senate Bill 27 – The MEDIA Act, Revised

The Montana Department of Commerce has a webpage dedicated to the MEDIA Act, including reports that explain its economic benefits.

According to Fields, there are many other states offering these incentives. For example, in 2023, Texas raised its incentive to $200 million (California is $750 Million) over the next two years. Fields is eager to grow the Montana Media Coalition, so that more local filmmakers can have a say in this legislation.

By Mario Carr EBS CONTRIBUTOR