About the Greater Cleveland Film Commission

Our Vision

Achieve increased economic development in Northeast Ohio by using the artistic and culturally enriching activities of film and other media production to strengthen the workforce, support the media production industry and attract media production to the region.

Our Mission

Promote the increase of media production in Northeast Ohio using effective strategies for attraction and workforce development including building an artistic infrastructure through film.

The Film Commission’s Current Work

Workforce Development: Programs are designed to provide local talent with the tools they need to succeed in the industry and are created in consultation with industry experts and in partnership with local colleges and universities to yield relevant, employer-driven curriculum, training and networking opportunities for the local film community. The Film Commission continues to work closely with Tri-C to develop academic and training programs for both the creative and business aspects of film production and is working with the school’s Workforce and Economic Development Division for training and professional development. Working with Tri-C and Nehst Studios, the Film Commission presents four “Aspiring Filmmakers Boot Camps” annually. The Boot Camps have had more than 500 participants in two years. They teach participants important elements of production, budgeting, marketing and collaboration and have recently been expanded in response to community feedback.

Attraction: The Greater Cleveland Film Commission is aggressively pursuing media production and businesses that can make a significant impact on the local economy. It serves as a one-stop-shop for local, national and international filmmakers and producers to ensure great filming experiences. With the passage of the Ohio film tax incentive in 2009, the region is poised to compete for a wide range of media production. The state has received numerous applications for the tax incentive and several major studios have expressed interest in filming in the region. The Film Commission is expanding its business attraction and development efforts for 2010 and 2011 to new national and international markets, including Bollywood. Nehst Studios will bring their headquarters to Cleveland. When fully realized, the projects resulting from the tax incentive are expected to bring more than $100 million in spending to the region and create more than 500 full-time-equivalent jobs.

Advocacy:The Greater Cleveland Film Commission successfully lobbied the State of Ohio to pass a competitive film tax credit in 2009, and continues to advocate for optimal public policy and promote local production activity within the community. Following the success of the Ohio film tax credit, the Film Commission is working closely with state officials and film producers to facilitate the application process and is continuing to build strong relationship with state and local officials to ensure the creation of public policy that is advantageous to attracting media production and workforce development. The Film Commission has built strategic relationships with other commissions the state, the Ohio Film Office, local colleges and universities and industry experts.