Scene in San Francisco Incentive Program

Scene in San Francisco Incentive Program is sponsored by City and County of San Francisco. This incentive program offers qualifying productions a cash rebate of up to $1 million. It supports feature narratives, documentaries, and television production.

Scene in San Francisco Incentive Application | SF. gov Scene in San Francisco Incentive Application This program offers qualifying productions a cash rebate of up to $1 million. Film SF | San Francisco Film Commission The incentive program has a 3-phase submission process.

Each phase has specific required materials. Incomplete submissions may delay review and may result in forfeiture of rebate. All applications and documentation must be submitted through the Film SF incentive application portal.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Submitting an application does not guarantee participation or reimbursement. Access the application portal here .

Please note, applicants will be emailed a link to the Phase B and Phase C submission portal upon Film SF's review of Phase A. When do I submit? At least 60 days before principal photography.

Phase A of the submission process establishes a production’s eligibility and allows Film SF to determine whether the project meets the requirements of the program.

The following materials will be required: Applicant information (including a copy of the production's San Francisco business registration) List of key creatives and cast Program Acceptance: Letter of Conditional Eligibility 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. Phase B: Pre-production paperwork 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 Completed First Source hiring agreement Phase C: Final Paperwork and Rebate Request Package 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) Local community expenditure Total spent on SF goods and services Representative verification letter Payroll representative letter Final production shooting schedule Final call sheets signed by the UPM Film skills training proof First Source hiring information Film SF will require that participating productions either hire a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) to assemble their final paperwork.

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 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.

Credit & Promotional Deliverables Productions must provide credit to the City and Film SF and deliver promotional assets as follows to be submitted during Phase C: Final Paperwork & Rebate Request Package.

Required Language for the Screen Credit Productions participating in the incentive program must give credit to the "City and County of San Francisco" in the credits of any film resulting from the production’s filming activities in San Francisco. Said credit shall be on screen, with size, placement and all other aspects thereof consistent with other “thank-you” type credits accorded to locations of filming, if any.

Productions must include the following statement in the post-credits scroll. “Made in partnership with Film SF | The San Francisco Film Commission and the City and County of San Francisco with the support of the Scene in San Francisco incentive program. ” Productions must include both the Film SF and Scene in San Francisco logos (2 total) to the end credits scroll.

Productions must submit an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) to Film SF for marketing and promotional purposes. The EPK must include, at minimum, a trailer (if available), production stills (2 total at a minimum), poster and/or key art, synopsis, logline, full credits, and basic production information.

All materials must be cleared and approved by both the production and cast, delivered as high-resolution JPG or PNG files (no screenshots), and may be submitted under embargo if needed.