Washington Filmworks announced that the bill to increase and extend Washington’s Motion Picture Competitiveness Program did not move forward for a vote, effectively killing the legislation during this budget session. With robust incentive programs in Oregon and Vancouver BC, the Office of Film + Music supported the legislation to extend and grow the Washington State film incentive program as the best tool for building and supporting a robust film industry in Washington.
“It is extremely disappointing the film competitiveness legislation did not move forward during this session,” says Office of Film + Music Director Kate Becker. “The campaign and efforts to extend and grow the program during this legislative session were focused, strong, and well executed. I want to thank the hundreds of local cast, crew, and industry professionals who took time out of their schedules to support the legislation.
Washington’s film incentive program is funded into 2017. The Office of Film + Music is looking forward to coordinating incentivized film productions that will be filming in Seattle this and next year, and is committed to supporting future legislation to grow the program.