There is a $200,000 minimum qualified spend for features and TV pilots. For scripted TV series, the minimum spend is $500,000 per episode.

All expenditures must be incurred within 12 months of the Effective Date as defined in the Grant Contract.

Tennessee Declaration of Residency (Form B) is required for Tennessee residents.

After principal photography, production companies must post a notice, once a week for three consecutive weeks, in local newspapers where production took place, telling the public of the need to file creditor claims with the production company by a specific date.

Scripted TV Bonus: a 5% bump on resident labor for scripted TV shows with a minimum spend of at least $500,000 per episode and which meet the screen credit requirement. See the Scripted TV subpage for more information.

The production company must meet with the Tennessee Film, Entertainment & Music Commission to discuss the production prior to the beginning of principal photography.

Projects must apply at least four months prior to the start of principal photography. 

Production companies will enter into a Grant Contract with the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development (ECD) typically within two weeks of issuance of a Certificate of Conditional Eligibility. 

Principal photography must begin in Tennessee within 120 days from the effective date as defined in the Grant Contract.

This program is not first-come, first-served, and grant awards are based on the discretion of the Tennessee Film, Entertainment & Music Commission and Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development. For 2024, a total of $8,593,400 has been allocated to the program.

To qualify non-residents’ compensation, see our Scripted TV subpage.

The Department may award grants in excess of 25% of the total expenses incurred by a production company if deemed appropriate.

Standalone post-production editing and scoring are eligible—see the scoring subpage for more info. 

For the purchase of office, post-production or effects equipment, Tennessee qualified expenditures will include the lesser of the net costs of the asset after sales proceeds (if assets are sold) or 20% of the original cost.