No time to roll credits: Film tax incentives give Kansas City more screen time than ever

After Hallmark movie touchdown, TV and film crews are scoring big in Kansas City, official says

With cameras rolling and spotlights shining, Kansas City is positioning itself as one of the Midwest’s most attractive film destinations, said Rachel Kephart, noting reinvigorated support from city hall and an effective mix of local and state incentives.

Interest in filming in the region has surged since Missouri passed its long-awaited state film incentive in July 2023. The new tax credit program builds on a local rebate effort that dates back to 2016, creating a rare and lucrative opportunity for filmmakers.

Rachel Kephart, KC Film Office

“We hit the ground running as soon as Missouri passed the state incentive,” said Kephart, director of the KC Film Office. “Combining our established city incentive and the new state program has created a powerful draw for filmmakers.”

Kansas City’s local incentive covers qualified production spending within its six council districts, including everything from hotel stays and restaurant receipts, to crew hires and equipment rentals. 

When stacked with Missouri’s state tax credit, productions can now claim up to 52 percent back in rebates, which is currently the highest incentive package offered in the United States.

“It really has been lucrative for Kansas City in attracting, in particular, feature films to the area,” said Kephart. “Truthfully, if we hadn’t had that local incentive already in place, we wouldn’t have been able to get going as soon as the state incentive passed.”

The city rebate program started with just $75,000 in the budget and a 4 percent return, she said. Over time, that has grown to a 12 percent rebate, with $400,000 now allocated to the program.

In 2024 alone, Kansas City played host to nine feature films and several television projects, with more expected in 2025. A major highlight: “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story,” a Hallmark production filmed in Kansas City that became the most-watched cable movie of the year.

Cast members from “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story” during the Hallmark movie’s Kansas City premiere event; courtesy photo

Investing in talent: a growing film workforce

The KC Film Office’s vision extends beyond short-term shoots, Kephart said. She’s focused on creating a sustainable film industry by investing in workforce development and infrastructure.

Productions must hire at least five KCMO residents to qualify for the city rebate, and up to 25 local hires from the Greater Kansas City area to unlock the highest return. A new 2 percent bonus is now offered for productions that provide student shadowing opportunities.

“I went to an event at UMKC, and I got a chance to speak to some students,” Kephart said. “They were talking about how they found shadow opportunities even more valuable (than assistant work) because sometimes it’s difficult for them to know exactly what role they would want to have on a film set.”

“Workforce development and training is really important,” she added. “We need to make sure that we are building up our crew base, so that we have a workforce that can maintain the level of influx of projects.”

Business opportunities beyond the screen

The growing film industry also brings new opportunities for local businesses from locations and lodging to catering and transportation.

“If there’s anyone that has a small business that thinks they can provide their services to film productions, they can absolutely reach out to our office,” Kephart said. “You can list your space or your service on our website. We love collecting resources that can be helpful to projects when they are filming here.”

Parenting coach Destini Davis and “The Motherhood” host Connie Britton laugh with Rochelle Owens, center, and her sons Owen and Jacob during filming of “The Motherhood” at Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park in Kansas City; photo by Matt Hoover, Hallmark

From commercials and music videos to network shows like Hallmark’s “The Motherhood,” which premiered May 5, Kansas City is drawing an increasingly diverse mix of productions.

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While Kephart currently operates the KC Film Office as a one-woman team, she’s optimistic about expanding.

“The city’s been really supportive,” she said. “And the truth is, now is probably the best time for young people to kind of get their feet wet in the industry. It’s incredibly unique that Kansas City is actually busier than some other markets.”

As more projects arrive and film crews flood the city, Kansas City’s growing reputation in the national film scene is becoming hard to ignore.

“We’re excited for when we can be more public about the projects coming this summer,” said Kephart, “And brag about our local crew and the great work they do.”