New York Doubles Down on Film & TV Production — and We’re Ready to Roll
It’s official: New York just made the best film tax incentive in the country even better.
With the signing of the FY2026 State Budget, NY State just gave a big greenlight to a stronger, smarter, and more competitive NYS Film Tax Credit Program. From faster payouts and new indie support to expanded VFX, scoring, and post-production benefits, these updates are a massive win for productions across the board.
Here’s what’s new and worth celebrating:
Quick Highlights:
· New Indie Support: The Empire State Independent Production Program brings a dedicated $100M fund with faster credit access for indie filmmakers.
· Production+: A first-in-the-nation incentive giving recurring productions an extra 10% back—if you spend $100M+ across multiple projects in NY.
· Musical Scoring Bonus: Record with five or more musicians in NY? That’s another 10% back.
· Post & VFX Perks: New thresholds make it easier to qualify for post, VFX, and animation incentives—spend just $500K or 10%.
· Above-the-Line Boost: NY removed the per-person cap on ATL expenses, giving you more flexibility without blowing past 40% of total costs.
And yes—it all adds up to more projects, more jobs, and more reasons to shoot in New York.
Lights, Camera, Empire State
Film and TV production is already back in action across the state:
· Hallmark and the NFL are teaming up in NY.
· Only Murders in the Building is back at it.
· Apple TV’s Your Friends and Neighbors, Netflix’s Zero Day, and The Penguin all wrapped major projects across the boroughs and beyond—bringing hundreds of millions into local economies.
Our Take: They know what’s up.
You know who REALLY knows what’s up?
Netflix’s “The Four Seasons” is shooting Upstate for the extra 10% “Upstate Bump” making their tax credits 40% (as opposed to NYC at 30%).
FOX TV’s “Best Medicine” (US Version of the UK show called “Doc Martin”) is also taking advantage of the perks of Upstate, too.
Anddddd… Paul Rudd’s shooting a feature Upstate 😉
Cha-ching 💰 Cha-ching 💰
Want to know more or how to apply for these updated tax credits?
Got questions?
FAQs About Cobalt Tech
At our house or your house?
We provide green screen/ blue screen technology (cost-effective for wide shots), LED wall displays (ideal for reflective surfaces and interactive lighting), and hybrid approaches that balance creative vision with budget constraints.
Your choice. You can opt for a Traditional Workflow where final compositing happens in post-production, or you can go straight to Final Pixel (where the finished composite is generated live as you film).
Our consultative approach includes explaining all available options, helping you weigh the tradeoffs, and providing ongoing support throughout the production process—regardless of your experience level.
As producers ourselves, we focus on achieving your goals—not selling you the flashiest technology. We work as partners to find solutions that enhance your storytelling within your budget.
Want to learn about Virtual Production and how to use it?
Cobalt’s got you covered. As the first company to offer Virtual Sets on the East Coast, we have the experience to guide you. Let’s have some fun.