Twenty-eight new film projects have been awarded funding through California’s expanded Film & Television Tax Credit Program, Governor Gavin Newsom announced. The selected productions include a film by director Ang Lee and a biopic produced by Snoop Dogg.
These projects are expected to create jobs for 4,837 cast and crew members and employ background performers for a total of 22,614 workdays across 831 shooting days statewide. The state anticipates that the productions will generate $337 million in qualified spending, with $209 million allocated to wages.
“California’s film and television industry isn’t just an economic engine — it’s part of who we are. For more than a century, the world’s most iconic stories have been imagined, produced, and shared from right here, powered by unmatched talent, creativity, and innovation. This latest round of tax credit awards builds on that legacy while delivering real results across the state: good-paying jobs, stronger local economies, and thriving small businesses. It’s a clear signal that California remains the global home of storytelling — yesterday, today, and for generations to come,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
The announcement marks the midpoint of Program 4.0, which began in July 2025 after its expansion. In less than six months since its launch, Program 4.0 has generated $4.17 billion in economic activity and created over 25,000 cast and crew jobs during more than 4,000 filming days throughout California.
“We’re very proud to feature so many California-centric stories with this round. These aren’t just movies shooting here, they’re also telling the stories of the places where they’re shooting, drawing from our vivid history, vibrant neighborhoods and diverse and storied culture that are so uniquely California,” said Colleen Bell, Director of the California Film Commission. “By supporting these talented artists’ storytelling, we’re not only keeping entertainment jobs in-state, we’re reinforcing California’s status as the entertainment capital of the world and a larger-than-life character that no fictional one could ever rival.”
Highlighted films include “Gold Mountain” (Fifth Season), “Business Women” (Twentieth Century Fox), an untitled Sony project produced by Glen Powell, “Guerrero” directed by Gina Rodriguez (Warrior Stuff LLC), and an untitled Snoop Dogg project (Universal).
“Big love to the California Film Commission and Gov. Newsom for holdin’ it down with that tax credit. Y’all making it possible for us to tell my story right here where it all began. California raised me, inspired me, and now helpin’ bring this biopic to life in 2026. Much respect – that’s real teamwork, ya dig…” said Snoop Dogg.
“This film is a love letter to a community that is woven into the fabric of our state, so it’s only right that we shoot this project here. I’m so fortunate that a movie with cultural resonance to and about Los Angeles and California has been selected for the Tax Credit, and I’m excited to bring these stories to the screen,” said Scott Budnick of 1Community.
“I’m deeply honored that our film has been selected for the California Tax Credit. Having the opportunity to bring this project to life in Los Angeles means a great deal to me, not only because this city has shaped so much of my creative path but because it allows us to collaborate with the inimitable crews and craftspeople who make California such a singular home for filmmaking,” added Gina Rodriguez.
Seventeen out of twenty-eight projects will be filmed at locations outside Los Angeles County’s traditional filming zone—286 shoot days will take place in areas such as Alameda County or Joshua Tree—helping boost regional economies throughout California. Five independent films will be shot entirely outside Los Angeles County.
Ang Lee’s “Gold Mountain,” centered on the Gold Rush era in Sacramento County specifically accounts for fifty filming days outside standard zones.
The Film & Television Tax Credit Program is managed by the California Film Commission. Earlier this year Governor Newsom increased annual funding from $330 million up to $750 million per year while adding measures focused on workforce diversity initiatives as well as expanding support for training programs within production safety protocols.
Since its start in 2009 over $30 billion dollars have flowed into state economic activity from program-backed productions; each dollar invested has returned significant gains including increased GDP growth rates along with higher wage payouts across supported job categories statewide.
