Wilmington could become more attractive to filmmakers with proposed NC legislation

New legislation could make North Carolina more attractive to filmmakers. 

House Bill 1116, filed in April, would increase the amount of grant money available for production companies with over $1 million in qualifying expenses for a feature-length film. 

WECT reports the proposal could increase the financial incentive for productions to shoot television and movie projects in North Carolina after a rough couple of years for the state’s film industry. Senate Bill 1002 would also set aside money for smaller, micro-budget films.

The House bill would increase the grant to cover 30% of a project’s qualifying expenses instead of 25%. It also bumps the cap on qualifying expenses from $7 million to $20 million for feature-length films and from $15 million to $25 million for a season-long television production.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Ted Davis, R-New Hanover, and other lawmakers.

According to WECT, the proposed legislation comes after a rough couple of years for the state’s film industry, particularly in Wilmington, where 2025 was one of the worst years on record for productions.

Many movies have been filmed in the Wilmington area in recent decades, including "Iron Man 3," "Scream," "Safe Haven," "Halloween Kills," "I Know What You Did Last Summer," and others. Popular TV shows were also filmed there, including "The Summer I Turned Pretty," "One Tree Hill" and "Dawson's Creek."