Florida The Entertainment Capital of the World

Amaro Lionheart’s Vision for Florida: The Entertainment Capital of the World.

Building a better and more profitable Hollywood in the Sunshine State: A Platform for Unparalleled Growth, Innovation, and Opportunity.

Florida is ready to take its rightful place as the entertainment capital of the world. Under my leadership, we will implement a comprehensive, forward-thinking plan that not only surpasses the incentives offered by New Mexico and Georgia but also redefines what it means to support the film and television industry. This platform is designed to attract the biggest productions, create tens of thousands of high-paying jobs, and drive economic growth across every corner of our great state.

1. Unmatched Tax Incentives: The Gold Standard for Production Support

We’re not just competing—we’re setting a new standard. Our tax incentives will be the most generous and flexible in the nation, tailored to attract blockbuster films, high-profile television series, and groundbreaking digital content.

Supercharged Base Tax Credits: Starting at 30% and scaling up to 40% based on in-state spending, hiring Florida residents, and utilizing Florida-based vendors. This is more than just a tax break; it’s a commitment to building a sustainable entertainment ecosystem.

Extraordinary Location Bonuses: Productions that choose to film in Florida’s rural areas or economically underserved communities will receive a bonus of up to 10%, far exceeding the offerings of any other state. This ensures that all Floridians benefit from our state’s burgeoning film industry.

Mega Production Incentive: For productions with budgets exceeding $100 million, we’ll offer an additional 5% tax credit, making Florida the go-to destination for Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters.

2. World-Class Workforce Development: Empowering Floridians, Creating Jobs.

Our plan isn’t just about bringing productions to Florida—it’s about ensuring Floridians are the ones filling these jobs. We will build the most robust, skilled, and diverse entertainment workforce in the country.

Generous Job Creation Bonuses: Productions that employ 100+ Florida residents will earn an additional 10% bonus credit. For every 50 residents hired beyond that, another 2% is added, up to a maximum of 20%. This not only ensures job creation but also encourages the development of long-term careers in the industry.

Elite Training Academies: We will establish state-of-the-art film and television academies in partnership with top Florida universities, providing comprehensive training in everything from cinematography to post-production. Graduates who are hired by in-state productions will trigger an additional tax incentive for those productions, encouraging the hiring of locally trained talent.

Veterans in Film: A special 5% bonus credit for productions that commit to hiring veterans, ensuring our heroes have access to exciting new career opportunities in the entertainment industry.

3. Premier Infrastructure Investment: Building the Future of Film in Florida. To become the entertainment capital of the world, Florida must have the infrastructure to support productions of every size and scale. Our plan will make Florida home to the most advanced production facilities in the nation.

Top-Tier Infrastructure Credits: We will offer a 25% tax break on investments in new sound stages, post-production facilities, and other critical infrastructure. This is a direct invitation to industry leaders to build their next big facility in Florida.

The “Sunshine Studio” Initiative: In collaboration with private investors, we will create “Sunshine Studios,” a network of cutting-edge production hubs across Florida, from Miami to Jacksonville to Tampa Bay. These hubs will be equipped with the latest technology, offering everything from VR capabilities to large-scale sound stages, attracting major productions from around the world.

Streamlined Bureaucracy: Productions in Florida will benefit from a fast-track permitting process that ensures they can hit the ground running, cutting through the red tape that slows down progress in other states.

4. Strategic Marketing and Global Promotion: Making Florida the Global Film Destination.To attract top-tier productions, Florida must not only offer competitive incentives but also aggressively market its unique advantages to the world.

Global “Film in Florida” Campaign: An international marketing blitz that will showcase Florida’s diverse filming locations, favorable climate, and unparalleled tax incentives. From the beaches of Miami to the swamps of the Everglades, our campaign will position Florida as the ultimate filming destination.

Florida Film Festival on the Global Stage: We will elevate the annual Florida Film Festival into a world-renowned event, drawing attention to the best films made in our state. This festival will rival Cannes and Sundance, celebrating Florida’s emergence as the heart of the global film industry.

Partnerships with International Studios: We’ll forge partnerships with major studios in Europe, Asia, and Latin America, making Florida the gateway for international productions looking to break into the U.S. market.

5. Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Impact: A Program Built on Transparency and Results. We believe in the conservative principle of fiscal responsibility. Our film fund will be transparent, accountable, and designed to maximize economic returns for the state of Florida.

Economic Impact Accountability: Productions must demonstrate clear, measurable economic benefits to Florida, including job creation, local spending, and infrastructure investment. Only those that meet or exceed these benchmarks will qualify for our top-tier incentives.

Incentive Caps with Flexibility: While we will set an annual cap on total incentives to maintain fiscal responsibility, productions that exceed certain economic impact thresholds will be eligible for additional credits, ensuring that we never lose out on a blockbuster opportunity.

Revenue Sharing for Sustainability: A portion of the profits generated by productions that receive incentives will be reinvested into the Florida Film Fund, creating a self-sustaining cycle of growth and opportunity.

6. Sweetening the Pot: Exclusive Perks: More Than Just Incentives—A Partnership for Success.

To truly make Florida the entertainment capital of the world, we need to offer more than just tax incentives. We’re offering exclusive perks that will make Florida the only choice for major productions.

Permanent Residency Perks: Productions that establish permanent headquarters in Florida will receive long-term benefits, including significant reductions in property taxes and corporate taxes, creating a fertile ground for sustained industry growth.

Tourism and Film Synergy: Productions that feature Florida’s tourist attractions or collaborate with the state’s tourism board will receive up to a 15% additional tax credit. This creates a powerful synergy between Florida’s booming tourism industry and the film sector, promoting our state as both a premier vacation destination and a top filming location.

First-Mover Advantage: The first 10 major productions to commit to filming in Florida under this new program will receive a special 5% “First Mover” bonus, solidifying our commitment to becoming the leading state for film and television production.