Hollywood and Pine: Filming in Maine

Here at Vacationlander, we love to celebrate movies in Maine and by Mainers. Maine has always had a significant precense on the silver screen, mostly thanks to the stories written by Stephen King. But did you know that it's been over 25 years since a film from the King of horror has been produced in Maine. More and more films that are set in Maine seem to be filmed elsewhere. Even films like Lost on a Mountain in Maine (released last year) was filmed in New York and the upcoming Riff Raff (set in Yarmouth, Maine) was filmed in New Jersey. But why?

It should be no surprise that film is like any other industry and the reasons for how they operate can be explained by financial incentives. Nearby states like Massachusetts and New York offer tax credits of up to 30% - that's a huge savings in production costs. Currently, Maine offers a tax incentive of up to 12%. In fact, of the 29 states that offer an incentive, Maine's is the worst. Which means it's less of an incentive and more of a handout to the few films that would've been made here anyway. 

At a Q&A for Lost on a Mountain in Maine, Producer and Maine native Ryan Cook was asked what could have brought the production of the film to his home state. He said, "To be competitive, Maine would need a tax incentive closer to 30 percent." The money they saved with the incentives in New York allowed them to not make compromises in casting. 

Enter the Maine Film Office's report for Visual Media Production Incentives. This report defines new strategies for bringing film production and economic growth to the state of Maine. The new proposal seeks to increase benefits by:

• Raising tax rebates to 25% for in-state hires and 20% for out-of-state hires.
• Introducing a transferable tax credit system to keep financial benefits within the state.
• Streamlining the application process to support independent filmmakers and larger productions.
• Incentivizing local hiring to promote job growth.

If enacted, these changes would make Maine more competitive and foster long-term investments in local talent and infrastructure. For filmmakers, these incentives could be a game-changer, attracting both independent and studio-backed productions. More productions mean more jobs for local actors, crew members, and service providers like equipment rentals, even carpenters, painters, and catering businesses.

Additionally, a stronger film industry could boost Maine’s economy during the off-season. Many tourism-dependent businesses experience a slowdown in winter. Increased film production could sustain local restaurants, hotels, and other businesses by providing steady work and visitors.

We’ll be watching how this legislation develops and encourage our readers to support policies that help Maine’s creative industries flourish. If you’re a filmmaker, actor, or crew member, let us know how these changes could impact your work! Read the full report here: Maine film office Visual Media Production Incentives Final Report and call your representative to let them know you support the new proposal. 

Stay tuned to Vacationlander.com for updates on Maine’s evolving film scene. Keep watching Maine-made movies and supporting local filmmakers!