Committee backs lowering small-production film fees and expanding city rebate to documentaries and unscripted TV

The Budget and Finance Committee on Sept. 13 advanced an ordinance that would reduce permit fees for very small film productions and expand eligibility for San Francisco—s film rebate to include documentaries and unscripted television, and it added a requirement that the Film Commission report back to the Board with program metrics by Dec. 31.

Sponsor Supervisor Ed Farrell told the committee the change is aimed at keeping productions in San Francisco and encouraging small filmmakers to pull permits rather than shoot without them. "Lowering the fee for small budget films will encourage these productions to actually pull permits," Farrell said, arguing that the city will gain jobs and local spending when productions hire local crews and use services here.

The ordinance amends San Francisco Administrative Code sections 57.5 and 57.8 to: codify existing film-permit fees, reduce the daily permit fee for productions with budgets under $500,000 from $300 to $100, and…