Press Release: 2026 Maine Film & Media Production Industry Economic Impact Study
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Maine Film Association Seeks Input from All Film & Media Production Pros in Maine
Maine – The Maine Film Association (MFA), in partnership with the Maine Film Office (MFO), has launched a comprehensive economic impact study to assess the current and potential impacts of the state’s film and media production industry on Maine’s economy. The study, conducted by Ryan Wallace of Wallace Economic Advisers, seeks to: understand the current Maine-based mediamaking workforce and its impact on Maine’s economy; identify opportunities to support and grow the industry in Maine; learn from policy and successes in other states/provinces; and envision future models and scenarios that would bolster the Maine filmmaking industry.
In 2021, the MFA conducted a snapshot-in-time economic impact survey of Maine-based film production professionals, gathering 2019 financial data as a baseline of pre-pandemic industry activity. The survey report, released in 2022, illuminated a $64.3 million film and media production industry impact on the state — a data point which strengthened in-progress advocacy initiatives and drew additional attention to the industry’s potential in Maine.
Since 2019 and during the pandemic, significant numbers of media professionals have relocated to Maine from New York, Boston, Los Angeles, and elsewhere. Anecdotally, it’s estimated that since 2020, more than 100 additional media professionals have been added to Maine’s talent pool, but continue to work remotely or out-of-state.
“So much has changed in the past few years — the pandemic shifted Maine’s population and workforce, with many newcomers (or folks returning home) to work in film and media production remotely or base their operations here,” said Louise Rosen, Co-President and Advocacy Chair of the Maine Film Association. “Pair that with the incredible opportunities that advancements in technology afford for this industry, and we need to have a much better grasp on Maine’s potential to cultivate this workforce, encourage in-state production, and reap the benefits of an active production industry operating here.”
The 2026 study will include a wide-reaching survey, interviews, case studies, and economic impact modeling and scenarios. The MFA hopes that every Maine resident who works in film and media production (either in- or out-of-state) completes the survey, helping them to define Maine’s current industry workforce and envision ways to grow the industry here.
“The Maine Film Office has a keen interest in supporting this comprehensive study,” shared Maine Film Office Director Steve Lyons. “We want to learn how Maine can make itself more competitive with other states and provinces in attracting more production to Maine, as well as supporting and growing the local film industry. Improved tax incentives certainly are a piece of this puzzle, but what other policies or practices could be implemented to motivate filmmakers—particularly independent filmmakers, be they from Maine or away—to produce their work here?”
Additional motivating factors for the 2026 study include revelations that Maine has experienced a significant loss of graduates from its higher education programs in film/media production, and concerns that movies and series “set” in Maine are shot elsewhere. “Our motivation for the 2026 study includes retention of talent in Maine and keeping our young people who are interested in the film/media industry in the state, and the benefits to our tourism sector when productions are shot here,” elaborated Rosen. “These frustrations spur questions the study seeks to address: how can we retain talent in which we’ve invested K-12 and higher education? What benefits would we see if "counterfeit Maine” productions shot in places like Massachusetts, New York, and New Brunswick were actually produced here? Having this study shed light on these questions, and more, is an exciting prospect for our filmmaking community and the state as a whole.”
To complete the survey, film and media professionals should visit mainefilm.org. For more information about the study and the Maine film industry, please contact info@mainefilm.org.
Assets:
Behind the scenes (1) of Natural Selection (2024), courtesy of Think Aesthetic, LLC
Behind the scenes (2) of Natural Selection (2024), courtesy of Think Aesthetic, LLC
Behind the scenes of Lone Wolf Smithsonian production, photography by Lisa Goodfellow
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The Maine Film Association is a 200+-member-strong association of film professionals, production companies, students and educators working to create better business, educational, and networking opportunities for people working in the film industry in Maine. Our mission is to advance the art, craft, and business of filmmaking in Maine.
