Plus Icon
Kathy A. McDonald
@writerkathymcd See All
Chicago Film Office The city that works is now into overtime. During the first quarter of 2026, Chicago saw seven series lensing in town. Production expenditures in Illinois hit a record $703 million in 2025, per stats released by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office. Those numbers were bolstered by the state’s film production tax credit, now extended until 2039. “We’re at a 35% base, but it’s stackable,” explains Natasha Olguin, deputy commissioner of the Chicago Film Office, of the production spending tax credit. Added to the competitive tax credit this year: a 5% uplift for sustainability when a production lessens its environmental impact per state standards. Another 5% can be applied if a series relocates to Illinois, which adds up to a possible 45% tax incentive for qualifying costs.
Related Stories
