Oklahoma City has recently been recognized by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) as a film-friendly location, attracting filmmakers with its array of supportive measures for the industry. Mayor David Holt expressed his pride in OKC's official designation as a film-friendly community, highlighting the creation of local film incentives and partnerships integral to hosting significant film and television productions. "Our City has created a local film incentive and we have pursued partnerships that allow our city to host major films and television shows. The future of this industry in our city remains bright. And when films come to OKC they not only help shape our identity, but they also create jobs and support local businesses," Mayor Holt said, according to the City of Oklahoma City official statement. The film "Twisters" alone injected $42.6 million directly into the city's economy, further solidifying the industry's impact on local growth.
To achieve this film-friendly status, a city must demonstrate unwavering support for production companies by assigning a film liaison, streamlining the film permit process, and enhancing the visibility of local assets through the OF+MO’s online directory. Yousef Kazemi, Outreach and Production Manager at OF+MO, emphasized Oklahoma City's significant contributions to the state's reputation as a pro-business and creative hub. "Oklahoma City’s longstanding support of film and television has moved the needle forward in demonstrating to the global entertainment industry our state’s pro-business support and thriving creative climate as a premier destination for filmmakers," Kazemi told the City of Oklahoma City.
In collaboration with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Oklahoma City established the Oklahoma City Film and Creative Industries Office in 2022. This endeavor focuses on recruiting filming projects, offering location support, connecting productions with local resources, and administering the city's film incentive program. Executive Director Jill Simpson outlined the city's rich film production resources, including live-action and virtual studios, a Dolby Atmos mixing room, and professionals skilled in a vast array of production aspects. "Our incentive program poises us to recruit and to support a wide range of projects as we continue to build a home-grown entertainment industry right here in Oklahoma City," Simpson explained in a statement published by the City of Oklahoma City news release.
Oklahoma City is not only the domicile of several successful production studios such as Prairie Surf Studios and Boiling Point Media but also hosts the renowned deadCenter Film Festival. This festival, celebrating its 25th year, is an Oscar®-qualifying event in three short film categories and has been distinguished by MovieMaker Magazine among the "20 Coolest Film Festivals in the World." The City of Oklahoma City efforts in fostering a fertile ground for filmmakers extend to academia, too, with Oklahoma City Community College being ranked among the top 30 Best Film Schools by MovieMaker Magazine in 2024. Oklahoma City has played a backdrop to an impressive list of productions, from cinematic ventures like "Twisters" and "The Huntsman" to television hits like "Tulsa King" and "American Ninja Warrior," showcasing its capabilities and inviting further cinematic exploration.
