RESOURCES

MINNESOTA FILM RESOURCES

MN WIFT members have access to a range of state and local film resources that make producing in Minnesota easier. Explore Minnesota Film, the state’s official film office, offers crew and vendor databases, location directories, and information about the state’s film production tax credit, as well as support with permits and local connections. Members can also tap into Minnesota’s vibrant film community through organizations like Twin Cities Film Fest, FilmNorth, and the Upper Midwest Film Festival, which provide opportunities to learn, connect, and showcase work.

Your first stop for MN Film Production.

Explore Minnesota Film is the state’s official film office, created in 2024 to oversee Minnesota’s film production tax credit and promote the state as a filming destination. Working in partnership with Explore Minnesota Tourism, the office connects filmmakers with local crew, vendors, and locations; assists with permits and workforce development; and serves as a central contact for productions and government partners. Its mission is to attract productions that create jobs, support local businesses, and drive economic growth across the state.


  • If you are a Crew Member or Industry Vendor in Minnesota, be sure to register in their online directory. It's free to do and will help you land jobs. 



  • If you're a Producer, Production Company or Client looking for a film and video production guide, locations and/or crew, use Explore MN's Film database now!



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For our Northern MN Friends and Family.

UPPER MIDWEST FILM OFFCE

Also known as UMFO, the Upper Midwest Film Office is the go-to source for filming in the Northland, which includes Duluth, the North Shore, and the Iron Range. They offer regional incentives, location assistance, and more.

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Take a class with Film North.

FILMNORTH

FilmNorth’s mission is to empower artists to tell their stories, launch and sustain successful careers, and advance The North as a leader in the national network of independent filmmakers. They achieve their mission by nurturing a vibrant, diverse community of film and media artists; providing education and resources at every stage of their careers; and celebrating their achievements. They offer nearly a 100 courses each year in the art, business, and technology of media making. Their annual Forum connects media artists to industry leaders and innovators from around the country

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Showcase your work with TCFF!

TWIN CITIES FILM FESTIVAL

TCFF's mission is to build, support and enhance our visual arts community through providing local film artists with education, training, networking, and distribution and employment opportunities; provide art enthusiasts and advocates with access to regional and national film talent forging a rich social dialogue through film; and provide the state with a vehicle through which film production and exhibition can sustain the local film industry.

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The industry’s “chamber of commerce."

MINNESOTA FILM ALLIANCE

MFA’s vision is to help create and maintain a sustainable, professional, and productive entertainment production industry in Minnesota. MFA works at the intersection of art, commerce, and public policy. They partner with business leaders, elected officials, and other key stakeholders to ensure that Minnesota remains a competitive and attractive destination for content production. Through strategic advocacy, industry interaction, and public education, we promote the economic and cultural benefits of media production across all regions of the state. As the industry’s “chamber of commerce,” Their mission is to uplift the entire production ecosystem, ensuring that Minnesota’s creative community has the tools, support, and recognition it needs to thrive as a state industry.

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If instead of making a film, you've created a story that is episodic or narrative in structure (TV show, webseries, or podcast) and you want to showcase it to industry executives, agents, and producers you have limited options. Take it to Catalyst: a community of creators, executives, agents and fans discovering the best new programming created on independent budgets. The annual Catalyst Content Festival is supplemented by the year-round Catalyst Storieroad.

Attend the annual Catalyst Content Festival.

Catalyst Story Institute

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The Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Minnesotan Film Collective is an award-winning initiative to create, promote, and empower underrepresented and low-income filmmakers in Minnesota. We will build our community’s artistic and economic vitality through filmmaking by providing free programs throughout the Twin Cities.

Support a film collective and build community.

APIA MN Film Collective

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DocuClub MN is an informal group of MN documentary filmmakers and doc lovers who meet roughly once a month at FilmNorth (or via Zoom) to screen documentary trailers & works-in-progress from MN filmmakers; give feedback in a supportive environment before the movie is shown in public; share info about film festivals, grants, equipment, events, etc.; collaborate on projects; talk about docs; and socialize and network. All are welcome!

Join other documentary filmmakers.

DOCUCLUB MINNESOTA

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