Studios Formed Film Production Hub in Bartlesville

Polaris Films and Buffalo Roam Studios have launched a partnership to produce independent films in Bartlesville.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Film — General

Interior of a repurposed historic brick church with tall wooden rafters, illuminated by focused warm cinematic spotlights. — Polaris Films and Buffalo Roam Studios have launched a joint venture to build a film production hub in a restored church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Polaris Films and Buffalo Roam Studios have announced a new partnership to establish a film production ecosystem in Bartlesville. The studios plan to use proprietary AI tools to produce independent films with budgets between $2 million and $4 million.

Why it matters

The initiative aims to create a repeatable filmmaking process to attract outside capital and support the growing production industry in Oklahoma.

The partnership plans to produce projects with budgets ranging from $2 million to $4 million per film. Operations will be anchored by the proprietary software tool ArcLights.

The players

Polaris Films

This is an independent production company that has partnered with local studios to build an ecosystem for filmmaking in Oklahoma.

Buffalo Roam Studios

This production entity operates out of a restored church facility in Bartlesville and utilizes proprietary software for its film projects.

The details

Production operations for the new venture are based out of a restored church building in Bartlesville, which also serves as a rental wedding venue. The studios utilize AI software and specialized production tools to streamline the creation of their upcoming films, specifically the projects titled Blackbird and Shimmer.

The film Killers of the Flower Moon was released in 2023.
A public presentation is scheduled for the Black Wall Street Nation Film Summit on September 25-26, 2026.
The first film productions are slated to begin in the first half of 2027.

Philanthropy
Sept. 22
Sonic Donated $10,000 to Bartlesville Classrooms

Industry Dynamics

This partnership follows the high-profile industry interest generated by the 2023 release of Killers of the Flower Moon. It reflects a broader trend of regional studios attempting to capture sustainable production volume rather than relying solely on large-scale location shoots.

Local residents and potential industry collaborators may see increased production activity in the area as the studios prepare for their first slate of films. The use of the production facility as both a film hub and a public wedding venue provides unique dual-use accessibility for the community.

The takeaway

The move underscores a shift toward permanent, tech-enabled infrastructure as a way to sustain regional film production. Independent creators in the area should track these developments as potential opportunities for future industry expansion.