Utah Board Approved Three New Film Productions

The state has authorized incentives for three new movies to boost local job creation and spending.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Film — General

Utah Board Approved Three New Film Productions

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Should states use tax incentives to attract film production companies to their regions?

The Utah Board of Tourism has approved three new film productions for state incentives. These projects are expected to generate $2.2 million in economic impact for the state.

Why it matters

State film incentives are designed to attract production companies to the region. The goal is to stimulate economic growth through local job creation and business spending.

The three new film productions are expected to create over 120 jobs and generate $2.2 million in economic impact. Utah currently offers a 20% refundable tax credit, with an additional 5% credit available for productions meeting rural filming and hiring quotas.

The players

Rob Diamond

He is a filmmaker who is directing or producing the feature film The Woman I Forgot to Be.

Lara Mountford

She is a filmmaker working alongside Rob Diamond on the production of The Woman I Forgot to Be.

Samuel Pauling

He is the director behind the short film project titled These Little Ones.

Utah Board of Tourism

This state body is responsible for managing film incentive applications and promoting economic development in the Utah film sector.

The details

The approved slate includes the feature film A Totally Awesome Christmas, the Rob Diamond and Lara Mountford feature The Woman I Forgot to Be, and the short film These Little Ones by Samuel Pauling. To qualify for the additional 5% rural credit, productions must hire 75% of their crew locally and film 75% of their production days in rural Utah.

The Utah Board of Tourism announced the approval of the three new film productions on October 14, 2026.
Film production incentives began to rise in popularity across the United States during the 1990s.

Industry Dynamics

This move reflects the ongoing trend of state-level competition to attract film capital that began in the 1990s. By offering tiered tax credits, Utah is positioning itself against other states fighting for a larger share of regional film industry production budgets.

These tax incentives may lead to more filming activity in local communities across Utah County, Salt Lake County, and Millard County. Residents may notice increased production activity or local job opportunities related to these specific film projects.

The takeaway

These state incentives demonstrate how Utah leverages tax policy to attract creative investment and foster local industry growth. Producers and crew members looking for work should track future incentive announcements as these projects move into production.