{"id":265591,"date":"2026-04-13T14:05:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/265591\/"},"modified":"2026-04-13T14:05:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:05:14","slug":"hollywood-offshoring-a-look-at-whos-winning-the-global-production-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/265591\/","title":{"rendered":"Hollywood offshoring: A look at who’s winning the global production race"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At the Burbank City Hall chambers packed with Hollywood union workers, community advocates and journalists, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) laid out the cost of losing local film and TV production:<\/p>\n

More than 42,000 jobs lost. Livelihoods destroyed. Future opportunities lost.<\/p>\n

Increasingly, Schiff said, those jobs are being \u201clured abroad\u201d by \u201cforeign governments that have invested aggressively in building their own film industries.\u201d<\/p>\n

To underscore the point, Schiff cited some sobering data: Last year, 45% of all U.S. films and scripted television shows were shot internationally, up from about 33% in 2022. <\/p>\n

California and other states have bolstered their production incentive programs, but it\u2019s not enough, Schiff said. The former federal prosecutor was making the case for why a federal tax credit is needed to level the playing field.<\/p>\n

\u201cState programs cannot simply substitute for the kind of global, federal and competitive tax incentives that are needed to bring production back to American soil and stop its offshoring,\u201d he said last month at the event. \u201cThe urgency could not be greater.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many industry leaders agree. In a recent survey conducted by data firm ProdPro, studio executives \u201coverwhelmingly\u201d said a U.S. federal incentive program that could be added on top of state tax credits would \u201cmaterially increase domestic production activity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTheoretically, it just makes a lot of sense,\u201d said Joe Chianese, senior vice president at Entertainment Partners, which tracks production incentives worldwide. \u201cIf it were to happen, it would definitely help not just California, but U.S. production in general.\u201d<\/p>\n

A federal credit, however, would require bipartisan congressional support \u2014 something that\u2019s in short supply these days in Washington, D.C. \u2014 as well as the approval of President Trump.<\/p>\n

The president is not always a fan of Hollywood, though he has appointed three \u201cspecial ambassadors\u201d tasked with boosting U.S. production<\/a>.<\/p>\n

To be sure, the U.S. still captures the bulk of big budget productions, but its market share in that category is shrinking<\/a>. Last year, the U.S. led all countries with a total of $12.15 billion in production spending, but that was down 20% from 2024, according to ProdPro.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a look at where the film money is going: <\/p>\n

U.K.<\/p>\n

The United Kingdom has long been a magnet for Hollywood, but its allure has only grown in recent years thanks to expanded film incentives, experienced crews and new facilities.<\/p>\n

The U.K. had the second-highest production spending in 2025 with a total of $6.97 billion, a gain of 15%, according to ProdPro.<\/p>\n

Emblematic of the shift: Walt Disney Co.\u2019s Marvel Studios is now shooting most of its projects, including the upcoming \u201cAvengers: Doomsday\u201d film, in the U.K. rather than its longtime home of Georgia. The state invested heavily in building soundstages to attract film business from California, earning the moniker \u201cHollywood of the South.\u201d<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"Ryan <\/p>\n

Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace in a still from \u201cProject Hail Mary,\u201d which was filmed in the U.K.<\/p>\n

(Jonathan Olley\/Amazon MGM Studios)<\/p>\n

Other high-profile productions that filmed in Britain include Universal Pictures\u2019 \u201cThe Odyssey\u201d and Sony Pictures Entertainment\u2018s upcoming Beatles movie quartet, as well as such TV shows as HBO\u2019s \u201cGame of Thrones\u201d prequel \u201cA Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.\u201d<\/p>\n

Famously, Warner Bros. Pictures produced all eight \u201cHarry Potter\u201d films at the Leavesden Studios, which it now owns. Just 17 miles away, Pinewood Studios, which opened in 1936, has hosted Amazon MGM Studios show \u201cThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,\u201d Paramount Pictures\u2019 \u201cMission: Impossible \u2014 Dead Reckoning Part One\u201d and several \u201cStar Wars\u201d films.<\/p>\n

Last year, international feature film and TV production spending contributed about $7.8 billion to the U.K. economy, according to a recent report from the British Film Commission. U.S. film spending in the U.K. rose 29.7% from 2024, the report said.<\/p>\n

\u201cStudios, directors and producers continue to recognize the U.K. as a beacon of reliability for fiscal incentives, infrastructure and talent in a shifting, uncertain and highly competitive environment,\u201d British Film Commission Chief Executive Adrian Wootton said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Britain revised its program in 2024 and now offers a 25.5% refundable tax credit for qualifying feature film and TV productions and about 30% for animated films and TV shows, as well as children\u2019s TV programs (indie films can qualify for an enhanced credit of nearly 40%).<\/p>\n

Unlike in California, the British tax credits can be applied to offset salary costs of actors, directors and producers. What\u2019s more, there is no funding cap for the program.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe U.K. not only has great incentives but a strong crew base and infrastructure,\u201d Chianese said.<\/p>\n

Canada<\/p>\n

Canada has been a go-to destination for U.S. producers since the early 1980s<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Though it developed an early reputation for shooting TV movies, the country has expanded into shows and feature films, bolstered by a federal incentive of 16% on Canadian labor, in addition to provincial tax credits that can stack on top of that. If a project shoots in Manitoba, for instance, the federal and provincial credits and uplifts can add up to more than 60%.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s attracted major productions including HBO\u2019s apocalypse drama \u201cThe Last of Us,\u201d which filmed its first season in Alberta; and FX\u2019s \u201cShogun,\u201d which shot in British Columbia, long a film hub.<\/p>\n

The province also has postproduction tax credits that incentivize animation and visual effects work. Currently, shows such as CBS procedural \u201cTracker\u201d and Showtime thriller \u201cYellowjackets\u201d are filming in British Columbia.<\/p>\n

\"Four <\/p>\n

Cosmo Jarvis, center right, stars as John Blackthorne in \u201cShogun.\u201d<\/p>\n

(Katie Yu\/FX)<\/p>\n

But the continued decline of broadcast TV, as well as spending cutbacks at streaming services, hit Canada hard.<\/p>\n

Last year, the country attracted $4.61 billion in high-budget production spending, down 13% from 2024, according to ProdPro. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s getting better,\u201d said Marnie Gee, British Columbia\u2019s film commissioner. \u201cI think we\u2019re cautiously optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eastern Europe<\/p>\n

Eastern Europe accounted for $1.53 billion in production spending in 2025, up a whopping 78% over the previous year, led by Hungary and Germany. <\/p>\n

Eastern Europe has several selling points, among them flexible above-the-line incentives and lower production and labor costs than in the U.S. and U.K.<\/p>\n

In Hungary, spending from high-budget projects more than doubled from $486 million in 2024 to a little over $1 billion in 2025, according to ProdPro data. The country offers a 30% rebate that expands when factoring in eligible Hungarian spending.<\/p>\n

\"Teens <\/p>\n

Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird in a still from \u201cThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.\u201d The film shot scenes in Berlin. <\/p>\n

(Murray Close\/Lionsgate)<\/p>\n

Movies that recently filmed in Hungary include Warner Bros. and Legendary Entertainment\u2019s \u201cDune: Part Two\u201d and Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures\u2019 \u201cPoor Things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe ability to show up to Hungary now and have a purpose-built stage space, a trained crew and the infrastructure there \u2014 that\u2019s just a new level of competition the U.S. faces,\u201d said Alex LoVerde, chief executive and co-founder of ProdPro.<\/p>\n

Germany too has been abuzz with film activity. In 2025, its large-budget production spending totaled $348.5 million, up from $97 million during the prior year, according to ProdPro.<\/p>\n

Late last year, Germany bolstered its federal incentive program, bumping its cash rebate to 30% from its previous 20% to 25% level, and increased its overall annual cap to about $293 million, up from about $156 million.<\/p>\n

The federal benefits can be combined with regional film funds, such as those in Bavaria or Berlin-Brandenburg, which hosted the upcoming release \u201cThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.\u201d <\/p>\n

Germany upped its incentives to keep up with rival hubs such as the Czech Republic and Ireland.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoney rules the game,\u201d said Christiane Krone-Raab, head of the Berlin Brandenburg Film Commission. \u201cWe had to do something about it.\u201d <\/p>\n

Ireland<\/p>\n

The Emerald Isle has become a top filming location.<\/p>\n

Spending totaled $320 million last year, up 42% from 2024, according to ProdPro. The country was even ranked in the top five preferred filming spots in ProdPro\u2019s executive survey. <\/p>\n

Ireland offers a 32% base tax credit, as well as targeted visual effects incentives and specific sweeteners for unscripted series, which have lured U.S.-based game shows<\/a> such as \u201cThe Floor,\u201d which can have as many as 100 contestants and is hosted by actor Rob Lowe.<\/p>\n

\"Rob <\/p>\n

Rob Lowe stands with two contestants on the game show \u201cThe Floor,\u201d which shoots in Ireland.<\/p>\n

(Lorraine O\u2019Sullivan\/FOX)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cheaper to bring 100 Americans to Ireland than to walk across the lot at Fox,\u201d Lowe told listeners of his \u201cLiterally!\u201d podcast last year.<\/p>\n

Times staff writer Cerys Davies contributed to this report.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the Burbank City Hall chambers packed with Hollywood union workers, community advocates and journalists, Sen. Adam Schiff…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":265592,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[7,7363,22844,116206,62383,8076,116208,49811,48,52,51,7036,47,50,49,116205,116207,4576,36042,104084],"class_list":{"0":"post-265591","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-los-angeles","8":"tag-california","9":"tag-country","10":"tag-germany","11":"tag-hollywood-offshoring","12":"tag-hungary","13":"tag-infrastructure","14":"tag-international-feature-film","15":"tag-ireland","16":"tag-la","17":"tag-la-headlines","18":"tag-la-news","19":"tag-last-year","20":"tag-los-angeles","21":"tag-los-angeles-headlines","22":"tag-los-angeles-news","23":"tag-prodpro","24":"tag-production-spending","25":"tag-program","26":"tag-u-k","27":"tag-u-s-film"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=265591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/265591\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/265592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=265591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=265591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=265591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}