Behind the Scenes with Film New Orleans
New Orleans has earned its place as one of the nation’s premier destinations for filmmakers, ranking No. 6 on MovieMaker Magazine’s 2025 list of Best Cities to Live and Work as a Moviemaker.
Each year, the list features cities of all regions and sizes, and New Orleans has consistently ranked among the best. In 2023, MovieMaker adjusted its criteria, capping the Smaller Cities and Towns list at populations of 200,000 or less. As a result, New Orleans moved to the Big Cities category, securing the No. 3 spot for two consecutive years (2023 and 2024), after topping the Smaller Cities and Towns list in 2021 and 2022. The city’s inclusion in the top 10 for 2025 underscores its prominence as a major film production hub, further bolstered by Louisiana's Motion Picture Production Tax Credit Program, which offers up to 40% in transferable credits.
“In 2024, major film, television, and commercial projects contributed a total of $342 million in local spending. But New Orleans isn’t just a top filming location—it’s an unparalleled hub for creativity and innovation in the film industry,” said Brittany Chandler, Director of Film New Orleans. “We take pride in supporting a thriving community where all moviemakers—from skilled crew members to independent filmmakers—can work, collaborate, and bring their visions to life.”
The 2025 Best Cities to Live and Work as a Moviemaker list appears in the Winter 2025 issue of MovieMaker Magazine. The full list is available here.
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Film New Orleans serves as the city’s One Stop Shop for Film Permitting intaking and processing all film and location permits.
Film New Orleans is the City of New Orleans film permitting department. Film New Orleans is responsible for the following:
Issues film permits and manages location filming; facilitates communication and permitting among city departments and agencies and supports film workforce training and education program for independent filmmakers.
To answer any questions you may have about filming in New Orleans, please contact Brittany Chandler, Director: 504-658-4355 or brittany.chandler@nola.gov.
To submit an application for filming, go to www.filmneworleans.org.