San Francisco issued 309 film production permits in the fiscal year that ended June 30, generating an estimated $32.3 million in direct local spending, the San Francisco Film Commission said in its 2025-2026 Impact Report, Bay City News reported. That's up 84.6% from $17.5 million the year before.

By the numbers

  • 555 shoot days
  • 5,630 SAG-AFTRA bookings
  • 4,303 hotel room nights

The spending includes hotel bookings, restaurant visits and support for local artists, creatives and crew members, ABC7 reported.

Why productions are coming

Film Commission Executive Director Manijeh Fata credited a competitive state incentive and the city's own $1 million cash rebate, which San Francisco modernized this year. "We need to make it make sense financially and that's what we've really done," Fata told ABC7.

Fata said films shot in the city, including "Artificial," "The Invite" and "Josephine," could be Oscar contenders. "I have a prediction SF will be at the Oscars," she said. Residents have spotted Ted Danson, Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen on recent shoots.