The St. Louis Film Office has supported more than 50 registered productions during the past year with combined budgets topping $12 million – work that has directly fueled local jobs, hotels, and production companies.

Passage of Missouri’s Motion Media Tax Incentive passed in 2023 has been essential, according to the Film Office, a subset of Explore St. Louis.

Hiatt said the Film Office expects to register at least 40 new projects in the coming year, with almost half already approved for the tax incentive.

“The Motion Media Tax Incentive has given St. Louis a chance to prove itself on a national stage,” said Film Office manager Kelley Hiatt.

“These projects don’t just tell great stories, they create good-paying jobs, fill hotels and grow new creative businesses that keep talent here at home.”

The productions delivered approximately 1,500 days of filming in the region, created an estimated $6 million in local wages, and filled more than 2,500 hotel room nights across St. Louis City and County.

A feature production also secured a short-term commercial office lease for $20,000. 

Hiatt said Sony Pictures acquired Soul on Fire – the first feature film to use the new Missouri tax incentive – for a nationwide theatrical release, this fall.

The Film Office also convinced two feature films to choose St. Louis over Atlanta, one over Dallas and another over Los Angeles, “demonstrating the city’s growing appeal as a competitive, cost-effective production hub,” said Hiatt

Local productions over the past year have included a mix of feature films, television, and documentary work: 

ABC Signature’s What Would You Do filmed locally

The Tribeca Film Festival screened Ride or Die, also filmed locally

Independent features Greg’s Going to Rehab, Fairlight, Rough Draft and two upcoming feature length films reflect combined budgets topping $5 million

The moving documentary Queen of the Base was produced, telling the story of a St. Charles resident who survived Taliban captivity, aided the U.S. military, and escaped Afghanistan on the final plane out in August 2021 

Public television’s Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Road Show is in production for Season 2

Beyond film crews, this wave of production has sparked local business growth supporting crew services and external funding resources, giving St. Louis a stronger competitive edge for future large-scale projects. 

Hiatt said the Film Office expects to register at least 40 new projects in the coming year, with almost half already approved for the tax incentive.

The Productions are projected to add another 1,000 hotel room nights and more local jobs.

East St. Louis Metrobus Stop to receive ‘Transformation’ 

Citizens for Modern Transit, AARP in St. Louis and the St. Clair County Transit District have selected MetroBus Stop #13101 – located in the retail corridor of East St. Louis in front of Walgreens at 2510 State Street – for its next Transit Stop Transformation Project.

The site will be transformed into a colorful, user-friendly space that cultivates community, promotes safety, and further increases ridership, according to Kimberly Cella, executive director of Citizens for Modern Transit. 

Transit riders, area residents, elected officials and other stakeholders are encouraged to share the types of enhancements they would like to see at the site by completing a short online survey at www.cmt-stl.org by August 30, 2025.

Public engagement will aid in the finalization of design. Construction will commence shortly thereafter with the project expected to be completed in Spring 2026.

 “These projects are community-based initiatives,” said Cella.

“Local feedback is imperative to delivering a project that reflects the needs, wants and pulse of the community. We thank everyone in advance for their help.”

 This will be the fifth Transit Stop Transformation Project in St. Clair County.

$750,000 has been invested to complete a total of seven transformations throughout the bi-state region, including the MetroBus Stop in Maplewood, the MetroBus Stop at 13th and Gravois Avenue in Soulard, the Emerson Park and 5th & Missouri Transit Centers in East St. Louis, the Fairview Heights Transit Center in Fairview Heights, the Belleville Transit Center in Belleville, and the North Hanley Transit Center in North St. Louis County.

There has been more than $35 million in additional investment finalized or in the works around these sites, underscoring the value of placemaking and its lasting benefits for communities, Cella explained.

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