Voight pushes federal film incentive to revive Hollywood

Hollywood backers press for a federal film incentive as Voight and allies press lawmakers.

Voight Pushes Federal Film Incentive to Revive Hollywood

Jon Voight drew attention in May by presenting a plan to President Trump aimed at reviving U.S. film production with a federal incentive. Since then, the idea has moved from public pitches to quieter lobbying as Trump discussed tariffs on foreign films and then moved on. Supporters say conversations are ongoing and expect a bipartisan incentive to surface in Congress this year. Lawmakers Rep. Laura Friedman and Sen. Adam Schiff have signaled openness, while Republicans have yet to sign on.

Industry groups note that many states already offer generous credits, making a federal rule a way to level the playing field and keep jobs in the United States. A modest step now on Capitol Hill is a bill to extend and expand Section 181, which lets investors write off production costs immediately. The extension would raise the cap and include projects in low income areas, while other provisions like Section 461 could follow. The debate is political and fragile, but backers argue that policy clarity is needed to stabilize a market that has seen production drift abroad.

The episode shows how film policy can become a political testing ground. A federal incentive promises stability but risks becoming a partisan battleground that floods the process with hype rather than outcomes.

If Congress moves forward, the test will be whether the policy is fair and affordable. The industry needs a long term plan that protects independent films and domestic crews, not just big productions. In a global market, clear rules could attract steady work, but only if both parties buy in.

Highlights

Policy work ahead will determine if this becomes more than a talking point