Chicago Welcomes Film and Television Industry Leaders for City's First Film FAM Tour

First-of-its-kind initiative will showcase Chicago as a premier global destination for film and television production, highlighting the city's production infrastructure, workforce and incentives.

CHICAGO - Mayor Brandon Johnson, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) and the Chicago Film Office will welcome film and television industry leaders to Chicago for "Greenlight Chicago & Illinois", the city's first Film familiarization (FAM) tour, taking place October 13-16, 2026.

The four-day initiative will bring representatives from Amazon, Disney, Paramount Skydance, NBCUniversal, 101 Studios, Netflix and other major entertainment companies to Chicago to experience firsthand the city's production infrastructure, skilled workforce, diverse filming locations and competitive financial incentives.

Designed to strengthen Chicago's position as a leading destination for film and television production, the tour represents a strategic effort to attract new productions, generate economic activity, create employment opportunities and expand investment in Chicago's creative economy.

The initiative reflects DCASE's broader strategy to grow Chicago's creative industries by leveraging the city's cultural assets, strengthening industry partnerships and positioning Chicago to compete for new business and investment.

"Chicago has a long history of bringing creativity, hard work and opportunity together, and our film industry reflects the very best of that spirit," said Mayor Brandon Johnson. "Greenlight Chicago & Illinois is about showing industry leaders that when they choose Chicago, they are choosing more than an extraordinary location. They are investing in our workers, our neighborhoods, our small businesses and the creative talent that make Chicago a global leader in entertainment. We want the next generation of film and television stories to be made right here in Chicago, creating opportunities that reach communities across our city."

The tour will begin on Tuesday, October 13, with a welcome reception for visiting executives and concludes Friday, October 16, with a breakfast at the Chicago Cultural Center featuring Mayor Johnson, Commissioner Merritt and Deputy Film Commissioner Natasha Parker Olguin. The closing program will recognize the industry partners, labor organizations and film professionals whose contributions support Chicago's production ecosystem.

"Chicago's creative industries are an important economic driver, supporting jobs, local businesses and opportunities across our neighborhoods," said DCASE Commissioner Kenya K. Merritt. "We are taking a more intentional approach to attracting investment and growing our film and television sectors. Greenlight Chicago & Illinois will allow us to build relationships with the decisionmakers who influence production locations and demonstrate why Chicago should be their destination of choice. Our goal is to translate those relationships into new productions, more job prospects and sustained economic impact for our city."

The FAM Tour comes as Chicago and Illinois continue efforts to grow the region's film and television industry and attract new productions. During the first quarter of 2026, Chicago hosted seven television productions, in addition to commercial advertising production activity, demonstrating continued demand for the city's production resources and workforce.

"Chicago has a proud history of film and television production, supported by exceptional crews, major studios, local businesses and a city that knows how to welcome productions," said Eoin Egan, Cinespace Studios Co-CEO. "The recent strengthening of Illinois' film incentives builds on that established ecosystem and gives our clients even more reason to choose Chicago. We're proud to partner with the city to welcome industry executives and show them firsthand the talent, infrastructure and distinctive locations that make Chicago such a compelling place to film."

Illinois's expanded financial incentives for film and television production will be another key component of the tour. In 2025, the Illinois General Assembly expanded the Illinois Film Production Tax Credit to provide a 35% credit on qualified Illinois production spending, including eligible Illinois vendor expenses, post-production costs and resident salaries up to $500,000 per worker. The expanded program also includes an additional 5% credit for productions that meet sustainability certification requirements established by the Illinois Film Office and Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to qualify as a "certified green production."

Additional incentives include a 5% credit on Illinois resident salaries for qualifying productions filming outside designated Chicago-area counties and a 5% credit for television series relocating to Illinois. These incentives strengthen Illinois' ability to compete for productions while encouraging investment, job creation and more sustainable production practices.

"I'm excited and privileged to have the opportunity to showcase everything Chicago has to offer and demonstrate the value our city brings to the competitive film and television industry," said Shawn Papazian, President and CEO of The Fields Studios. "Being 'Chicago Made' presents a unique opportunity for storytellers to capture the city's rich history, remarkable people and top-tier talent that help bring creative visions to life. We're proud to highlight the collective strengths of Chicago's film industry and the economic opportunities that come with bringing more productions to our city."

Chicago's film and television industry supports local crews and creative professionals while generating economic activity for vendors, restaurants, hotels, transportation providers and small businesses throughout the city.

"Productions are looking for places where they can find the right combination of talent, infrastructure, locations and financial incentives, and Illinois delivers on all of those fronts," said Anthony Barracca, Local 476 Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer. "Chicago gives productions access to an experienced workforce, world-class production resources and an incredible variety of locations, while Illinois continues to strengthen its competitive position through its film production tax credit. The FAM Tour gives studio stakeholders an opportunity to see Chicago for themselves and understand why the city and state should be at the top of the list for their next production."

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Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in Chicago's creative economy, and expands access to and participation in the arts throughout the city's 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, DCASE engages Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, from downtown to neighborhoods across the city, to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city's most iconic festivals, markets, events and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and in communities throughout Chicago, serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports film, television and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

Chicago Film Office
The Chicago Film Office, a division of the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), supports film, television, commercial, digital and emerging media production throughout Chicago. As one of the nation's oldest and most respected municipal film offices, it serves as a one-stop resource for productions of all sizes, facilitating permits, coordinating with City departments, connecting filmmakers with local industry partners, and showcasing Chicago's diverse neighborhoods, iconic architecture and world-class talent. The Chicago Film Office attracts and retains productions that create jobs, generate economic impact for local businesses, support the city's creative workforce, and strengthen Chicago's position as a premier destination for filmmaking. For more information, visit ChicagoFilmOffice.org.