Film, television and media have long connected us through storytelling and creativity. With so many diverse places to film, from the plains to the city to the mountains, it’s easy to see why filmmakers want to film in Colorado. But did you know this industry also contributes to Colorado’s thriving economy?
To support this economic growth, the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media (COFTM) provides an array of resources and programs to local industry professionals. One program is the Colorado Film Incentive, which encourages film production, local job creation, and tourism in the state. Since its start in 2012 through June 2025, the Colorado Film Incentive has generated an estimated economic impact of $369 million and created over 6,500 cast and crew positions for Coloradans.
Let’s get a close-up of a few projects supported by this incentive:
Elevation
Starring actors Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin, Maddie Hasson, and more, “Elevation” is an action/thriller set in a post-apocalypse world where the only safety is found in the Rocky Mountains. Faithful to the film’s mountainous setting, filming took place across Boulder and Clear Creek. 178 Colorado cast and crew were hired to support this project, with production spending $13.8 million in the region, uplifting the economy and local talent.
Welcome to the Fishbowl
“Welcome to the Fishbowl” is a love letter to Colorado from Sheryl Glubok, a Denver-based writer, director, and producer. Set and filmed in Denver and Telluride, this road comedy follows an aspiring writer and a literary legend, with Colorado’s natural beauty as the backdrop. The project has a total estimated economic impact of over $4 million, with Coloradans making up 80% of the cast and crew.
Home Town Takeover
Colorado’s own Fort Morgan is the star of season two of HGTV’s hit show, “Home Town Takeover,” supporting 41 new local cast and crew. The reality show details the renovation process for homes and businesses in Fort Morgan, including Mosqueda Delicacies Ice Cream & More. Combined with the feature on “Home Town Takeover” and support from the Colorado Small Business Development Center, Mosqueda Delicacies Ice Cream & More’s business boomed, with the show fostering increased economic diversity for Fort Morgan at large.
Tomahawk Springs
A film following a mother and sons’ comedic and heartfelt road trip out west, “Tomahawk Springs” was filmed throughout the state, including the San Luis Valley, Montezuma County, and eastern Colorado. This project hired 32 local cast and crew positions, and had an estimated economic impact of up to $1.2 million. “Tomahawk Springs” comes from writer and director Ramzi Bashour, a 2024 fellow of the Sundance Institute’s Directors Lab held at the historic Stanley Hotel. Participating in the Lab piqued his interest in filming in Colorado—a benefit of hosting Sundance Institute programs in the state and another reason we’re excited that Boulder will host the iconic Sundance Film Festival starting in 2027.
Fractured Blooms
In addition to the film and television industries, the Colorado Film Incentive supports the state’s video game industry. The program has supported 21 video game projects, collectively spending an estimated $35 million in-state and hiring over 700 Colorado cast and crew.
One of these supported projects includes Fractured Blooms, produced by Serenity Forge, a game developer and publisher led by University of Colorado Boulder alumni Zhenghua “Z” Yang. The company brings meaningful, story-driven games to their audience and Fractured Blooms builds on this mission by examining mental health and societal pressures. For this project, Coloradans make up 72% of the cast and crew, with an estimated economic impact of over $760,000. And this year, Serenity Forge premiered Fractured Blooms at Summer Game Fest, a global celebration of video games, highlighting Colorado’s talent on the world stage.
The Bench
Based on the Broadway play, “The Bench” follows five characters who gather at a city bench, highlighting the bonds formed among homeless individuals. The production team includes Rachel DeWeber, a Program Coordinator and Film Mentor for the COFTM’s Film Exposure Program, a workforce development program that provides rural high school students with educational exposure in narrative filmmaking. Filming for “The Bench” took place across Mesa County, with the project creating 35 cast and crew positions and an expected economic impact of $637,000. To give back to the community, “The Bench” partnered with Bombas to distribute socks for those in need.
To learn more about the Colorado Film Incentive and other programs and resources for industry professionals, visit the Colorado Office of Film, Television and Media's page.