The Greater Philadelphia Film Office

The Greater Philadelphia Film Office is a film commission representing southeastern Pennsylvania that officially serves the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

The Greater Philadelphia Film Office serves to attract film and video production of every kind to the region, including everything from feature films to TV commercials to music videos and industrial films. It provides the producer free assistance with parking, permits, hotels, labor, locations and generally acts as liaison between the production and the local community, cutting red tape along the way.

Services Available

Free production guide provided to all locally produced productions.

One-stop service for all city department requests.

Location scouting and photo files for entire region.

24-hour hot line with job opportunities and industry news via telephone or web.

A complete database of locations and resources.

Referrals and negotiations with businesses.

Coordination with neighborhoods and owners of private property.

Assistance with government permit or license requirements.

Ongoing dialogue with organized labor.

Organizes premieres of films made in Philadelphia.

Cooperates with and promotes local film festivals.

Permits and Parking

The City of Philadelphia does not require a filming permit to shoot film or video on its streets. However, closing of streets and interference with normal traffic requires a permit. Productions wishing to shoot anywhere in Fairmount Park or at Independence National Historic Park require a permit. 

All companies doing business in Philadelphia require a Business Privilege License. Special parking permits and areas reserved for production parking are available through the Film Office.

All productions shooting in a residential neighborhood are required to notify the neighborhood association and leaflet the neighbors.

Productions shooting in Philadelphia on city-owned property are required to carry a minimum of $1 million liability insurance and provide special language for the endorsement. Check with the Film Office for details.

Very large productions will require a pre-production meeting with all city departments that may be impacted to determine the level of city services required and their cost.

Producers must insure that their staff follow the Code of Conduct.

Up to 3 police officers per production may be assigned gratis in Philadelphia at the discretion of the Film Office and Police Department.

Incentives

Filmmakers may be able to use Pennsylvania-owned buildings and Philadelphia-owned buildings for location filming fee-free if the building can be made available during the period that the filmmaker requires. Costs incurred and liability insurance coverage, however, will be the responsibility of the production.

Visitors staying 30 days or more in a hotel are not obliged to pay hotel room rental tax.

Film & TV productions with a national distribution produced in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania may be eligible for a Manufacturer’s Sales Tax Exemption Certificate for goods purchased to be used in the filming process, as passed into law by the Pennsylvania Legislature and signed by the Governor effective July 1, 1997. For more information or a copy of the law, contact the Greater Philadelphia Film Office.

The Philadelphia Police Department may provide up to three police officers for free traffic control and security as needed for filming activity. Subject to the discretion of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office and the Philadelphia Police Department.

All permits, all police requests, all location requests must come through the Film Office. The Greater Philadelphia Film Office is a one-stop shopping place for all your production needs.

Sharon Pinkenson, Executive Director
Greater Philadelphia Film Office
100 S. Broad Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19110
(215) 686-2668
(215) 686-3659 Fax
(215) 686-3663 Hot Line (24 Hours)
mail@film.org
www.film.org