Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on July 7 that the first year of California’s expanded Film and Television Tax credit program is on track to deliver a record $6.6 billion in economic impact.

With 41 projects awarded including DreamWorks’ “Don-key,” “Gingerbread Men” from Artists Equity and Disney’s “Hexed,” productions are bringing thousands of jobs and direct investment to communities across California, the governor said.

Newsom made the announcement after a recent visit to the set of Ang Lee’s “Gold Mountain,” a Film & Television Tax Credit Program awardee.

“California has long set the standard for entertainment production, creating good-paying jobs and showcasing the creativity and innovation that define the Golden State,” Newsom said. “The first year of the expanded tax credit program is already delivering results, generating billions in economic activity, creating opportunities for businesses and the workforce and bringing more productions home to California.”

Across the full fiscal year from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, the newly expanded Program 4.0 awarded 170 total projects that collectively represent $6.6 billion in direct production spending in California; $4.3 billion in qualified expenditures (inclusive of qualified wages); $2.58 billion in qualified wages; 34,921 cast and crew jobs; 212,065 background performers in days worked; and 6,630 total California filming days, including 1,351 out-of-zone filming days.

“This round marks the close of the first year of Program 4.0 and reflects the strong demand we continue to see for production in California. With 41 new film projects approved across a wide range of budgets, we are seeing the program work exactly as intended – bringing production, jobs and economic opportunity to communities throughout California,” said Colleen Bell, director of the California Film Commission. “From major studio features and independent films to animated projects, the diversity of productions choosing California speaks to the strength of our industry and the unmatched talent, infrastructure and creative ecosystem that exist here. We look forward to building on this momentum in year two.”

Animation heavyweights continue to commit to California, building on the historic inclusion of animated feature films. The latest round of awards includes two new DreamWorks Animation projects, including the highly anticipated “Donkey” from the Shrek universe, as well as Disney’s “Hexed” and a new Pixar feature. The projects will generate $711 million in total California economic impact, including $145 million in qualified wages, employing more than 1,900 cast and crew members and deepening the animation industry’s roots in California.

For information, visit film.ca.gov/tax-credit.