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Cherokee Film Incentive
The Cherokee Nation is located in northeast Oklahoma covering 7,000 square miles over 14 counties, offering a variety of landscapes from big cities to rural towns to forests, rivers, lakes and dams in five distinct eco-regions.
Beginning March 1, 2022, the Cherokee Film Commission began accepting applications for a new cash rebate incentive fund offering productions between 10% – 25% rebates on qualifying expenditures for projects occurring within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. The rebate covers expenses for both production expenses and wages and can be used in conjunction with other Oklahoma incentive programs such as the Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021, which offers producers a cash rebate of up to 30% based on several qualifying uplifts, and the Oklahoma Resident Labor incentive which is rebatable at 30% regardless of qualified uplifts (all have different application processes.)
The purpose of the Cherokee Film Incentive program is to encourage the production of film and television projects within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation and to hire Natives in all phases of production including development, pre-production, production, and post-production.
The annual program cap is $1 million dollars per year.
Above-the-line rebate is only available for fees/salaries of Native Americans who are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe.
Qualified Production Expenditure (QPE)
*Tribal affiliation must be verified with documentation from the BIA or a federally recognized Tribe.
**Only wages paid for services rendered while “boots on the ground” within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation are eligible.
Eligibility Criteria
Native American*
Residing in Cherokee Nation
Rebate Rate(s)
25%
Eligibility Criteria
Native American*
Residing in Cherokee Nation
Rebate Rate**
20%
+5% Uplift
Eligibility Criteria
Native American*
Residing in Cherokee Nation
Rebate Rate**
20%
+5% Uplift
Eligibility Criteria
Native American*
Residing in Cherokee Nation
Rebate Rate**
20%
+5% Uplift
Rebate Rate**
10%
Rebate Rate**
15%
Rebate Rate**
20%
Rebate Rate**
25%
*Tribal affiliation must be verified with documentation from the BIA or a federally recognized Tribe.
**Only wages paid for services rendered while “boots on the ground” within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation are eligible.
Rebate Rate**
20%
Rebate Rate**
25%
*Tribal affiliation must be verified with documentation from the BIA or a federally recognized Tribe.
**Only wages paid for services rendered while “boots on the ground” within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation are eligible.
Rebate Rate
20%
Rebate Rate
+5%
*Qualifying production spend must be paid to a vendor located in the Cherokee Nation to be eligible for rebate. Also, qualifying production spend is subject to prorated rebates based on the boots-on-the-ground production requirements.
**Native American owned businesses must be a TERO certified vendor or provide proof of 51% Native ownership.
Established in 1983, TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Office) maintains a listing of verified Native American-owned businesses and artisans who are members of a federally recognized tribe. Other businesses in the production zone may be Native owned but not participating in the TERO program so we encourage production companies to discuss the ownership of businesses before selecting vendors.
Members of the film production community can use the TERO list to quickly determine if a business is Native owned and those businesses participating in the program will be counted toward meeting hiring and spending criteria in the program rules.
The listing may be found at cherokeetero.com.
cherokee nation zip codes
Not all zip codes lie fully within the reservation of the Cherokee Nation. It is recommended you verify the address on the interactive map that has been provided to ensure it is in the Cherokee Nation.
The purpose of the Cherokee Film Incentive program is to encourage the production of film and television projects within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation and to hire Natives in all phases of production including development, pre-production, production, and post-production.
Beginning March 1, 2022 the Cherokee Nation will begin accepting applications for up to $1 million per year for rebates on spending on the film and television production within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation.
In order to qualify for the program, your spending must take place within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation.
Yes, there is a cap of $1 million per year. There are no per-project caps.
There is a minimum spend of $50,000 within the state of Oklahoma with at least $25,000 of qualified spend within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. Productions must apply to the Cherokee Film Commission at least 45 days prior to principal photography and receive an initial approval letter from the Cherokee Film Commission prior to the start of principal photography to qualify. Productions must also submit a final application detailing all expenses and filming locations and other required information no later than 90 days after final expenses occur in Oklahoma.
Applications are vetted and approved by the Cherokee Film Commission and all applications are reviewed by a committee made up of professionals from Cherokee Nation Businesses and Cherokee Nation Cultural and Economic Development, LLC.
It depends on how much you spend in the Cherokee Nation and who you hire.
The base incentive offers a 20% rebate for qualified production expenses within the Cherokee Nation boundaries. An additional uplift would increase the percentage to 25% of the qualifying spending at Native-owned businesses (majority 51% ownership) in the Cherokee Nation boundaries.
The rebate on salaries will depend on the residence and tribal status of employees. All cast and crew will be eligible for at least a 10% credit with that increasing to 15% for Oklahoma residents and 20% for members of a federally recognized tribe and 25% for members of a federally recognized tribe living in the Cherokee Nation.
Our goal is to approve all completed initial applications within 30 days of submission but the actual approval time may vary. No expenses will be allowed prior to receipt of initial approval letter. Because of their complexity, final applications will take longer to review and verify expenses but our goal is to issue rebate checks as quickly as possible.
Productions must submit a completed initial application that is found on our web site here.
It is a cash rebate sent to the named company or individual on the application form after the final application has been reviewed and approved.
Final applications will be accompanied by a CPA’s report, prepared at the expense of the applicant, attesting that the amounts in the application are qualified Oklahoma and Cherokee Nation expenditures (QOE) that comply with the requirements of the Administrative Rules and that at least $25,000 is within the Cherokee Nation. Additionally, the final application must include the names and addresses of all cast and crew and a copy of all tribal enrollment cards for claims of tribal hiring bonuses. Proof of Native ownership must also be submitted for claims of the production enhancement for spending with Native-owned businesses.
For projects with QOE over $250,000, the materiality threshold used for CPA review is the lesser of 1% of QOE or $100,000.
For a list of approved CPAs, please visit the Oklahoma Film + Music Production Directory.
Our goal is to complete the review of all final applications as quickly as possible upon receipt of the completed application. However, due to the complexity of the applications and the variety of projects we may receive, we cannot guarantee a specific turnaround time.
For detailed information see the Administrative Rules. However, all spending must take place within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. Productions can find out if their location or vendor is in the Cherokee Nation boundaries by using an interactive map.
Yes, this incentive can be applied for in addition to the Oklahoma State film incentive or alone. However, each organization’s incentive is separate and must be applied for individually. Each organization has its own approval process, and a project may be approved by one organization and denied by the other.
Yes, since this is a new program the rules and regulations may update. Updates will be posted on the Cherokee Film website when they are going into effect. The program is managed by the Cherokee Film and all incentive applications are reviewed by a committee made up of professionals from Cherokee Nation Businesses and Cherokee Nation Cultural and Economic Development, LLC.
No. Applications are based on the merits of the project based on a variety of factors to include, but not limited to, the benefits of the project to the Cherokee Nation (including, but not limited to, economic impact, job creation, Native American representation, tourism, branding, image and follow-on work, funds available, anticipated future program needs and other projects applying for rebates). An application does not guarantee approval.
Yes, you can reach out to us at [email protected].
No, unless there have been material changes in the information provided in the original application.
Yes, wages paid to non-Oklahoma residents do apply but only as applied to wages earned while filming in the Cherokee Nation.
Commercials do not qualify but documentaries, scripted and non-scripted television shows do qualify.
The primary factor is that filming must take place within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. Other factors that help determine an approval include but are not limited to the benefits of the project to the Cherokee Nation, including economic impact, job creation, Native American representation, tourism, branding, image and follow-on work, funds available anticipated future program needs and other projects applying for rebates.
There is a minimum spend of $50,000 within Oklahoma, with at least $25,000 within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation.
Not at this time.
To utilize the Cherokee Film Incentive, projects are required to show proof that 50% of funding is in place, due 45 days prior to the start of principal photography, and proof that complete funding is in place, due 30 days prior to the start of principal photography. For other benchmarks, please visit and review the Administrative Rules.
No, but consideration will be given to projects that accurately portray Native Americans and/or help dispel harmful stereotypes and inaccurate histories.
No. However, the number of Native Americans you hire and where they live will determine the amount of credit you earn for each employee.
No. However, spending at native businesses (majority 51% ownership) will increase the rebate to 25% of the spend at that business.
Yes, final rebate applications must be accompanied by a CPA’s report, prepared at the expense of the applicant, attesting that the amounts in the application are qualified Cherokee Nation expenditures (QPE) that comply with the requirements of the Administrative Rules and that at least $25,000 is within the Cherokee Nation.
Oklahoma’s central location, diverse landscapes, professional workforce and low cost of living and business expenses make it a formidable partner for the film, television and music industries.
For more information, contact us at [email protected] or call 918.645.3396.
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