Dear Utah Film Industry,

The 2008 Utah State Legislative session concluded on Wednesday March 6 at midnight. The Utah Film Commission is pleased to announce the Motion Picture Incentive Fund (MPIF), was appropriated a total of $5.5 million which is an increase of $1.5 million from the previous year.

This is the highest appropriation our fund has ever had in its 5 year history.
This past year the Utah Film Commission was able to use the $4 million
dollar appropriation for 11 films generating $37 million dollars in
production revenue.

Although this year's session saw many requests that did not receive
funding, in the last hours of the session the MPIF received an increase
of $500,000 raising the total amount to $5.5 million. The Legislature
has shown an exceptional amount of confidence in the MPIF, the Utah film
industry and the economic impact it has had on the State in previous
years. The Utah Film Commission would like to thank Governor Jon
Huntsman, the Utah Legislature, Jason Perry Executive Director Governors
Office of Economic Development, Don Schain and Charlie Evans with The
Motion Picture Association of Utah (MPAU) for their tremendous efforts
in securing this funding.

This new appropriation will allow us to sustain jobs for hundreds of
film professionals in the coming year. It will also be a springboard of
significant change for the future that will allow us to attract a wider
variety of projects to the state.

The Utah Film Commission would like to thank you for representing the
industry with your great work ethic and enthusiastic efforts behind and
in front of the camera. You are the reason that filmmakers continue to
return to Utah making us, as Governor Huntsman said, "a premier film
destination."

Sincerely,

Marshall Moore
Director
Utah Film Commission