Utah Board greenlights three new film projects promising $9.3 million boost

The Utah Board of Tourism Development gave the go-ahead to three new film productions, adding to the state’s growing slate of incentive-qualified projects. The lineup includes the eighth installment of the History Channel’s “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” an untitled feature from Utah-based writer-director Robert Machoian, and the feature “The Last Treasure Hunt,” which will shoot in Kane and Washington counties. Officials estimate the trio will inject $9.3 million into the local economy and produce over 100 jobs across six counties, from Uintah to Iron.

Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, highlighted the ripple effect of the incentive program on small businesses and the broader creative sector. Utah’s incentive framework provides up to a 25 % refundable tax credit for larger productions and up to a 20 % cash rebate for smaller, locally-led projects, provided they meet residency and rural-day thresholds. The state’s film-friendly reputation builds on a century of high-profile movies shot in its diverse landscapes.