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Montana is more than meets the eye. Beyond beautiful exterior locations, the state also offers a variety of urban and unique town looks. The crew is fantastic and the film community is strong. I would highly recommend filming in Montana and shooting wide!”

– Jeri Rafter, Line Producer

Established in 1974, the Montana Film Office markets Montana as a business destination for production companies and provides technical assistance to productions that choose Montana. It is the responsibility of the MFO to ensure the state is film friendly. We work with producers to find locations that fit their script and serve as their liaison through every phase of their production.

Producers have come to depend on the MFO to help navigate permitting, understand regulation processes, and assist in location nuances. In the film industry, time really is money. A state’s willingness and ability to facilitate film productions often becomes a factor in choosing their location.

Featured Locations

Yellowstone Film Ranch

This Western backlot is styled after 1800s gold rush towns and uses five fully functional interior/exterior sets with support buildings to create 28 unique structures against the backdrop of Emigrant Peak. Buildings include a church, saloon, general store and barn in addition to a main street for shootouts and establishing shots.

Butte

The Highland Mountains and east-ridge of the Continental Divide surround the city of Butte, which offers authentic Western locations, contemporary buildings and access to the national forests. Productions can utilize the stately mansions and Victorian architecture of the uptown business district as well as the numerous ghost towns and abandoned towns in outlying areas.

Virginia City/Nevada City

These neighboring gold rush towns grew rapidly in the 1860s. Today, they are home to over 150 preserved 19th century buildings that lend authenticity to Westernthemed films and TV shows. Locations include the Nevada City Railroad Station, a stagecoach buildings and several saloons.

Old Montana Prison

The oldest Territorial Prison in the Western United States dates back to 1870 and features immense grey sandstone walls. The prison was decommissioned in 1979, but the facility still houses cells, wardens quarters, a yards a chapel and gates for your next prison-set production.

Billings

Montana’s largest city offers easy access to the Yellowstone River, Crow Indian Reservation and local talent. Popular locations include the Billings Depot (a massive passenger station that can accommodate hundreds of extras), the Moss Mansion (a 28-room building with original furnishings) and the Rimrocks (an environment of ancient sandstone cliffs and hiking trails).

Film Credits

Yellowstone, Wildlife, The Revenant, Certain Women, A River Runs Through It, The Shining, Far and Away

Montana Film Office

Allison Whitmer

406-841-2881 allison.whitmer@mt.gov

MONTANAFILM.COM

Rebates And Incentives

Montana offers a 20% transferable income tax credit on production expenditures in the state with additional amounts that can increase the credit up to 35% of the production company’s base investment in the tax year. These per production, additional incentives include 25% of compensation for Montana resident crew members, 15% of compensation for out-of-state crew and 20% of above-the-line compensation (actor, director, producer, writer).

Scan to discover more of what Montana Film Office offers productions at DestinationFilmGuide.com