Free to Shoot on Santa Fe City Property?

In an effort to appear more film-friendly, Santa Fe officials are considering allowing film and television productions to use city property free of charge.

City Councilor Rebecca Wurzburger said the resolution is intended to help filmmakers, especially independent ones, find affordable places to shoot.

It’s also part of a larger strategy “to change the image that New Mexico is not longer in the film business” and to emphasize that Santa Fe and northern New Mexico in particular welcome film productions, she said.

“I think anything we can do as a city to support a return of filming to New Mexico and Santa Fe specifically is important,” Wurzburger said.

New Mexico’s film industry has been on something of a roller coaster the last couple of years, faced with competition from other states and a cap on film incentives that was spearheaded by Gov. Susana Martinez.

Wurzburger’s resolution requires that participating film and television productions be enrolled in the state’s film rebate program to use the facilities free of charge.

Santa Fe has issued around 60 film permits since March 2011, according to Lisa Van Allen, the city’s film liaison. Approximately five of those were for city property, “for the most part” parks, particularly the Plaza.