January 9, 2026

Three New Productions Approved for Incentives to Film in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (January 9, 2026) – Today, the Utah Film Commission announced the Utah Board of Tourism Development approval of three new productions for state film incentives, generating an estimated economic impact of $2.6 million and creating over 165 new jobs filming across the state in Juab, Kane, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah, Washington, and Wayne counties.

Local Director/Producer Gary Auerbach returns with a new Lifetime thriller, “Taken From Me,” approved for a Utah Community Film Incentive starring acclaimed Mexican actress Kate Del Castillo (“La Reina del Sur”, ”Hunting Ava Bravo”). “Choosing to film “Taken From Me” in Utah was a creative and intentional decision,” commented Producer Jennifer Davis. “Beyond the locations, Utah offers a strong and growing filmmaking community, giving us the creative space to align culture, family, and identity within the world of the show. The location supports something much deeper, it’s about mentorship, collaboration, and creating space for underrepresented voices to thrive both on screen and behind the camera.” The film will begin shooting this month in Salt Lake and Utah counties.

“Tokens,” a new independent feature from local filmmakers, was approved for a Utah Motion Picture Incentive. Director Tom Russell expressed how Utah was the ideal location for this ambitious film set during WWII because of “its cinema-friendly infrastructure, its abundant talent, and its vast array of extraordinary locations, properties, and craftspeople,” said Russell. “In addition to the state’s competitive financial incentives, we found immediate support from the Film Commission.” The production will be filming this year in Juab, Salt Lake, Utah, and Washington counties.

A new sci-fi feature, “Sol Hershowitz’s Guide To Extraterrestrial Life,” was approved for a Utah Motion Picture Incentive. “Our film is a road trip quest across the vast landscapes of America on a mission toward extraterrestrial first contact. Utah uniquely offers a wide range of visually distinct environments home to some of the most striking and otherworldly landscapes on the planet, all within a single state,” said Producer Bernard Hunt. “The depth and talent of the local crews, along with the incredible support of the Film Commission, have made Utah the ideal home for this production.” The film begins shooting this month in Kane, Salt Lake, Tooele, and Wayne counties.

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About the Utah Film Commission

As part of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Utah Office Tourism, the Utah Film Commission formed in 1974 markets the entire state as a destination for film, television, and commercial production by promoting the use of professional local crew and talent, support services, Utah locations, and the Motion Picture Incentive Program. The office also serves as a liaison to the film industry, facilitating production needs across the state.

Thousands of productions have been filmed in Utah over the last century, including John Ford’s “The Searchers,” “Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Forrest Gump,” and most recently Marvel Studios’ “Thunderbolts”. Many episodic series have also been filmed in Utah, such as “Westworld,” “Yellowstone”, “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” and the highly anticipated CBS Original television series, “Marshals.”

For more information, visit film.utah.gov.