WLRN Public Media | By Wilkine Brutus
President Trump recently floated a controversial idea: a 100% tariff on ‘“any and all movies coming into our country that are produced in foreign lands.” The proposal was quickly played down by the administration, after swift backlash from labor unions, Hollywood groups, and advisors, who warned such a policy would backfire economically by isolating U.S. film and TV productions.
Florida’s film industry, which is already lagging behind tax-friendly states and countries, would have suffered further under Trump’s proposed film tariffs — it would “ripple in a negative way,” said Sandy Lighterman, Broward County’s film commissioner.
But the controversial proposal brought a silver lining.
Lighterman, who is also the President of Film Florida — a statewide nonprofit trade group — told WLRN the debate has reignited “positive,” long-awaited talks among film agencies and industry figures on how to implement broader, nationwide tax incentives to attract productions.
This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with MIA Media Group. Read more at WLRN.org
