New Mexico’s heavily subsidized film industry is failing (according to them, not us)

Talk about burying the lede! The Albuquerque Journal had a puff piece on Sen. Heinrich “pushing back against the rising cost of living.” Of course, he cares not at all about actually making living costs more affordable for New Mexicans, but that’s not what this story is all about. The article includes a woman named Giovanna Urbina, a film worker and member of IATSE (film union) local 480 where she says the following:

She may lose her health insurance by the end of September if she doesn’t secure a new film production job. At one point Urbina said there were between 10 and 15 film productions filming in the state. Now there’s only one.

It’s a huge industry that we’ve seen all but disappear in New Mexico.

In other words, count Hollywood among the biggest Democrat-supported (both Richardson and MLG, not to mention the Legislature) have poured subsidies into Hollywood at taxpayers’ expense.

Under Richardson we (taxpayers) paid Hollywood back for 25% of their expenses in New Mexico.

Due to a cap imposed by then Gov. Susana Martinez, the State’s payouts were limited to $50 million annually which resulted in subsidy “debts” piling up. So, upon here election in 2019, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed legislation to pay off an estimated $225 million to $300 million backlog in film tax rebate debt accumulated under the previous administration.

MLG and the Legislature ALSO increased the film subsidy to up to 40% of filming costs.

Seemingly, as the industry and economy change, even 40% film subsidies aren’t enough to goose demand. The upshot is that YET ANOTHER industry specific scheme undertaken by politicians in New Mexico has failed. Taxpayers have ALSO directly subsidized multiple studios (Santa Fe and Farmington to name two) IN ADDITION to the industry itself. But, to no avail. For the 100th time (at least), cut taxes, reform the GRT, make New Mexico a more attractive place to do business and let the jobs and industry flow into our state.

Back in July of 2025 Santa Fe Film Studios (recipients of more than $10 million from taxpayers) went up for sale. To date we know of no buyers.