Production Resources
Welcome to the Star of the North. Explore Minnesota Film is your on-the-ground concierge connecting you with Minnesota locations, crew, actors, permit offices and film-ready communities that understand your production needs.
Gain easy access across the state and reach out to us today with your project details.
World-class on and off screen, tap into Minnesota’s production advantage and bring your next story to life.
Film Locations
Stretch your budget without cutting corners; Minnesota offers affordable locations and practical advantages, including short travel times and easily accessible film locations. Within a 30-mile radius of Minneapolis-St. Paul's metro area, you'll find a diverse range of locations, including both rural and urban areas, such as skyscrapers, universities, warehouses, arenas, charming small towns, forests, farms, lakes, and cabins.
Need something that you can’t find in our location guide? Let us know. We continually scout and add new locations to our database. Our stunning locations and four distinct seasons make it possible for our locations to be anywhere you dream them to be.
For more information, you can search for the perfect Minnesota production site, list your own location, or break things down by setting below, including:
- Bars & Restaurants
- Bridges
- Houses & Cabins
- Industrial Sites
- Lakes & Rivers
- Landscapes
- Parks
- Rural Sites
- Urban Sites
Production Directory
Minnesota offers top-tier talent ready to bring your story to life. Our actors are supported by the nation’s second-largest theater market. Our skilled and vetted crew has experience working on features, series and commercials of all sizes. Expect smoother shoots, smarter budgets and reliable professionalism. Minnesota delivers the talent and expertise your production deserves.
Search for crew members, actors, support services, and vendors, and read crew listing guidelines before adding your info to Minnesota's production directory.
Film-Ready Communities
Our communities are welcoming and excited to work on your next project. In Minnesota, you’ll find film-friendly support across the state that is trained in offering expedited, low-cost permits and customized soft incentives whenever possible. Find out more about requesting a film permit with various cities and towns throughout the state below:
- Austin
- Bloomington
- Chaska
- Detroit Lakes
- Duluth
- Grand Rapids
- Lakeville
- Lake City
- Little Falls
- Marshall
- Minneapolis
- Northfield
- North St. Paul
- St. Cloud
- St. Paul
- Stillwater
- Virginia
- Waite Park
- Worthington
Explore Minnesota Film can also help connect you with local municipalities for direct access. Most permits are quick to process and low-cost or free. Our office guides you through the permitting process and helps connect you with the key decision-makers to make your project a success.
Become a Certified Film-Ready Community
Local Film Organizations
APIA MN Film Collective
Focused on Asian Pacific Islander American Minnesotan storytellers, this collective champions underrepresented voices with free programs and a boost for creative economies.
Association of Independent Commercial Producers
A resource for Minnesota’s independent commercial producers—covering production and post-production across film, video and digital ad work.
DocuClub MN
An informal monthly hangout for documentary lovers and makers. Watch trailers, give feedback, swap festival news and collaborate.
Film Fatales
A Minneapolis-based community of female feature-film and TV directors who network, collaborate and build the space they want to see in the industry.
FilmNorth
Based in St. Paul, FilmNorth empowers independent filmmakers with education, resources and a community that’s building careers and telling local stories.
MN Women in Film & Television
A volunteer-powered nonprofit where women in film, TV and media gather to learn, connect and support each other in Minnesota’s industry. They offer mentorships, networking events, educational panels and resources. Men are welcome and often attend events to network and offer support.
MSP Film Society
Minnesota’s flagship film exhibition organization bringing indie, international and festival films to local audiences all year round.
Nice Moves
Brings together the Twin Cities’ animation, VFX and motion graphics and digital magic-makers for mentorships, events and creative collisions.
Screenwriters’ Workshop
Since 1987, this all-volunteer nonprofit has given Minnesota screenwriters a place to share, develop, and network with directors, producers and fellow storytellers.
Twin Cities Film Festival
A film festival connecting audiences with regional and national talent, educational panels and industry networking opportunities, with year-round support for filmmakers.
Upper Midwest Film Office
If you’re looking to film in northern Minnesota—from Duluth to the Iron Range—UMFO is your go-to for location scouting, crew and regional filming incentives.