Fall Frames: Kansas City Video Production Roundup
Kansas City video production gains fresh momentum this fortnight as the Universal Film Festival, a Hallmark holiday feature, and a high-tech immersive venue converge with new permit advisories across the metro.
Upcoming Festivals & Screenings
- 2025 Universal Film Festival packs 40 screenings, panels, and mixers into B&B Theatres Mainstreet, Sept 25–27
- Atlas9 Immersive Art Experience opens Sept 25 in a 45 k sq ft former multiplex, pitching itself as “interactive cinema meets 1990s nostalgia”
Productions & Casting
- Hallmark Christmas Movie: KCTV-5 confirms principal photography continues downtown after mid-September lensing began; the Kansas City Star notes KC’s 10 % city credit stacks with Missouri’s 42 % state incentive for a record 52 % refund
- KC PBS Documentary Call: Local nonfiction makers can pitch shorts before Oct 17, with selected projects receiving finishing funds and broadcast slots
Permit & Location Updates
- 18th Street closure (The Paseo → Highland) blocks through-traffic through at least Sept 30, affecting Vine-District exterior shoots
- I-70 westbound night lane drops at Benton Blvd run 7 p.m.–5 a.m. until Sept 26—budget extra travel time for grip trucks
- No-cost city film permits remain the norm, but KC Film Office now requires FAA Part 107 proof and a UAS questionnaire for any drone work
- KC Parks photo/film form adds insurance details and a drone-flight checkbox; submit at least 48 hours out to avoid delays
Studio & Facility Notes
- Envision Studio Northland finishes a gear refresh this week, adding a pre-lit cyc wall and 8K HDR monitor bank ahead of an Oct 11 open house
- Historic Laugh-O-Gram Building secures new funding for its $6 M soundstage-meets-education hub; exterior stabilization wraps early October, opening scout options for period shoots
Drone & Airspace Essentials
Kansas City’s code imposes no extra municipal restrictions, but Missouri’s wildlife agency now requires a special-use permit for any drone launch inside conservation areas, a common stand-in for rural scenes. Operators must also stay under 400 ft AGL and register any craft above 250 g, per federal rules. The Film Office suggests attaching Remote ID screenshots to call sheets for on-set checks.
Looking Ahead
If you miss Universal FF, pencil Kansas City FilmFest International (Mar 27–30 2025) at AMC Ward Parkway for the region’s largest narrative showcase, and watch for KCUFF encore pop-ups in October despite the main festival’s Sept 12–20 run.
