St. Paul Video Production Checklist: Permits, Events & Next Moves
St. Paul video production is enjoying a double boost this month as festival spotlights meet fresh state incentives, giving every St. Paul camera crew a clear runway for ambitious shoots.
Festival Spotlight: Twin Cities Film Fest
The 16th-annual Twin Cities Film Fest runs Oct 16-25 with 150 titles between St. Louis Park and Edina venues, plus online streams. Critics flag Oscar-hopeful “Hamnet” as opening-night bait, while Minnesota Monthly singles out regional stories in its Editor’s Picks guide. Notably, the fest’s Thursday slate (Oct 23) features “All In: The St. Paul Public Schools Literacy Journey,” complete with a filmmaker Q&A—marking the first TCFF doc created entirely within district classrooms
Upcoming Screenings & Festivals
- Twin Cities Film Fest Continues — now-Oct 25. 150+ premieres, daily red carpets, hybrid tickets.
- Community Shorts Night — Oct 22, Minnesota Humanities Center. Local directors share works-in-progress followed by feedback panels.
- TCFF Industry Panels — Oct 21-24. Sessions on AI editing, sustainable sets, and post-workflow hacks at the Shops at West End lounge
Incentives & Permit Landscape
Minnesota’s program still holds $72 million of 2025 credit, and another $25 million arrives Jan 1. Explore MN Film’s new office promises a “one-stop door” for applicants, echoing calls for fewer approval loops. For city parks or recreation sites, producers must secure a film/photo permit and list the city as additional insured, submitting certificates a week in advance or risk cancellation. Street work is calmer: St. Paul’s official closure map lists only construction-related blocks, none tied to filming through Oct 31
Filming Prep Checklist
- Scout early: Parks permits open each season May 5–Oct 5 and fill fast.
- Budget rebates: Confirm you hit the $1 million floor to unlock the 25 % state credit.
- Lock insurance: City requires $2 million coverage for special-event street work
Clear Streets, Bright Future
With no active street-closure notices for film shoots and festival traffic drawing cameras rather than blocking them, the next two weeks offer rare breathing room. Producers can bank incentives, capture seasonal colors along Summit Avenue, and test-screen projects to festival audiences—maximizing both artistry and ROI for St. Paul’s growing creative sector.
