New film commission aims to attract productions, showcase more than 100 potential filming locations and create new economic and tourism opportunities throughout Osceola County.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Osceola County is ready for its close-up as Experience Kissimmee officially launches Film Kissimmee, a new film commission designed to attract film and television productions, promote the county’s diverse filming locations and expand opportunities for the local tourism economy.
Experience Kissimmee President and CEO DT Minich, joined by Nick Floyd, Director of the Kissimmee Film Commission, introduced the initiative during Monday’s Osceola County Board of County Commissioners meeting, outlining a strategy to position the county as a competitive destination for filmmakers, production companies and entertainment industry professionals.
The initiative builds on Experience Kissimmee’s history of developing specialized programs to attract visitors and economic activity, including the successful Kissimmee Sports Commission.
“Eleven years ago, we started Kissimmee Sports Commission, and that first year we booked 35 events into Osceola County,” Minich told commissioners. “This year, we just closed the year out. We booked over 195 events.”
Minich said the organization hopes to build similar momentum through Film Kissimmee, establishing a new avenue for attracting business and showcasing Osceola County to audiences beyond Central Florida.
From Old Florida Ranchlands to NeoCity
One of Film Kissimmee’s biggest advantages is the variety of landscapes, architecture and distinctive settings available throughout Osceola County.
From sprawling ranchlands and natural Florida scenery to historic downtown districts, hospitality properties and the emerging technology hub at NeoCity, the county offers filmmakers a wide range of potential locations.
Floyd, who also serves as Experience Kissimmee’s Manager of Video Production, said the initiative represents an exciting opportunity to showcase the county’s character while attracting production activity.
“We want to drive film production not just to the state, but to Osceola County,” Floyd told commissioners, pointing to the county’s combination of traditional Florida landscapes and modern developments.
As part of the launch, Experience Kissimmee contracted an experienced professional location scout with more than 20 years of experience working throughout Florida and the southeastern United States.
In just 12 days, the scout identified and documented more than 100 potential filming locations across Osceola County.
Those locations are being added to an online directory through Reel-Scout, a location management platform that allows filmmakers to search properties, review photographs and access important production information.
The database includes details about location types, addresses, contacts and parking availability, all factors that can influence production decisions.
Floyd emphasized that the initial 100 locations represent only the beginning, with plans to continue expanding the directory and identifying additional properties suitable for filming.
Creating Economic Opportunities Beyond Tourism
Although attracting productions is a central objective, Film Kissimmee is also focused on the economic benefits that film and television projects could bring to local businesses.
Production crews frequently require hotel accommodations, restaurants, transportation, equipment, supplies and other services while working on location.
Those expenditures could create additional business for local hospitality operators and service providers, supporting Experience Kissimmee’s broader mission of generating tourism-related economic activity.
During the presentation, Floyd shared Florida Department of Commerce employment figures highlighting the economic significance of the state’s entertainment industry.
According to the figures presented, Florida has approximately 7,000 entertainment industry establishments employing about 29,000 people, with average annual wages of approximately $112,000.
Floyd also highlighted the opportunity to attract production professionals already working in neighboring Orange County, where efforts to expand film production activity are underway.
By establishing a dedicated film commission, Experience Kissimmee hopes to make Osceola County a more visible and accessible option for producers considering Central Florida locations.
Building Connections With the Film Industry
Film Kissimmee has already joined Film Florida as a council member, allowing the organization to collaborate with other film commissions and participate in statewide efforts to attract productions.
The commission has also launched its website, FilmKissimmee.com, providing a central resource for location information and production-related services.
Looking ahead, the organization plans to expand its location database, develop educational materials for local partners and coordinate familiarization tours for producers and location managers throughout the southeastern United States.
These tours would allow industry professionals to experience Osceola County’s potential filming locations firsthand while building relationships with local businesses and property owners.
Film Kissimmee also plans to work with Film Florida to promote locally produced long-form content through Film Florida TV, a free streaming platform highlighting productions and destinations throughout the state.
Another proposed initiative includes bringing experienced industry producers to Osceola County to assess its readiness for different types of film and television productions.
County Commissioners Welcome the Initiative
The announcement received a positive response from county commissioners, including District 5 Commissioner Ricky Booth, who emphasized the importance of Osceola County’s ranching heritage as a potential resource for filmmakers.
Booth noted that ranch properties have previously been used for television and movie productions and offered to help Film Kissimmee establish connections with local ranch owners and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association.
The discussion also highlighted the importance of ensuring that local businesses and property owners understand how film productions operate and what opportunities participation could provide.
Following the presentation, county commissioners recognized Minich for his induction into the Florida Tourism Hall of Fame, presenting him with a certificate of recognition honoring his contributions to tourism and the Osceola County community.
Commissioners praised Minich and the Experience Kissimmee team for their continued efforts to develop innovative programs that promote the destination and create opportunities for residents and businesses.
A New Chapter for Osceola County
With its diverse scenery, proximity to Orlando’s entertainment industry and growing network of potential filming locations, Film Kissimmee represents another step toward expanding Osceola County’s presence in the creative economy.
While the initiative is still in its early stages, Experience Kissimmee officials believe the combination of location development, industry partnerships and targeted marketing could help bring new film and television projects to the area.
For Floyd, the launch marks the beginning of a long-term effort to introduce filmmakers to a destination with much more to offer than its traditional tourism attractions.
From historic ranchlands to cutting-edge technology facilities, Film Kissimmee hopes to show producers that Osceola County has the locations, character and potential to become an increasingly attractive place to bring their stories to life.
For more information, visit FilmKissimmee.com
Experience Kissimmee lanza Film Kissimmee para atraer producciones de cine y televisión al Condado Osceola
La nueva comisión cinematográfica busca promover más de 100 posibles locaciones de filmación, atraer producciones y generar nuevas oportunidades económicas y turísticas en la región.
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Florida — El Condado Osceola se prepara para convertirse en escenario de nuevas producciones cinematográficas y televisivas con el lanzamiento oficial de Film Kissimmee, una iniciativa de Experience Kissimmee diseñada para atraer a la industria del entretenimiento y destacar la diversidad de locaciones disponibles en la región.
El presidente y director ejecutivo de Experience Kissimmee, DT Minich, junto a Nick Floyd, director de la Comisión Cinematográfica de Kissimmee, presentaron el proyecto durante la reunión del lunes de la Junta de Comisionados del Condado Osceola.
La iniciativa busca aprovechar el éxito de otros programas de Experience Kissimmee, como la Comisión Deportiva de Kissimmee, que ha experimentado un crecimiento significativo durante los últimos años.
“Hace once años comenzamos la Comisión Deportiva de Kissimmee y durante nuestro primer año reservamos 35 eventos en el Condado Osceola”, explicó Minich. “Acabamos de cerrar este año con más de 195 eventos”.
Más de 100 locaciones para producciones
Uno de los principales atractivos de Film Kissimmee es la variedad de paisajes y espacios que ofrece el condado, desde extensos ranchos y escenarios naturales de la Florida tradicional hasta distritos históricos, instalaciones modernas y el centro tecnológico NeoCity.
Floyd destacó que el objetivo es posicionar a Osceola como una alternativa competitiva para productores de cine, televisión y otros proyectos audiovisuales.
“Queremos atraer producciones cinematográficas no solamente al estado, sino también al Condado Osceola”, expresó Floyd durante la presentación.
Como parte de los preparativos, Experience Kissimmee contrató a una especialista en búsqueda de locaciones con más de 20 años de experiencia, quien identificó y documentó más de 100 posibles lugares de filmación en apenas 12 días.
Estas locaciones se están incorporando a una plataforma digital que permitirá a los productores consultar fotografías, direcciones, información de contacto y detalles importantes para planificar sus proyectos.
La organización continuará ampliando este directorio para incluir más propiedades, negocios y espacios públicos.
Nuevas oportunidades para la economía local
Además de atraer producciones, Film Kissimmee busca generar beneficios económicos para hoteles, restaurantes, empresas de transporte y otros negocios que podrían ofrecer servicios a los equipos de filmación.
Durante la presentación, Floyd compartió cifras del Departamento de Comercio de Florida que reflejan la importancia de la industria del entretenimiento, con aproximadamente 7,000 establecimientos y 29,000 empleos en todo el estado.
La nueva comisión también se ha integrado a Film Florida, organización que trabaja para promover la producción cinematográfica y televisiva en diferentes regiones del estado.
Entre sus próximos pasos se encuentran ampliar el catálogo de locaciones, desarrollar materiales educativos para empresas y propietarios, organizar recorridos para productores y fortalecer las relaciones con profesionales de la industria.
Comisionados respaldan la iniciativa
Durante la reunión, el comisionado del Distrito 5, Ricky Booth, destacó el valor de los ranchos y la tradición ganadera de Osceola como posibles escenarios para producciones audiovisuales.
Booth señaló que algunas propiedades rurales ya han sido utilizadas para programas de televisión y películas, y ofreció colaborar para conectar a Film Kissimmee con propietarios de ranchos y representantes de la industria ganadera.
Tras la presentación, los comisionados también reconocieron a DT Minich por su incorporación al Salón de la Fama del Turismo de Florida, destacando su liderazgo y sus contribuciones al desarrollo turístico del condado.
Osceola busca un lugar frente a las cámaras
Con una combinación de paisajes naturales, comunidades históricas, infraestructura moderna y cercanía a Orlando, Film Kissimmee representa una nueva oportunidad para diversificar la actividad turística y económica del Condado Osceola.
Experience Kissimmee espera que esta iniciativa permita atraer producciones, promover los atractivos de la región y generar nuevas oportunidades para residentes y negocios locales.
