Utah’s production pipeline is heating up. The Utah Film Commission says six projects have been approved for state incentives, a slate expected to generate an estimated $7.1 million in local economic impact and create more than 400 jobs across Davis, Salt Lake, Uintah, Utah, Wasatch and Summit counties. The approvals were granted by the Utah Board of Tourism Development and include a mix of series and features from both homegrown filmmakers and out-of-state producers.

On the television side, Discovery’s Mystery at Blind Frog Ranch returns for season five with a rural film incentive and shoots in Uintah County, while season two of Navajo Highways—an educational children’s series exploring Diné culture, traditions and language from host-director Pete Sands—secured a Utah Motion Picture Incentive. The first season streams on First Nations Experience.

Three features landed Community Film Incentives aimed at nurturing Utah-originated projects. Gabriella, from veteran local filmmaker Rob Diamond, is among them. “It has some of the most beautiful locations in the world and the cast and crew are top notch. I plan on making movies here for many years to come,” Diamond said. Also on deck is Halloween Pizza Party, a comedy from Provo-based director Brandon Carroway, set to film in Salt Lake, Utah and Wasatch counties. “‘Halloween Pizza Party’ had to be filmed in Utah—the gorgeous fall colors, crisp autumn air, and welcoming suburban neighborhoods perfectly capture the nostalgic chaos of Halloween night,” Carroway said in a Film Commission release. Rounding out the trio is Strasbourg, a World War II drama from Jake Van Wagoner (Studio C, Impractical Jokers), shooting in Summit and Wasatch counties following his Sundance-screened Aliens Abducted My Parents and Now I Feel Kinda Left Out.

Thriller Slay Day was approved under the Utah Motion Picture Incentive and will be directed by John David Buxton. “We knew Utah would be an amazing fit from a location’s standpoint, but the quality and experience of the local team we’re assembling exceeds my wildest dreams. Combined with the strong and straightforward incentive, it was an easy choice for us,” Buxton said.

Created in 1974, the Utah Film Commission markets the state’s diverse locations and serves as a liaison to film, TV and commercial productions—a legacy that includes Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Thelma & Louise and Forrest Gump. Utah currently offers a fully refundable 20% tax credit on in-state spend, with an additional 5% bump available when productions hire at least 75% Utah cast and crew and shoot at least 75% of production days in rural counties (via the Motion Picture Incentive Program and the Community Film Incentive Program for Utah-originated projects).