Film
Lights. Camera. St. Joseph.
St. Joseph, Missouri delivers cinematic diversity in a compact, production-friendly city. From historic brick streets and Victorian architecture to Missouri River bluffs and rural backroads, filmmakers can access a wide range of distinct looks within roughly 15 minutes of each other. As a bonus, Kansas City’s production gear, talent pool, and support services are close by.
Locations & Access
- Direct access via I-29 and Highway 36
- Rosecrans Memorial Airport onsite
- Kansas City International Airport (MCI) within a short drive
- Film Office support for scouting, permitting, logistics, and local coordination
camera-ready looks you can get here
- Historic downtown streets and corners (brick, storefronts, period texture)
- Banks and grand civic architecture (multiple styles, multiple eras)
- Victorian mansions and distinctive homes
- Missouri River and park landscapes (bluffs, sunsets, parkway system)
Local Help
The St. Joseph Film Office supports filmmakers with:
- Location scouting
- Permitting Guidance
- Production logistics
- Connections to local vendors and resources
Why Film Here
A film-friendly city with built-in production value
St. Joseph is a ready-made backdrop for period and contemporary productions. Downtown features red brick facades, ornate architecture and authentic historic texture including local banks and sites tied to the classic film Paper Moon (1973).
With visually rich settings and minimal set-build requirements, productions can maximize budget efficiency while elevating on-screen production value.
Rivers, bluffs, and a serious park system
Looking for beautiful river sunsets, dramatic overlooks or greenspace that doesn’t feel generic? St. Joseph sits just east of the Missouri River, offering bluff lookouts and expansive scenic landscapes. The city features a 26 mile parkway and boulevard system, 53 parks, 1,500+ acres of parkland and numerous sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Joseph Incentives
Missouri offers a Motion Media Tax Credit with a 20% base credit, plus eligible uplifts that can raise incentives up to 42%. The statewide annual cap is $16 million, split between film and episodic projects. Funding is first-come, first-served and subject to eligibility and availability.
Productions Filmed in St. Joseph
Paper moon (1973)
Christmas at the Chateau (2019)
25 Miles to Normal (2024)
The feature film 25 Miles to Normal began filming in St. Joseph in June 2024, utilizing multiple local homes, businesses and properties with a cast and crew of 40+.
According to the Saint Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau, the project expanded from a single requested location to ten or more after the production team visited the city.
The film is also recognized as the first St. Joseph production to utilize Missouri’s Motion Media Tax Credit Program under the SHOW MO Act.
A Chrismystery (2024)
A Chrismystery was filmed in St. Joseph and Savannah in late 2024. The project was later celebrated with a community screening at the Trail Theatre, featuring a meet-and-greet and Q&A with the director and a lead actress, highlighting strong community engagement and support for local film projects.
Contact the Film Office
Christian Mengel, Director of Communications and Marketing
Phone: (816) 233-6688
Email: cmengel@stjomo.com
Mailing/Office Address
911 Frederick Avenue, PO Box 445
Saint Joseph, MO 64501