How Santa Fe Became the Top Choice for Filmmakers

      On Mother’s Day 2024, director Paul Greengrass was in Santa Fe filming the Apple movie The Lost Bus when he developed a severe toothache.

      Fortunately, Jennifer LaBar Tapia, the Santa Fe film commissioner, not only cheerfully detailed the New Mexico tax incentives and located perfect shooting spots but also knew an excellent dentist.

      “I received a call on Sunday stating that the director had a toothache, and with a call time of 10 o’clock on Monday—’Can you assist us?’” LaBar-Tapia recounted. “So, I was on the phone with my dentist's emergency service. He’s in New York, but his close friend is an oral surgeon in Santa Fe, so we contacted the surgeon. They managed to fit him in at 6:30 in the morning on Monday.”

      This level of personalized support is one reason Santa Fe is celebrating its fourth consecutive year as the top location on our list of the Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker in the Smaller Cities and Towns category. (Albuquerque ranks first among American big cities, while Toronto holds the top spot among all large cities.)

      LaBar-Tapia, along with Liesette Bailey, executive director of the Santa Fe International Film Festival, and creative director Jacques Paisner, participated in a special Sundance 2026 panel organized by Moviemaker to honor Santa Fe’s achievement. No other city has topped our list for four straight years. You can watch the full video of the event here or above.

      Recognized for offering some of the most favorable tax incentives available, Santa Fe also served as the base for Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which won the 2024 Oscar for Best Picture, alongside other prestigious accolades for Nolan and stars like Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. The city has hosted the 2008 Best Picture winner No Country for Old Men, as well as Westerns such as True Grit and Young Guns, and major blockbusters like Avengers and Terminator 2.

      Santa Fe also benefits from the consistent business provided by successful television shows. While Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul were primarily set in Albuquerque, they included filming in Santa Fe and other regions of New Mexico. Additionally, some crew members have joined AMC’s Dark Winds.

      The Role of the Santa Fe International Film Festival in New Mexico's Film Industry

      Bailey discussed the pivotal role of the Santa Fe International Film Festival as a cornerstone of New Mexico’s film community.

      “We’re entering our third year as an Oscar-qualifying festival, and it has truly been a whirlwind,” she stated. “We actually have more Academy voters in Santa Fe and Albuquerque than any other location outside of New York or Los Angeles.”

      She also highlighted that filmmakers who come to Santa Fe to shoot often end up purchasing a home there.

      “We’ve been fortunate to have not just people come here to shoot and leave, but those who come here to shoot and choose to stay. I believe that’s something truly special,” she explained.

      She and Paisner make an effort to maintain a relaxed atmosphere at the festival, which is also featured on our list of 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee, in addition to being Oscar-qualifying.

      “The festival has evolved into a hub and a place where people can truly connect, allowing space for attendees to relax,” she remarked. “We make sure there’s room for people to get to know one another, enabling them to return with their next film.”

      Paisner pointed out that Santa Fe has a rich artistic legacy, noticeable to anyone strolling past the numerous downtown galleries or browsing for Native American jewelry outside the historic Palace of the Governors. The town's creative energy is intertwined with the film industry and vice versa.

      “Santa Fe is designated as one of UNESCO’s Creative Cities. It boasts a street called Canyon Road filled with galleries from end to end. It holds the largest American Indian Art Market in the world, hosted by SWAIA,” he noted.

      However, Santa Fe possesses attributes that cannot be quantified through statistics and figures.

      “There’s a tranquility about Santa Fe—there’s a peace in the air due to our elevation, our clear blue skies, distinct seasons, and abundant sunshine,” LaBar Tapia shared. “It offers a very spiritual essence that’s difficult to articulate. The air is exceptionally clean. During Golden Hour, the light is simply amazing—just that unfiltered light our cinematographers adore. Nothing compares to it.

      “Plus, we have our diverse cultures coexisting, blending, and respecting one another. The town is very much about food, art, culture, and embracing creativity,” she continued. “Life here has a slower pace, but we accomplish our goals.”

      She added, “The culture runs deep. There are families with deep roots that span centuries, instilling a sense of pride in Santa Fe.”

      Paisner mentioned that the settings around Santa Fe were also the inspiration for Georgia O’Keeffe in the past.

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